As Spike Lee‘s legendary career evolves with each project, his earliest work continues to stand the test of time.
His classic 1989 film, Do The Right Thing, is inching closer to reaching its official 30-year anniversary, a milestone that not only deserves to be celebrated but also speaks to how its themes surrounding race relations, violence and other societal issues remain just as topical in society three decades later.
In honor of the movie’s anniversary, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment and the Criterion Collection will be re-releasing the film in theaters.
As reported by Deadline, the re-release will include one-week engagements as well as single-day showtimes on June 30. Do The Right Thing will be shown at various AMC, Regal Cinemas, Cinemark and Alamo Drafthouse theaters as part of the nationwide celebration. On top of that, for diehard fans, there will also be select 35mm screenings in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Austin and Brookline, MA.
“When Spike Lee’s revolutionary Do the Right Thing was released by Universal Pictures 30 years ago this June, it ignited a national conversation on race and race relations in America that challenged our assumptions about ourselves and our country and heralded the arrival of a generation-defining filmmaker,” Jim Orr, Universal’s President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution shared in a statement with Deadline.
Lee garnered a nomination for Best Original Screenplay for Do The Right Thing at the Oscars after its release. While he didn’t win at the time, decades later he took home the prize for Best Adapted Screenplay in February 2019 for BlacKkKlansman, having what many have since referred to as a full circle moment. The acclaimed director was previously awarded an honorary Academy Award in November 2015 for his contributions to filmmaking.
“In the decades since [Do the Right Thing], Universal has released six of Lee’s most unforgettable films including Crooklyn, Mo Better Blues, Jungle Fever and Inside Man,” Orr added. “And last year, NBCUniversal’s Focus Features released Lee’s acclaimed BlacKkKlansman, which earned Lee his long-overdue first Academy Award. Universal is honored by Lee’s enduring relationship with the studio, and we are thrilled to re-release his masterwork Do the Right Thing with this extraordinary new restoration.”
In addition to Do The Right Thing returning to theaters, it will also be released with 4k restoration on Blu-ray/DVD and will be available for sale beginning July 23.