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Do the Right Thing (1989)

R 120 min  -  Drama  -   30 June 1989 (USA)
7.8
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Ratings: 7.8/10 from 34,933 users   Metascore: 91/100 
Reviews: 295 user | 85 critic | 15 from Metacritic.com

On the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone's hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence.

Director:

Spike Lee

Writer:

Spike Lee
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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 6 nominations See more awards »

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Do the Right Thing -- On the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone's hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence. Do the Right Thing -- Mookie (Spike Lee) delivers food to the DJ, Mister Senor Love Daddy (Samuel L. Jackson) Do the Right Thing -- Mister Senor Love Daddy gives a list of great African American Musicians.
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Danny Aiello ...
Ossie Davis ...
Ruby Dee ...
Richard Edson ...
Giancarlo Esposito ...
Spike Lee ...
Bill Nunn ...
John Turturro ...
Paul Benjamin Paul Benjamin ...
ML
Frankie Faison ...
Robin Harris ...
Joie Lee ...
Jade
Miguel Sandoval ...
Rick Aiello ...
John Savage ...
Clifton
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Storyline

It's the hottest day of the year in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, and tensions are growing there, with the only local businesses being a Korean grocery and Sal's Pizzeria. Mookie, Sal's delivery boy, manages to always be at the center of the action. Written by Jon Reeves <jreeves@imdb.com>  

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Bedford Stuyvesant | Street | Hate | Korean | Pizzeria  | See more »

Taglines:

It's the hottest day of the summer. You can do nothing, you can do something, or you can...

Genres:

Drama

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian (only a few words) | Spanish (only a few words)

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Do the Right Thing - Kuuma päivä See more »

Box Office

Budget:

$6,500,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$27,545,445 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The title comes from a Malcolm X quote: "You've got to do the right thing." See more »

Goofs

Continuity: Right before Sal begins to bash the radio, you can see Radio Raheem's arms on the radio as if he's leaning on it. The second Sal starts to bash the radio, you can see that Radio Raheem is standing a few feet behind the counter. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Mister Senor Love Daddy: Wake up! Wake up! Up you wake!
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Making 'Do the Right Thing' (1989) See more »

Soundtracks

"Fight the Power"
Music and Lyrics by Chuck D. (as Carlton Ridenhour), Hank Shocklee, Eric Sadler,
and Keith Shocklee
Performed by Public Enemy
Def American Songs, Inc. (BMI)
Courtesy of DefJam/CBS Records See more »