Do the Right Thing

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Do the Right Thing

R

1989

2h 0m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

151 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Salvatore "Sal" Fragione (Danny Aiello) is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn. A neighborhood local, Buggin' Out (Giancarlo Esposito), becomes upset when he sees that the pizzeria's Wall of Fame exhibits only Italian actors. Buggin' Out believes a pizzeria in a black neighborhood should showcase black actors, but Sal disagrees. The wall becomes a symbol of racism and hate to Buggin' Out and to other people in the neighborhood, and tensions rise.

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Critics Consensus

Smart, vibrant, and urgent without being didactic, Do the Right Thing is one of Spike Lee's most fully realized efforts -- and one of the most important films of the 1980s.

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Eleanor Ringel Cater

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

03/21/2025

Spike, baby, you're beautiful when you're angry.

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

03/21/2025

[Do the Right Thing] uses its abundant energy simply to knock down bridges that have been built and raise the wall of the ghetto mentality a row or two higher.

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

03/21/2025

...Do the Right Thing is a welcome return to Spike Lee's best form after the disappointment of School Daze...

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James Profetto

Reel James (YouTube)

Jul 4

10/10

Easily one of the best movies I've ever seen!

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Feb 22

4/4

An out-and-out masterpiece, Spike Lee's best movie also remains the most penetrating film ever made about race relations in these United States.

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Peter Keough

Boston Phoenix

04/01/2025

In Do the Right Thing Lee has progressed beyond tour de force and experiment; he’s succeeded in wedding subject and form in an aesthetic whole.

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anthony j

Feb 27

so good. still relevant as ever.

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Edin S.

@sefer1 Jul 25

A reflective film of its era and prescient at the same time. Simply great.

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Ketemama B.

@Ketemama Jun 12

Brilliant, a true slice of life in Brooklyn NY.

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Christopher M

@RT27122576 Jun 7

I really enjoyed this movie. The complex characters, a message that's still relevant today, great cinematography, and the way the message so perfectly conveyed in the end; all make for an amazing experience.

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Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Apr 25

Do the Right Thing stands as one of the defining films of the 1980s and a true classic in American cinema. Spike Lee delivers an outstanding vision both behind and in front of the camera, capturing the energy, tension, and complexity of a single Brooklyn neighborhood on a scorching summer day. The film’s strength lies in its rich ensemble cast, vibrant style, and the way it explores community dynamics with honesty and intensity. Every character feels real, and every interaction adds weight to the larger picture being painted. It’s bold, stylish, and unforgettable, with a direction that keeps you fully engaged from start to finish. Even decades later, it remains powerful, relevant, and widely discussed for good reason. A landmark achievement in filmmaking and storytelling. An absolute 10/10 classic.

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Dwayne W

@Dwayneee Mar 28

Do the Right Thing is a fever dream painted in summer heat, where every sidewalk carries a story and every conversation holds a spark. It doesn’t hand you easy answers. It gives you questions, echoes, and the uncomfortable truth that justice is rarely simple. The film turns a neighborhood into a living poem about anger, love, pride, and the fragile space between being heard and being ignored. Bold, brilliant, and still burning decades later, it reminds us that the hardest thing to do is not just speak—but truly listen.

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Spike Lee

Director

Danny Aiello

Sal

Ossie Davis

Da Mayor

Ruby Dee

Mother Sister

Richard Edson

Vito

Giancarlo Esposito

Buggin Out

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - Da Mayor & Mother Sister

1:38

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - Fight the Power

3:00

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - Your Jordans Are F***ed Up!

2:23

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - No Nasty

3:17

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - Destroying Sal's

2:59

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - 20 "D" Batteries

1:15

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - LOVE and HATE

1:51

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - Racist Stereotypes

3:04

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - Boycott Sal's!

3:00

Do the Right Thing: Official Clip - Today's Forecast

1:24

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Do the Right Thing: Do The Right Thing's Best Scenes

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Synopsis

Salvatore "Sal" Fragione (Danny Aiello) is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn. A neighborhood local, Buggin' Out (Giancarlo Esposito), becomes upset when he sees that the pizzeria's Wall of Fame exhibits only Italian actors. Buggin' Out believes a pizzeria in a black neighborhood should showcase black actors, but Sal disagrees. The wall becomes a symbol of racism and hate to Buggin' Out and to other people in the neighborhood, and tensions rise.

Director: Spike Lee
Producer: Spike Lee
Screenwriter: Spike Lee
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 30, 1989, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 2019
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 30, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $26.0M
Runtime: 2h 0m
Sound Mix: Surround
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)