• Do the Right Thing (1989)

    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...

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Do the Right Thing
92
metacriticBased on 16 Critics
84
Based on 167 Users

Release Date: 1989

DVD Release Date: July 22nd, 1998

R |2 hr 0 min

Plot Summary

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.

Cast: Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Spike Lee, Bill Nunn, John Turturro

Director: Spike Lee

Genres: Drama

Production Co: 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks

Keywords: Sister, Son, Rivalry, Brother, Intense, Witty, 1980s

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Cast & Crew

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Ratings & Reviews

  • 100
    Roger EbertChicago Sun-Times

    It comes closer to reflecting the current state of race relations in America than any other movie of our time. show more

  • 100
    Gene SiskelChicago Tribune

    This is a sumptuous work, from its unconventional title sequence of a woman dancing hard in the streets to its provocative ending with conflicting quotes from Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr .[30 June 1989, Friday, p.A]

  • 100
    San Francisco Chronicle

    Has more originality, nitty-gritty humor, spirit and spunk than all the summer blockbuster retreads combined. Underneath the jousting and jiving, there's a sharp, uncompromising look at the anatomy of a race riot in the movie. [30 June 1989, Daily Notebook, p.E3]

See all critic reviews on metacritic.com

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Awards

Nominated Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen)
Oscars Academy Awards (1989)
Nominated Best Screenplay - Motion Picture
Golden Globes (1990)
Nominated Best Motion Picture - Drama
Golden Globes (1990)
Nominated Best Performance By an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
Golden Globes (1990)
Nominated Best Director - Motion Picture
Golden Globes (1990)
Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role
Oscars Academy Awards (1989)