Spike Lee is undefiably one of those directors who do more than make cinema; they reshape it. Since his debut in the 1980s, Lee has proved himself to be one of the most influential and electrifying voices in American cinema. Across four decades, he has left an indelible mark, serving as a pioneer of Black cinema and, by extension, American cinema. Lee’s brilliantly confrontational and truthful films blur the boundaries between entertainment and education. To watch a Spike Lee film is to step into a world alive with energy, conflict, rhythm, and meaning. As we’ll see in my 10 favourites, I believe Lee has consistently presented his films with a sense of stylistic boldness, but they are equally intellectually enriching. Spike Lee doesn’t position the audience to passively observe but to argue, understand, and deeply feel the issues he covers.
Vivid colour palettes, bold production design, fourth-wall breaks, and the iconic double dolly shots are nestled into Lee’s films and have become staples of the cinematic language. Aesthetics are important, but Lee’s narrative style is just as distinct: fusions of realism with theatricality, history with contemporary immediacy, and politics with personal storytelling. Lee has an unmatched ability to blend satire, drama, comedy, and tragedy – and often within each single scene. Unafraid to linger on uncomfortable truths, to provoke outrage, and to risk moral ambiguity, Lee is certainly a bold filmmaker if nothing else – a quality essential to the art. Lee held the mirror up to America time and time again, refusing to look away from its contradictions, hypocrisies, and violence. And he’s done it with a voice that is unmistakably his own. Furthermore, Lee opened doors for generations of underrepresented filmmakers. Founded 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks in 1986, Lee pioneered in not just establishing a production company, but a defiant act of independence in which to maintain control over Black stories. This is unequivocally important in an industry that often distorts, abuses, and erases them. He’s held the mirror up to America again and again, refusing to look away from its contradictions, hypocrisies, and violence. And he’s done it with a voice that is unmistakably his own. Lee is not only entertaining in the socio-political weight he embeds in his work, but in that they are so immensely enjoyable, full of life, rhythm, and fun. His comedy biting, his drama deeply human, and both presented in a larger-than-life style showcasing his ambition and honesty as a filmmaker.
Ever since I was introduced to Lee with Do The Right Thing (1989) I have been entranced by his work, and to pick 10 films out of his body of overall excellent work is certainly a challenge. So, in the spirit of Spike Lee, who never plays it safe and never pulls punches, let’s dive into my list. Here are my top 10 Spike Lee Joints:
10. JUNGLE FEVER (1991)
A brilliantly provocative and emotionally charged exploration of interracial relationships and addiction, set in New York. Lee’s Jungle Fever dives headfirst into uncomfortable truths and touchy topics with his signature raw honesty and vibrant style.
9. SHE’S GOTTA HAVE IT (1986)
Spike Lee’s debut feature announced his bold new voice in American cinema. This story of a woman dating three men at once is wonderfully funny, fresh, and feminist, with Nola Darling remaining as a revolutionary character in Black independent film.
8. BLACKKKLANSMAN (2018)
Both a captivating police thriller and a searing portrait of systemic racism in America, Lee balances humour and horror in this film in a way I feel only Spike Lee could, culminating in a brilliantly crafted and sobering final act.
7. INSIDE MAN (2006)
A masterfully directed heist thriller film that presents subtext on issues of power, race, and justice beneath its sleek crime-caper surface. Arguably Lee’s most accessible and mainstream film, Inside Man still carries his stylish stamp.
6. DA 5 BLOODS (2020)
A bold and genre-blending war epic, Lee presents a film that is emotionally devastating, politically urgent, and anchored by an excellent and towering performance from the fantastic Delroy Lindo.
5. CROOKLYN (1994)
Deeply personal and tender in its content, Crooklyn captures the wheel of pain and joy that moulds the rhythm of family life with a sense of warmth and sensitivity, offering one of Lee’s most nostalgic films.
4. MO’ BETTER BLUES (1990)
A viscerally lush and jazzy portrait of artistic struggle and love, pairing Lee’s visual elegance with his capability for thematic depth, driven by Denzel Washington in a magnetic central performance.
3. BAMBOOZLED (2000)
A furiously brilliant satire that pulls no punches, that skewers media stereotypes with a biting wit and through Lee’s visual ambition, and that grows ever more prophetic, worrying, and funny.
2. MALCOLM X (1992)
A sweeping, powerful biopic that captures the full arc of Malcolm X; life, transformation, controversies, values, and death – from Malcolm Little to Malcolm X to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. I believe this is Spike Lee’s most ambitious film, a gargantuan 3-hour and 20-minute long feat that bursts with both style and substance. Denzel Washington’s performance is unrivalled, and Lee’s exploration of history, emotion, and politics is done with masterful precision and relevance.
Finally, my favourite Spike Lee film is Do The Right Thing. An iconic film of sweltering heat and blistering tension. An endlessly relevant masterpiece that pulses with energy, humanity, and rage. It’s no wonder this is Spike Lee’s magnum opus and is generally considered one of the most important American films ever made.
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