Spike Lee's Greatest Films Of All Time

Born March 20, 1957, American director and producer Spike Lee is a legend in the film industry. Known for exploring themes of race relations, urban crime and poverty, and a number of political issues, Lee has broken down barriers and is well-deserving of the accolades he has received over the years.  

Freshly graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts, Spike Lee would waste no time producing his first film, She's Gotta Have It (1986). Serving as the writer, producer, director, and star of the film, Lee would film it in just two weeks! The ground-breaking film would be a huge box-office hit and critics had nothing but praise for Spike Lee. 

Another well-loved Spike Lee production is 1989's Do the Right Thing. The Brooklyn comedy-drama would lead to Lee's first Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay!

The 1990s would continue to bring success for Spike Lee, however, his first film of the decade would be met with mixed critique. Mo' Better Blues, while phenomenally written and produced, would receive heat for being antisemitic. Lee defended his film, and while the film would have its haters, it has become one of Lee's best films of all time. 

Spike Lee's next film would be met with more positive critique and was praised for approaching an important social issue of the day. Jungle Fever, which follows the story of a black architect and white secretary, highlighted the complexities of interracial relationships and started an important discussion into how they are viewed within society. 

The following year, Spike Lee would release yet another masterpiece. In his epic biographical drama, Lee tells the story of Malcolm X and the trials the activist faced throughout his lifetime. Starring Denzel Washington as Malcolm X, the film received the highest of praise from critics.

Spike Lee never shies away from telling important stories, even the most painful to tell. Lee's 1997 documentary, 4 Little Girls, tells the true story of the 1963 church bombing that took the lives of four young children way too soon. The film would receive an Oscar nomination and, in 2017, it was chosen to be added to the National Film Registry. 

Spike Lee has continued to direct and produce hits in the new millennium and one of the best has been 2002's 25th Hour. Following the story of a man who has 24 hours of freedom left before going to prison, the film was met with the highest praise from critics and ranked as one of the best of the decade. 

While an unusual choice of film for Lee, 2006's Inside Man still managed to be a hit. With an all-star cast including Jodie Foster, Denzel Washington, and Clive Owen, the heist film succeeded both financially and critically!

Spike Lee would see a brief decline in success in the early 2010s but would bounce back stronger than ever in 2015 with the hit film Chi-Raq. Set in Chicago, the musical comedy-drama touches on the issue of gang violence in Chicago's Southside and starred an impressive cast including Angela Bassett, Wesley Snipes, and Samuel L. Jackson.