Spike Lee
Film director · 16 films (1989–2020)
Spike Lee is a director whose work here spans Do The Right Thing (1989) to Da 5 Bloods (2020), across drama and crime. 3 of those films were photographed by Ernest R. Dickerson. All 1,109 frames from 16 films are indexed here, searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, colour and mood.
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American filmmaker and actor. His work has continually explored race relations, issues within the black community, the role of media in contemporary life, urban crime and poverty, and other political issues.
Born 20 March 1957 · Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Directing style
Spike Lee’s visual signature anchors tense, interior-heavy dramas and crime thrillers primarily at night, relying on shallow depth of field to isolate subjects within medium and wide shots. He favors a grounded perspective, keeping the camera predominantly at eye level while utilizing practical lighting, direct sunlight, and fluorescent sources to illuminate his scenes. His color palette balances cool, desaturated tones with warm, earthy hues, utilizing a mix of muted grays, deep blues, and warm ochres to sustain an ominous and lonely atmosphere.
Awards
- Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay · 2019
- BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay · 2019
- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program
- Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking
- American Society of Cinematographers Awards · 2024
- Academy Honorary Award · 2015
- George Polk Award · 2006
- NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award · 2003
- Honorary César · 2003
- Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Films directed by Spike Lee
Do The Right Thing (1989)
Mo’ Better Blues (1990)
Malcolm X (1992)
Clockers (1995)
He Got Game (1998)
Summer of Sam (1999)
Bamboozled (2000)
25th Hour (2002)
Inside Man (2006)
Red Hook Summer (2012)
Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth (2013)
Da Sweet Blood of Jesus (2014)
Chi-raq (2015)
BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Pass Over (2018)
Da 5 Bloods (2020)
About Spike Lee
When was Spike Lee born?
Spike Lee was born on 20 March 1957 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
What films has Spike Lee directed?
FrameThrower holds stills from 16 of them: Do The Right Thing (1989), Mo’ Better Blues (1990), Malcolm X (1992), Clockers (1995), He Got Game (1998), Summer of Sam (1999), Bamboozled (2000) and 25th Hour (2002) and more.
What awards has Spike Lee won?
Academy Award for Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay (2019), BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (2019), Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Documentary/Nonfiction Program and Primetime Emmy Award for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking.
Search every frame of Spike Lee’s films
All 1,109 indexed frames from 16 films directed by Spike Lee — searchable by lighting, lens, shot size, mood or plain language.