Do the Right Thing

In Spike Lee’s landmark Brooklyn classic, the streets of Bed-Stuy boil as racial tensions run high on the hottest day of the year. At the heart of the action, Lee gives one of his most substantial screen performances as the astute but aimless Mookie. Loaded with an amazing supporting cast (including Samuel L. Jackson, John Turturro, and Ruby Dee) and music by Public Enemy, Do the Right Thing swings effortlessly from comedy to social commentary. More than thirty years after its controversial release, it remains an essential cultural touchstone for a very different Brooklyn.