Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Spike Lee
How Spike Lee built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Spike Lee is an influential American filmmaker known for his thought-provoking explorations of race relations, social justice, and political issues within the Black community. His films often tackle urban crime, poverty, and the impact of media on contemporary society. Throughout his career, Lee has received numerous prestigious awards, including an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards. He has also received nominations for Golden Globe Awards and a Grammy Award, solidifying his status as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry and a powerful voice for social change.
1983: Student Academy Award for Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads
In 1983, Spike Lee directed his student film Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads at New York University Tisch School of the Arts, which won a Student Academy Award.
1983: Premiere of Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads
In 1983, Spike Lee premiered his independent short film Joe's Bed-Stuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads, which won a Student Academy Award.
1985: Start of Work on She's Gotta Have It
In 1985, Spike Lee began work on his first feature film, She's Gotta Have It.
1986: Directorial Debut with She's Gotta Have It
In 1986, Spike Lee made his directorial debut with the comedy She's Gotta Have It.
1986: Release of She's Gotta Have It
In 1986, Spike Lee's film She's Gotta Have It was released, grossing over $7 million at the U.S. box office.
1988: Release of School Daze
In 1988, Spike Lee followed She's Gotta Have It with the musical drama School Daze.
1989: Release of Do the Right Thing
In 1989, Spike Lee made his seminal film, Do the Right Thing, focusing on racial tension in a Brooklyn neighborhood. The film received critical acclaim.
1989: Critical Acclaim for Do the Right Thing
In 1989, Spike Lee received widespread critical acclaim for the drama Do the Right Thing, for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
1990: Release of Mo' Better Blues and Antisemitism Accusations
In 1990, Spike Lee released Mo' Better Blues and faced accusations of antisemitism from the Anti-Defamation League and film critics.
1990: Release of Mo' Better Blues
In 1990, Spike Lee wrote and directed the film Mo' Better Blues.
1990: Directed Levi's and Nike Commercials
In mid-1990, Levi's hired Spike Lee to direct TV commercials for their 501 button-fly jeans. Nike also offered Lee a job directing commercials pairing his character, Mars Blackmon, with Michael Jordan for the Air Jordan line.
1991: Release of Jungle Fever
In 1991, Spike Lee released Jungle Fever, which garnered Samuel L. Jackson acclaim for his performance.
1991: Taught a Course at Harvard
In 1991, Spike Lee taught a filmmaking course at Harvard University.
1992: Golden Bear at Berlin International Film Festival for Malcolm X
In 1992, Spike Lee directed the historical epic Malcolm X, earning the Berlin International Film Festival's Golden Bear.
1992: Release of Malcolm X
In 1992, Spike Lee released his biographical epic film Malcolm X, based on the Autobiography of Malcolm X, starring Denzel Washington. The film received widespread critical acclaim.
1993: Began Teaching at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts
In 1993, Spike Lee began teaching at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in the Graduate Film Program, where he also earned his master of fine arts degree.
1996: Release of Girl 6 and Get on the Bus
In 1996, Spike Lee released the films Girl 6 and Get on the Bus.
1997: Academy Award Nomination for 4 Little Girls
In 1997, Spike Lee's documentary 4 Little Girls was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature Film.
1997: Nomination for 4 Little Girls
In 1997, Spike Lee's documentary 4 Little Girls, about the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary.
1998: Third Collaboration with Denzel Washington on He Got Game
In 1998, Spike Lee had his third collaboration with Denzel Washington on the sports drama He Got Game.
1999: Release of Summer of Sam
In 1999, Spike Lee released Summer of Sam, based on the Son of Sam murders.
2000: Release of Bamboozled
In 2000, Spike Lee directed Bamboozled, a satire about a modern televised minstrel show.
2002: Release of 25th Hour
In 2002, Spike Lee directed 25th Hour starring Edward Norton and Philip Seymour Hoffman, which opened to positive reviews.
2002: Appointed Artistic Director at NYU
In 2002, Spike Lee was appointed as the artistic director of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
2004: Release of She Hate Me
In 2004, Spike Lee released She Hate Me, which received negative reviews.
2006: Release of Inside Man
In 2006, Spike Lee directed Inside Man, starring Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Clive Owen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Willem Dafoe and Christopher Plummer. The film was a critical and financial success.
2006: Directing HBO Series When the Levees Broke
In 2006, Spike Lee directed the HBO series When the Levees Broke, which won two Primetime Emmy Awards.
May 2, 2007: San Francisco Film Society's Directing Award
On May 2, 2007, Spike Lee was honored with the San Francisco Film Society's Directing Award at the 50th San Francisco International Film Festival.
