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Do the Right Thing

  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
100K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,390
672
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, John Turturro, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, and Bill Nunn in Do the Right Thing (1989)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:07
11 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
100K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,390
672
  • Director
    • Spike Lee
  • Writer
    • Spike Lee
  • Stars
    • Danny Aiello
    • Ossie Davis
    • Ruby Dee
Top credits
  • Director
    • Spike Lee
  • Writer
    • Spike Lee
  • Stars
    • Danny Aiello
    • Ossie Davis
    • Ruby Dee
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 545User reviews
    • 116Critic reviews
    • 93Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 21 wins & 17 nominations total

    Videos11

    Do the Right Thing
    Trailer 2:07
    Do the Right Thing
    Do The Right Thing
    Trailer 2:07
    Do The Right Thing
    A Guide to Spike Lee Joints
    Clip 2:03
    A Guide to Spike Lee Joints
    Rosie Perez in Three Roles
    Clip 2:14
    Rosie Perez in Three Roles
    Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    Clip 4:51
    Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    Spike Lee: Four Decades of 'Wake Up!'
    Clip 3:05
    Spike Lee: Four Decades of 'Wake Up!'
    'Do the Right Thing' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:43
    'Do the Right Thing' | Anniversary Mashup
    Which Roles Did Samuel L. Jackson Turn Down?
    Video 2:31
    Which Roles Did Samuel L. Jackson Turn Down?
    Topher Grace on Spike Lee's Method and Taking "Minor Adventures" With Friends
    Video 4:10
    Topher Grace on Spike Lee's Method and Taking "Minor Adventures" With Friends
    Film Fight Club: New York vs. Los Angeles
    Video 0:51
    Film Fight Club: New York vs. Los Angeles
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Aug. 5, 1989 - Do the Right Thing
    Video 2:10
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Aug. 5, 1989 - Do the Right Thing

    Photos144

    Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, and Anthony Barboza in Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Spike Lee in Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Samuel L. Jackson in Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Spike Lee in Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Spike Lee and Danny Aiello in Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Spike Lee and Danny Aiello in Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Danny Aiello, John Turturro, and Richard Edson in Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Spike Lee at an event for Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Spike Lee and Danny Aiello at an event for Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Spike Lee and Danny Aiello at an event for Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Spike Lee and Danny Aiello at an event for Do the Right Thing (1989)
    Spike Lee and Danny Aiello at an event for Do the Right Thing (1989)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Danny Aiello
    Danny Aiello
    • Salas Sal
    Ossie Davis
    Ossie Davis
    • Da Mayoras Da Mayor
    Ruby Dee
    Ruby Dee
    • Mother Sisteras Mother Sister
    Richard Edson
    Richard Edson
    • Vitoas Vito
    Giancarlo Esposito
    Giancarlo Esposito
    • Buggin Outas Buggin Out
    Spike Lee
    Spike Lee
    • Mookieas Mookie
    Bill Nunn
    Bill Nunn
    • Radio Raheemas Radio Raheem
    John Turturro
    John Turturro
    • Pinoas Pino
    Paul Benjamin
    Paul Benjamin
    • MLas ML
    Frankie Faison
    Frankie Faison
    • Coconut Sidas Coconut Sid
    Robin Harris
    Robin Harris
    • Sweet Dick Willieas Sweet Dick Willie
    Joie Lee
    Joie Lee
    • Jadeas Jade
    Miguel Sandoval
    Miguel Sandoval
    • Officer Ponteas Officer Ponte
    Rick Aiello
    Rick Aiello
    • Officer Longas Officer Long
    John Savage
    John Savage
    • Cliftonas Clifton
    Samuel L. Jackson
    Samuel L. Jackson
    • Mister Señor Love Daddyas Mister Señor Love Daddy
    • (as Sam Jackson)
    Rosie Perez
    Rosie Perez
    • Tinaas Tina
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    Roger Guenveur Smith
    • Smileyas Smiley
    • Director
      • Spike Lee
    • Writer
      • Spike Lee
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During the 1990 Oscar ceremony, while announcing the Best Picture nominees, Kim Basinger caused some controversy when she ignored her scripted text and said: "We've got five great films here, and they're great for one reason: because they tell the truth. But there is one film missing from this list, that deserves to be on it, because ironically, it might tell the biggest truth of all, and that's Do the Right Thing (1989)." Spike Lee would later thank her for it in a 2019 episode of the podcast "Unspooled".
    • Goofs
      The story takes place at the intersection of Bedford and Stuyvesant Avenues. In reality, the two do not cross each other, however the film was shot in the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn.
    • Quotes

