Feature Fridays | Do the Right Thing (1980s Cinema Appreciation Week)

Every Friday night, join Parkway Social and for free outdoor film screenings in the courtyard (weather permitting). Arrive early to snag a good spot—or bring your own chairs! Refreshments are available for purchase.

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The film begins at 8:00 p.m.

Do the Right Thing (1989) synonpsis:

On the hottest day of the year in a Brooklyn neighborhood, tensions simmer among a diverse group of residents. Mookie (Spike Lee), a young Black man, works as a pizza delivery guy for Sal’s Famous Pizzeria, an Italian-American-owned business that has served the primarily Black neighborhood for decades.

Conflict begins to build when Buggin' Out, a local activist, questions why Sal’s “Wall of Fame” only features Italian Americans and not any Black figures, despite the restaurant’s Black clientele. Sal refuses to change the wall, sparking debates about representation, ownership, and respect.

As the day progresses and the heat intensifies, so do the tensions—culminating in a confrontation that turns violent, leading to the death of Radio Raheem at the hands of police and the eventual destruction of Sal’s pizzeria by an outraged crowd.

This film is rated R —according to the Motion Picture Association (MPA) rating system in the U.S.

Rated R films often contain one or more of the following:

• Strong language (e.g., repeated or extreme profanity)
• Intense or graphic violence
• Sexual content or nudity
• Drug use
• Adult themes (e.g., trauma, abuse, or controversial social issues)

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Welcome to Required Viewings, a new Feature Fridays series showcasing films that are essential to any film buff's education. These cinematic classics and influential works are must-sees—each one a cornerstone of film history.

In collaboration with the Sandy Film Festival, attending 5 or more Required Viewings solidifies your Film Buff Status and unlocks discounted tickets to the 2025 Sandy Film Festival.

📍 Pick up your punch card at the screening to track your journey toward Film Buff Status!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Parkway Ballroom, 4455 South King Drive, Chicago, United States