Spike Lee has never hesitated to shed light on several aspects of society, such as race, social justice, and identity, through the bold and unapologetic storytelling in his films. This has made Lee one of the most influential directors in the industry over the last four decades. From Get on the Bus to School Daze, he has several masterpieces to his name. 

So, here are the five best films from the director’s resume that show his unique voice and vision.

Do the Right Thing is one of the brilliant masterpieces directed by Spike Lee. It is evident in its thought-provoking dialogues, unique shooting style, and the use of hip-hop music to reflect the culture of the era. The film follows a delivery boy in a Brooklyn neighborhood during the hottest day of summer. 

But it is not just the temperature that is rising. Long-buried frustrations have been boiling beneath the surface, leading to growing tension among the residents. The chaos is followed by a shocking tragedy. The film is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.

Malcolm X is yet another crucial film in Spike Lee’s career that helped him reach new heights as a director. The movie follows the controversial life of activist Malcolm X and is largely based on Alex Haley’s 1965 book, The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Apart from Lee’s brilliant directorial approach, the film featured a star-studded cast, with Denzel Washington starring as Malcolm X and Angela Bassett portraying Betty Shabazz. 

Albert Hall, Delroy Lindo, Theresa Randle, and Kate Vernon were also part of the ensemble cast. Spike Lee himself also starred in the film as Malcolm’s childhood friend, Shorty. The film can be rented on Amazon or Apple TV.

From its memorable dialogues to its portrayal of New York City after the September 11 attacks, 25th Hour was widely praised by critics. The movie is adapted from David Benioff’s 2001 debut novel of the same name. It stars Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Barry Pepper. 

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The film follows Monty Brogan during his final 24 hours of freedom before beginning a seven-year prison sentence. In 2016, it ranked 26th on the BBC’s list of the 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century. The movie is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.

 Bamboozled was written and directed by Spike Lee. The director used his bold storytelling style to create one of the most unique films of the early 2000s. Much like many of his other movies, it featured a star-studded cast.

Damon Wayans, Jada Pinkett Smith, Savion Glover, Tommy Davidson, and Michael Rapaport starred in the film. The satirical black comedy-drama follows Pierre Delacroix, a television writer who creates an offensive modern-day minstrel show in hopes of getting fired, only for the program to unexpectedly become a massive hit. The movie is available to rent on Amazon Prime.

Inside Man is quite different from the usual themes and genres that Spike Lee is known for exploring. Yet that did not stop him from showing his best work with this film. Inside Man is a crime thriller written by Russell Gewirtz.

The movie stars Denzel Washington, who has recently worked with Lee as Detective Keith Frazier. While Clive Owen stars as Dalton Russell, Jodie Foster stars as Madeleine White. Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe, and Chiwetel Ejiofor are also part of the cast. The movie is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.

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Have you watched any of these films directed by Spike Lee? Let us know in the comments.