As the days are getting longer and the temperature is starting to rise, Netflix has decided to stream the perfect movie for heading into the warmer months.NYU legendSpike Lee’s famous 1989 film — set on the hottest day in Brooklyn —Do The Right Thing,has found a streaming home on Netflix as of August 07, 2025. Written by theShe’s Gotta Have Itdirector in less than two weeks, the film is a beautiful love letter to Brooklyn that simultaneously exposes the deep racial tensions of New York City. Lee also stars in the film as the story’s middle man, Mookie, a person torn between his Italian-American employer and the Black residents of his community.
While the stylized ’80s film might seem like a snapshot of a time gone by,the film’s themesof racial relations in the American melting pot are more pertinent now than ever. The film has left a legacy of timelessness bolstered by its absolutely iconic cast of characters, like Giancarlo Esposito as the intense Buggin Out, John Turturro as Italian rascal Pino, Rosie Perez as the lovely Tina, and Samuel L. Jackson as the hilarious radio host Mister Señor Love Daddy.
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One Letterboxd reviewer sums up how, whether you’ve never seen the film or haven’t seen it in a while, it’s worth a watch:
“Sat on it for a year, rewatched, and yeah this is easily a top 10 for me. Few movies out there that know how to toy with emotion through music the way this one does. Can safely say it’s like a different movie the second time around. Lots of ideas being tossed around in every conversation that all make a lot more sense and hit just that much harder when you know how the entire films plays out. I don’t even blame Spike for not being able to make a film as critically acclaimed as this, how can you top THIS? I love this movie a lot.” -Karsten
Spike Lee Continues to Make History
While the Letterboxd reviewer has a point, none of Lee’s films have proven to be as impactful and universally beloved asDo The Right Thing.But that doesn’t mean Lee has held himself back from continuing to make film history. Not only has Lee had one of the greatest actors of our time, Denzel Washington, on speed dial for most of his projects, he’s also covered important historical content in his films. Most notably,Malcolm Xand the documentary4 Little Girlsshine bright lights on the injustices of the Civil Rights era.
Now, Lee is focused on making history in an even broader way, with his upcoming, mysterious remake of Akira Kurosawa’sHigh and Low. The original film is a beloved noir about a Japanese businessman struggling through the kidnapping of his family.While there’s not much knownabout Lee’sHighest 2 Lowest, Washington is set to star alongside A$AP Rocky in what might be Lee’s next historical breakthrough. In the meantime, however, fans can get (re)acquainted with the perfect film for the coming warmer months.
Do the Right Thing