2008: Wexner Prize and Miracle at St. Anna
In 2008, Spike Lee received the Wexner Prize and directed the World War II drama Miracle at St. Anna.
2010: Directing If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise
In 2010, Spike Lee directed the HBO documentary If God Is Willing and da Creek Don't Rise.
2012: Directed Red Hook Summer
In 2012, Spike Lee directed *Red Hook Summer*, where he reprised his role as Mookie from *Do the Right Thing*.
2013: David Lee's Photography Career
Before 2013, David Lee, Spike's younger brother, served as a still photographer for all of Spike's feature films with the exception of Get on the Bus and He Got Game.
2013: Film Credited as "A Spike Lee Film" after Re-editing
In 2013, Spike Lee's film, *Oldboy*, used the credit "A Spike Lee Film" after producers had it re-edited, a departure from his usual "A Spike Lee Joint" credit.
2014: Directed Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
In 2014, Spike Lee directed *Da Sweet Blood of Jesus*, which was primarily funded on Kickstarter.
2015: Directed MyCareer story mode in NBA 2K16
In 2015, Spike Lee directed, wrote, and produced the MyCareer story mode in the video game NBA 2K16.
2015: Received Academy Honorary Award
In 2015, Spike Lee received an Academy Honorary Award for his contributions to film. The award was presented by Wesley Snipes, Denzel Washington, and Samuel L. Jackson at the Governors Awards ceremony.
2015: Released Chi-Raq
In 2015, Spike Lee released *Chi-Raq*, a musical drama film and a modern adaptation of Aristophanes' *Lysistrata*. The film explores race, sex, and violence in America and received generally positive reviews.
2015: Honorary Academy Award
In 2015, at the age of 58, Spike Lee received an Honorary Academy Award, making him the youngest person ever to receive it. The award recognized him as "a champion of independent film and an inspiration to young filmmakers". Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, and Wesley Snipes presented the award at the Governors Awards.
May 18, 2016: Commencement address for The Johns Hopkins University Class of 2016
On May 18, 2016, Spike Lee delivered the Commencement address for The Johns Hopkins University Class of 2016.
2018: Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for BlacKkKlansman
In 2018, Spike Lee won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and the Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix Award for the biographical crime dramedy BlacKkKlansman.
2018: BlacKkKlansman Premiered at Cannes and Received Praise
In 2018, Spike Lee's film *BlacKkKlansman*, a true crime drama, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Grand Prix. The film, which is about a black police officer infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan, received near universal praise upon its release.
2018: Grand Prix at Cannes Film Festival for BlacKkKlansman
In 2018, Spike Lee's film BlacKkKlansman won the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival.
2019: Nominated for Best Director and Won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards
In 2019, Spike Lee was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Director for *BlacKkKlansman* and won his first competitive Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. He expressed his feelings about *Green Book* winning Best Picture by saying it was "not my cup of tea".
2019: First Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
In 2019, Spike Lee's film BlacKkKlansman received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Lee himself. He won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, marking his first Academy Award.
May 2020: Published Short Film NEW YORK NEW YORK
In May 2020, Spike Lee published a three-minute short film, *NEW YORK NEW YORK*, on Instagram, which was later featured on the city's official website.
June 12, 2020: Released Da 5 Bloods on Netflix
On June 12, 2020, Spike Lee's Vietnam war film *Da 5 Bloods*, starring Delroy Lindo and Chadwick Boseman, was released on Netflix to widespread critical acclaim. The plot follows a group of aging Vietnam War veterans who return to Vietnam.
2020: Release of Da 5 Bloods and American Utopia
In 2020, Spike Lee directed Da 5 Bloods and the David Byrne concert film American Utopia.
2023: Ebert Director Award at TIFF Tribute Awards
In 2023, Spike Lee was named as the recipient of the Ebert Director Award at the TIFF Tribute Awards for the Toronto International Film Festival.
February 2024: Confirmed as Director of Highest 2 Lowest
In February 2024, Spike Lee was confirmed as the director of *Highest 2 Lowest*, a reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa's *High and Low* (1963), starring Denzel Washington. Lee will also make the Netflix three-part documentary series *Katrina: Come Hell and High Water*.
March 2024: Board of Governor's Award from the American Society of Cinematographers
In March 2024, Spike Lee received a Board of Governor's Award from the American Society of Cinematographers.
June 2025: Narrated promotional video for Inter Milan
In June 2025, Spike Lee featured as the narrator in a promotional video for the Italian soccer team Inter Milan.
2025: Release of Highest 2 Lowest
In 2025, Spike Lee is expected to release the film Highest 2 Lowest.
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