Spike Lee has been called many things – controversial, firebrand, and an auteur – but one thing that can’t be denied is that he’s a fantastic filmmaker. Often focusing on social issues like racism, Lee has created a lengthy portfolio of movies that continue to push buttons and ask questions. Check out our guide below to discover Spike Lee’s 10 best movies and where to stream them.
Lee first broke into Hollywood with his 1986 film She’s Gotta Have It. The movie follows a woman as she balances her crushes on three different men (Lee himself even plays one of the men in the film). It was also Lee’s first time taking on writing, directing, and producing duties in a major film. The movie became a huge success for the first-time filmmaker, premiering at Cannes and earning Lee an Independent Spirit Award.
Lee’s most iconic film however is easily Malcolm X, which takes the #2 spot on our list. The movie was a biopic that followed the life of civil rights activist and religious preacher Malcolm X. Malcolm was played by Denzel Washington and the movie showed X’s upbringing, incarceration, indoctrination to the Nation of Islam, redemption, and ultimately, his tragic assassination. The film was a massive hit and Denzel Washington even earned himself an Oscar nomination for his role.
But the #1 spot on our list goes to BlacKkKlansman. The movie tells the wild but true story of Colorado police officer Ron Stallworth, a Black man who infiltrated a local chapter of the KKK to spy on them and offer information to police and the FBI. The film was hard-hitting yet hilariously absurd…made even crazier by the fact that it was all based on real events. BlacKkKlansman received six Oscar and Six Golden Globe nominations, including Best Director and Best Picture at both ceremonies.
While much of Lee’s filmography focuses on racial issues and Black life in America, he’s also directed a wide range of other movies, like the #3 film on the list, Inside Man. At first, the movie seems like a classic heist story, but a very unique twist flips the entire story on its head in the finale, making it a thrilling watch for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.
Check out all 10 of Spike Lee’s best movies from his decades-long career, and find out where you can watch all of them in our guide below.
