Halle Berry and Adrien Brody brought a full-circle moment to the 2025 Oscars red carpet. Berry surprised Brody with a kiss, recreating their infamous 2003 Oscars moment. The playful gesture delighted onlookers and quickly became a viral sensation, reminding fans of one of the most talked-about moments in Academy Awards history.

Why did Halle Berry kiss Adrien Brody?

Twenty-two years after Adrien Brody’s spontaneous kiss seemingly shocked Halle Berry at the 2003 Oscars, Berry decided to return the favor at the 2025 ceremony. The moment unfolded on the red carpet. Here, Berry, who was set to present at the awards show, saw Brody, a Best Actor nominee for his role in The Brutalist. Seizing the opportunity, Berry leaned in for a kiss, leaving Brody and the crowd in cheerful surprise.

“That was one hell of a night for him, and for me as well. To be a part of his moment… tonight I had to pay him back,” Halle Berry joked while speaking with Variety. She added, “I’ve seen him out at parties. But this is the first time since that night that I’ve seen him on the red carpet somewhere. He’s nominated this year. He deserved that.”

Their original Oscars kiss took place in 2003 when Brody, fresh off his Best Actor win for The Pianist, grabbed Berry on stage and kissed her. He then cheekily remarked, “I bet they didn’t tell you that was in the gift bag,” leaving Berry stunned. It became one of the most talked about Oscar moments.

This year, Adrien Brody’s nomination for The Brutalist brought him back to the Dolby Theater. The film, which tells the story of Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor László Tóth, earned critical acclaim and multiple Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. Now, Brody has won the Best Actor in a Leading Role.