      Radio Raheem: Let me tell you the story of Right Hand, Left Hand. It's a tale of good and evil. Hate: it was with this hand that Cain iced his brother. Love: these five fingers, they go straight to the soul of man. The right hand: the hand of love. The story of life is this: static. One hand is always fighting the other hand, and the left hand is kicking much ass. I mean, it looks like the right hand, Love, is finished. But hold on, stop the presses, the right hand is coming back. Yeah, he got the left hand on the ropes, now, that's right. Ooh, it's a devastating right and Hate is hurt, he's down. Left-Hand Hate KOed by Love.

    • Crazy credits
      Film title logo at the end of closing credits
    • Alternate versions
      the "pan & scan" version broadcast on ITV4 truncates the conversation between Radio Raheem and the Koreans when he visits their store to replace the batteries for his portable radio. The sequence where the husband loses his temper and swears "mother-f&%k you", to which Raheem responds warmly is omitted.
    • Connections
      Edited into Film Title Poem (2016)
    • 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

    User reviews545

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    That's the double-truth, Ruth
    In all likelihood Spike Lee's most important achievement - as director, writer and actor (though to my taste Mo' Better Blues is just as good a picture) and one of the strongest films you'll see about race relations, 'Do The Right Thing' looks dated at times, but it lost none of its impact and relevance. The movie takes place in a particularly hot day in a primarily African-American neighborhood in Brooklyn, and follows the various personalities who live there throughout the day; the center of the story is Sal's Famous Pizzeria - its owners, some of the few white people living in the neighborhood: Sal (Oscar nominated performance for Danny Aiello) and his two sons (John Torturro and Richard Edson), and Mookie (Spike Lee himself), the black delivery boy. What starts out as a light, entertaining movie with some amusing characters and light humor, gradually builds up tension to the point of being unbearable, up to the dramatic and tragic climax. Spike doesn't put as much emphasis on the characters themselves as he does on the relationships and the tension between them; and in this image of a very specific and small frame in time and place, makes a strong and important message about racism and race relations in general. The film is populated with many different characters, all of them very memorable and each one a representative of a certain belief, mode of behavior or state of mind - on both sides of the conflict. From the uninhibited anger of Buggin Out (Giancarlo Esposito) and Radio Raheem (Bill Nunn) on one side and Pino (John Torturro) on the other side, to Jade (Joie Lee, Spike's sister in the film and in real life) and Vito (Richard Edson), who are trying to connect and live at peace with the other side, to Da Mayor (Ossie Davis), in his isolated but peaceful state of mind, living in complete peace with the world around him, and Smiley (Roger Smith), living in his own isolated existence. Then there's Mookie, who is stuck in the middle, torn between his commitment and responsibilities to both sides. Finally we have Mister Senor Love Daddy - played gorgeously by the one and only Samuel L. Jackson, in one of his finest performances - half active character and half all-knowing narrator - who represents the voice of reason in the conflict, the reason which is bound, ultimately, to collapse. Each and every character plays an important part in the climatic and dramatic conflict to which the movie builds up, and though it's the radical ones - Buggin Out and Radio Raheem - who trigger the events that cause the tragedy, they are not necessarily the ones who finish it. It is Mookie and Sal, in fact, who ultimately play the main part.

    Do The Right Thing is not an easy watch; it's a mesmerizing, tense, difficult film that breaks many taboos and slaughters many holy cows. But in the end of it - hopefully - you'll be wiser than you were in the beginning, and that's what Lee have always tried to achieve in all his films. Watch it to get a real view on racism that doesn't duck the difficult issues and isn't afraid to tackle the real problem, and to see a master director at work. It's one of the best films of its time.
    helpful•139
    53
    • itamarscomix
    • May 24, 2005

    FAQ3

    • Is this movie based on a book?
    • What is the connection between Radio Raheem and Michael Stewart?
    • What is the meaning of the ending in "Do the Right Thing"?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 21, 1989 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Spanish
      • Korean
    • Also known as
      • Heatwave
    • Filming locations
      • Stuyvesant Street, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production company
      • 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $27,545,445
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,563,535
      • Jul 2, 1989
    • Gross worldwide
      • $37,295,445
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
      • Dolby Digital

    Related news

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    Samuel L. Jackson, Spike Lee, Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, John Turturro, Ruby Dee, Giancarlo Esposito, and Bill Nunn in Do the Right Thing (1989)
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