Do the Right Thing
“It's the hottest day of the summer. You can do nothing, you can do something, or you can...”
Synopsis
Sal is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn. A neighborhood local, Buggin' Out, 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.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Restored TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2018-07-06
Top Cast
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Danny Aiello
Sal
Ossie Davis
Da Mayor
Ruby Dee
Mother Sister
Richard Edson
Vito
Giancarlo Esposito
Buggin Out
Spike Lee
Mookie
Bill Nunn
Radio Raheem
John Turturro
Pino
Paul Benjamin
ML
Frankie Faison
Coconut Sid
Robin Harris
Sweet Dick Willie
Joie Lee
Jade
Miguel Sandoval
Officer Ponte
Rick Aiello
Officer Long
John Savage
Clifton
Samuel L. Jackson
Mister Señor Love Daddy
Rosie Perez
Tina
Roger Guenveur Smith
Smiley
Release History & Theatrical Window
Cannes Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
June 30, 1989
Wide Cinema Exhibition
October 12, 2017
VOD & Digital Platforms
October 18, 1995
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$6.5M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$37.3M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
5.74x
+$30.8M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Spike Lee
- Screenplay & Story
- Spike Lee
- Original Score
- Bill Lee
- Original Title
- Do the Right Thing
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Italian, English, Spanish, Korean
- Runtime
- 2h 0m
- Production Budget
- $6.5M
- Worldwide Gross
- $37.3M
- Production Studios
- Universal Pictures, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Bill Lee
Ernest R. Dickerson
Barry Alexander Brown
Spike Lee
Department Leadership Roster
Spike Lee
Producer
Spike Lee
Screenplay
Eddie Smith
Stunt Coordinator
Ernest R. Dickerson
Director of Photography
Bill Lee
Original Music Composer
Ruth E. Carter
Costume Design
Wynn Thomas
Production Design
Barry Alexander Brown
Editor
Spike Lee
Director
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.
Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Do the Right Thing.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Do the Right Thing.
Movie Collection
Essential Drama
My Movies
Master List In Progress
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die
1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (All editions 2003-2024). A cumulative list including films subsequently removed in later editions. Totaling 1,260 films as of Nov 2024. 《1001部死前必看的电影》（2003-2024 全版本累积版）： 包含自2003年首版至2024年11月德语版修订的所有影片。即使在后期版本中被剔除的电影也予以保留。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#019] Lovers Rock (2020) • [#418] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:40:36 UTC+8)*
Roger Ebert's Great Movies
Every film from Roger Ebert's 'Great Movies' essays. 罗杰·伊伯特的伟大电影： 收录了已故美国著名国民级影评人罗杰·伊伯特（Roger Ebert）在其经典的《伟大电影》（Great Movies）系列专栏文章中推荐、评论过的所有影史经典佳作。 *注：榜单源数据中包含部分剧集/迷你剧，由于本片单只收录纯电影，故不再收录以下非电影条目：* • [#092] Dekalog (1989) *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:39:08 UTC+8)*
AFI Top 100 (2007 Edition)
AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies – 10th Anniversary Edition is an updated edition to AFI’s 100 Years…100 Movies, a list of the top 100 greatest American films of all time. AFI 百年百大电影（10周年修订版）： 美国电影学会（AFI）评选的最伟大的100部美国电影。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:37:20 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Do the Right Thing
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Do the Right Thing about?
Sal is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in Brooklyn. A neighborhood local, Buggin' Out, 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.
Who directed Do the Right Thing?
Do the Right Thing was directed by Spike Lee.
Who stars in Do the Right Thing?
The principal cast of Do the Right Thing includes Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito.
When was Do the Right Thing released and how long is it?
Do the Right Thing was released in 1989 with a total runtime of 2h 0m.
What was the box office and production budget of Do the Right Thing?
Do the Right Thing had a reported production budget of $6.5M and grossed $37.3M at the worldwide box office (5.74 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Do the Right Thing?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Do the Right Thing was composed by Bill Lee.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Do the Right Thing?
Do the Right Thing holds official age classifications: AU: R 18+; CA: 18A; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 18 (Suitable only for adults 18 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).