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IMDbPro

Do the Right Thing

  • 19891989
  • RR
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
105K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,633
425
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
ComedyDrama
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
8.0/10
105K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,633
425
  • Director
    • Spike Lee
  • Writer
    • Spike Lee
  • Stars
    • Danny Aiello
    • Ossie Davis
    • Ruby Dee
  • Director
    • Spike Lee
  • Writer
    • Spike Lee
  • Stars
    • Danny Aiello
    • Ossie Davis
    • Ruby Dee
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 558User reviews
    • 118Critic reviews
    • 93Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 21 wins & 17 nominations total

    Videos11

    Do the Right Thing
    Trailer 2:07
    Watch Do the Right Thing
    Do The Right Thing
    Trailer 2:07
    Watch Do The Right Thing
    A Guide to Spike Lee Joints
    Clip 2:03
    Watch A Guide to Spike Lee Joints
    Rosie Perez in Three Roles
    Clip 2:14
    Watch Rosie Perez in Three Roles
    Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    Clip 4:51
    Watch Blaxploitation Movies & Black Power in the 1970s
    Spike Lee: Four Decades of 'Wake Up!'
    Clip 3:05
    Watch Spike Lee: Four Decades of 'Wake Up!'
    'Do the Right Thing' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:43
    Watch 'Do the Right Thing' | Anniversary Mashup
    Do The Right Thing: How Come You Ain't Got No Brothers Up On The Wall?
    Clip 4:37
    Watch Do The Right Thing: How Come You Ain't Got No Brothers Up On The Wall?
    Which Roles Did Samuel L. Jackson Turn Down?
    Video 2:31
    Watch Which Roles Did Samuel L. Jackson Turn Down?
    Topher Grace on Spike Lee's Method and Taking "Minor Adventures" With Friends
    Video 4:10
    Watch Topher Grace on Spike Lee's Method and Taking "Minor Adventures" With Friends
    Dates in Movie & TV History: Aug. 5, 1989 - Do the Right Thing
    Video 2:10
    Watch Dates in Movie & TV History: Aug. 5, 1989 - Do the Right Thing

    Photos145

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

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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 reviews558

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    An underappreciated masterpiece
    I find it a tremendous oversight that this film gets so little recognition. The American film institute couldn't find one place in one hundered American films for this cinematic masterpiece that pulls no punches . It got no academy award and most importantly I could not find one friend who had heard of it. I call this a tremendous oversight because the film is wonderful. I know that Spike Lee is a rather eccentric personality and is not well liked by everyone, but his films are brilliant and this is no exception.

    For about the first two thirds of the movie the plot meanders around a section of New York City as the characters awaken and start their days. For this first two thirds we have a comedy that is funny because of the eccentric and wonderfully developed characters. The audience is pulled into the story by the rich dialogue and inventive cinematography. There is just some quality about this film that makes it seem so real. This all sets up for the imminent tragedy to be all the worse as a result of the connection the audience has with the movie.

    Then the film explodes. Those who have seen it know what I mean and those who have not should see it. This last third of the film should not be explained, it must be experianced. In fact this whole film should be experianced. I can't say enough.
    helpful•103
    49
    • Vlad W.
    • Apr 20, 2000

    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(the block)
    • 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)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Do the Right Thing (1989) officially released in India in Hindi?
    Answer
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