Page
Do the Right Thing
- Summary
- How to watch
- News & features
❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).
Watch trailer
02:16
Do the Right Thing
Save
- 1989
- Spike Lee
- 114 mins
- 18
Summary
Classic drama starring Danny Aiello, Spike Lee and John Turturro. It's the hottest day of the year in a racially mixed district of New York, and Mookie is on his way to work at Sal's Famous Pizzeria, run for years by the same Italian family. However, some members of the local Black population are angry that their neighbourhood is being run by whites and "foreigners", and what starts as a series of petty disagreements soon escalates into violence and tragedy.
Ad
Powered By
IMDB
Review
A star rating of 5 out of 5.
John Ferguson
This fierce racial drama remains Spike Lee's most assured film to date, and time hasn't diminished any of its power. It concentrates on one sweltering day in New York when simmering racial tensions are about to explode: the focal point is a pizza parlour run by Danny Aiello's Sal, who refuses to replace his old Italian photographs with pictures of Black heroes. Lee himself is excellent as Aiello's delivery boy, but the playing of the ensemble cast - John Turturro, Ruby Dee, Ossie Davis, Giancarlo Esposito, John Savage - is also exemplary. And, although there are a dozen different storylines, Lee effortlessly meshes them together without losing sight of his central theme. Add to that Ernest Dickerson's bright, vibrant cinematography and the superb soundtrack, which blends hip-hop and jazz, and the result is an exhilarating, passionate and often very funny modern-day classic.
imdb-square
7.9/10
How to watch
Loading
Streaming
Credits
Cast
rolenameSalDanny AielloMookieSpike LeePinoJohn TurturroVitoRichard EdsonDa MayorOssie DavisMother SisterRuby DeeBuggin' OutGiancarlo EspositoRadio RaheemBill NunnTinaRosie PerezCliftonJohn SavageMLPaul BenjaminCoconut SidFrankie FaisonSweet Dick WillieRobin HarrisMister Señor Love DaddySamuel L JacksonSmileyRoger Guenveur SmithAhmadSteve WhiteCeeMartin LawrencePunchyLeonard ThomasEllaChrista RiversCharlieFrank Vincent
Show more
Crew
rolenameDirectorSpike Lee
Details
Theatrical distributor
U.I.P. (UK)
Released on
2019-08-02
Languages
English | Korean | Italian | Spanish
Guidance
Contains violence, swearing and nudity.
Available on
video, DVD and Blu-ray
Formats
Colour
News & features about Do the Right Thing
-

Spike Lee on Denzel Washington, whether he'd do Marvel and the Viagra musical he still wants to make
The legendary director speaks exclusively to RadioTimes.com about his new film Highest 2 Lowest and much more.
-

Tom Holland confirms Spider-Man 4 – but wants to avoid "overdoing the same things"
"The simple answer is yes. I’ll always want to do more."
Ad
-

The Blame stars Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth talk "hard-hitting" new police drama which uses real-life officer text messages
The Blame stars Michelle Keegan and Douglas Booth reveal to Radio Times why their new drama about police misogyny is so important – and personal.
-

Coronation Street airs major Kit Green twist at Sarah Platt's trial in early ITVX release
Warning: Contains spoilers for Friday's episode of Coronation Street, which airs at 8.30pm on ITV1 or can be streamed now on ITVX.
-

EastEnders confirms worrying Gray Atkins twist as Chelsea Fox slapped by Kathy Beale early BBC iPlayer release
Warning: Contains spoilers for Tuesday's episode of EastEnders, which airs at 7.30pm on BBC One or can be streamed now on BBC iPlayer.
-

4 EastEnders spoilers for next week: Ian Beale faces prison sentence and Sharon Watts gets a shock
George is troubled and Gray makes a scheme.
-

Doctor Who legend Jo Martin confirmed for "twisty" new adventure with Absolutely Fabulous star
Jo Martin is set for a new adventure.
Ad
-

Reality TV icon Olivia Attwood: 'My career wouldn’t have existed 10 years ago'
"Viewers want people who are agile and they're honest and they're authentic and I think that's what I do, I show up as myself."
-

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen ending explained: Showrunner breaks down final twist
Showrunner Haley Z Boston takes us through that bloody final episode.
-

8 Coronation Street spoilers next week: Sarah Platt's trial arrives and Kit Green begins his chemotherapy
Everything happening in Coronation Street between Sunday 11 and Friday 16 October.
-

EastEnders airs heartbreaking death scenes as Nigel Bates leaves soap after 34 years in early BBC iPlayer release
Warning: Contains spoilers for Wednesday's episode of EastEnders, which airs at 7.30pm on BBC One or can be streamed now on BBC iPlayer.
-

Cillian Murphy on the universal struggle that attracted him to Steve: "99 per cent of us are trying and failing"
The new film – now streaming on Netflix – reunites the Peaky Blinders star with Small Things Like These director Tim Mielants.
-

Chicago PD original cast member to leave show for good in season 14 after 12 years in the role
A new chapter calls for one of the show's most beloved characters.
-

EastEnders airs dark Max Branning and Amy Mitchell twist in early BBC iPlayer release
Warning: Contains spoilers for Thursday's episode of EastEnders, which airs tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One or can be streamed now on BBC iPlayer.
-

6 Coronation Street spoilers next week: Ollie Driscoll arrested for attacking Jake Windass and Maggie Driscoll sleeps with Brian Packham
Everything happening in the episodes of Coronation Street airing between Monday 24 and Friday 28 August.
-

W1A and Twenty Twelve creator takes us behind the pen on his all-new series Twenty Twenty Six
John Morton never imagined his creation Ian Fletcher would still be failing upwards, 15 years after making his debut.
-

EastEnders' Adam Woodyatt says decisions about Ian Beale 'weren't right'
"He claimed to be a great father when actually, no he wasn’t, he was an absolute narcissist."
-

David Oyelowo felt a calling to play Martin Luther King – but Selma's original director rejected him
The actor speaks to Radio Times magazine about his role in Apple TV+ comedy series Government Cheese.
-

Emmerdale secret implodes publicly as Mackenzie Boyd fears the worst for Charity Dingle in early ITVX release
Warning: Contains spoilers for Thursday's episode of Emmerdale, which airs at 8pm on ITV1 or can be streamed now on ITVX.
-

Cillian Murphy pushed for ambitious way of filming Steve – but director thought it was impossible
The Oscar-winner stars as an overworked headteacher in the new movie from Tim Mielants.
-

Cross season 2 ending explained: What happened to Lance Durand?
The season 2 finale left things in a very different place heading into a potential season 3.
-

Home and Away spoilers as Alf Stewart faces trouble amid health concerns thanks to new cop Richie
A new arrival in Summer Bay!
-

Emmerdale stars reveal Sam and Lydia's conflicting reactions to Samson bombshell
The truth will come out!
-

Yellowstone's Cole Hauser explains why he initially had an "issue" with Rip's "secret" in spin-off Dutton Ranch
Rip Wheeler just broke one of Yellowstone’s ultimate rules in Dutton Ranch, but Cole Hauser can explain why he did it.
See more about Do the Right Thing
Ad
Ad
Ad