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Comedy drama

Do the Right Thing (1989): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Do the Right Thing (1989) movie poster

Do the Right Thing is a 1989 comedy drama directed by Spike Lee, starring Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. It runs 2 hours and earned $37.3 million worldwide. It earned 4 award nominations, including Best Director at the Golden Globes 1990. Critics gave it 93 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10.

IMDb rating
8.0/10
worldwide gross
$37.3M
award nominations
4
Metascore
93
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Do the Right Thing (1989) movie poster
Released
Runtime
2h (120 min)
Director
Spike Lee
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
Korean
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Do the Right Thing About?

The premise of Do the Right Thing without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Jang Sa-ki thrives by deceiving others and accepting bribes from government officials, leading a comfortable and corrupt existence. However, his fortunes change when he's betrayed by Dal-se and Do-jun, threatening his lifestyle and forcing him to confront the consequences of his actions.

Do the Right Thing Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • pizzeria
  • bedford stuyvesant brooklyn new york city
  • boom box
  • race relations
  • heat wave
  • boycott
  • police brutality
  • radio disc jockey
  • one day timespan
  • radio station
  • pizza
  • new york city
+38 more
  • pizza delivery
  • riot
  • independent film
  • national film registry
  • police officer
  • low budget film
  • gentrification
  • fire hydrant
  • ends with narration
  • brass knuckles
  • dating
  • vulgarity
  • narration
  • african american
  • italian american
  • garbage can
  • fistfight
  • fight
  • photograph
  • ensemble cast
  • harassment
  • vandalism
  • controversy
  • urban decay
  • written and directed by cast member
  • brooklyn new york city
  • fire
  • puerto rican
  • italian restaurant
  • father son relationship
  • family business
  • convenience store clerk
  • open hydrant
  • fire hose
  • stuttering
  • racism
  • neighbor
  • racial slur
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Cast & crew

Do the Right Thing Cast

Danny Aiello leads the cast, with Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Directed by Spike Lee.

Ratings

Do the Right Thing Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Do the Right Thing 93 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 8.0/10.

Plot

Do the Right Thing Plot Summary

What happens in Do the Right Thing from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Mookie, played by Spike Lee, is a young man navigating life in the culturally rich neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He shares a home with his sister Jade (Joie Lee) and works as a pizza delivery man for Sal’s Pizzeria, owned by the Italian-American, Salvatore “Sal” Frangione, portrayed by Danny Aiello. Sal, who has run the pizzeria for a quarter of a century, struggles with his older son Pino (John Turturro), whose blatant racism causes tension in the shop. Pino’s disdain for the neighborhood’s black residents clashes with the more amicable relationship Mookie shares with Sal’s younger son, Vito (Richard Edson).

Full summary

The whole story of Do the Right Thing, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Do the Right Thing Box Office

Do the Right Thing grossed $37.3 million worldwide. $27.5 million came from the US and Canada and $9.8 million (26%) from the rest of the world.

1989 box office

Worldwide gross

$37.3M

US & Canada
$27.5M
International
$9.8M
US & Canada 74% Rest of the world 26%
Awards

Do the Right Thing Awards & Nominations

Do the Right Thing earned 4 award nominations, including Best Director at the Golden Globes 1990.

4 nominations1 ceremony

  • Golden Globe Awards logo
    Golden Globes 1990 4 nominations
    • Nominated Best Director – Spike Lee
    • Nominated Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical
    • Nominated Best Screenplay – Spike Lee
    • Nominated Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actor) – Danny Aiello
Videos

Do the Right Thing Trailers & Videos

9 videos: 1 trailer, 5 clips and 3 featurettes.

All 9 videos
Restored Trailer
  • Clip “You Stepped On My Brand New White Air Jordans!”
  • Clip Radio Raheem's Story of LOVE and HATE
  • Clip “How Come You Ain’t Got No Brothers Up on the Wall?” Scene in 4K HDR
  • Clip Radio Raheem's Death Sparks Riot in 4K HDR
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Do the Right Thing?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Mookie's profession in the film?

Cars

Cars in Do the Right Thing

19 cars on screen, including the 1984 Plymouth Gran Fury and the 1980 American LaFrance 900.

All 19 cars
  • 1984 Plymouth Gran Fury in Do the Right Thing 1984 Plymouth Gran Fury Important role
  • 1980 American LaFrance 900 in Do the Right Thing 1980 American LaFrance 900 Minor role
  • Boyertown Merchandiser in Do the Right Thing Boyertown Merchandiser Minor role
  • 1967 Cadillac DeVille Convertible in Do the Right Thing 1967 Cadillac DeVille Convertible Minor role
Details

Do the Right Thing Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “Haz lo que debas” and “循规蹈矩”.

Also known as
  • Haz lo que debas
  • 循规蹈矩
  • 为所应为
  • Faça a Coisa Certa
  • 똑바로 살아라
  • Fà La Cosa Giusta
  • Rób, co należy
  • ドゥ・ザ・ライト・シング:1989
  • Արա ճիշտ բաներ
  • Fa' la cosa giusta
  • Делай как надо
  • Уради праву ствар
+14 more
  • Κάνε το Σωστό
  • עשה את הדבר הנכון
  • Não Dês Bronca
  • Jednej správně
  • Doğruyu Seç
  • Роби як треба!
  • ドゥ・ザ・ライト・シング
  • Fă ce e bine
  • Szemet szemért
  • Haz lo correcto
  • Elkis teisingai
  • 為所應為
  • Do the Right Thing - kuuma päivä
  • Õige asja eest

Seen Do the Right Thing?

FAQ

Do the Right Thing FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Do the Right Thing, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Do the Right Thing?

Do the Right Thing runs 2 hours (120 minutes).

When was Do the Right Thing released?

Do the Right Thing was released on June 30, 1989.

Who directed Do the Right Thing?

Do the Right Thing was directed by Spike Lee.

More films by Spike Lee

Who is in the cast of Do the Right Thing?

Do the Right Thing stars Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee.

How much did Do the Right Thing make at the box office?

Do the Right Thing grossed $37.3 million worldwide ($27.5 million domestic, $9.8 million international).

How is Do the Right Thing rated?

Do the Right Thing has 8.0/10 on IMDb, 93 on Metacritic and 78% on TMDB.

Was Do the Right Thing nominated for any awards?

Do the Right Thing received 4 nominations across 1 ceremony.

Does Do the Right Thing have a post-credit scene?

No. Do the Right Thing has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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