Brooklyn's Alamo Drafthouse to Become Spike Lee Cinema in Tribute to Iconic Filmmaker

Arguably the greatest Black director of all time is being commemorated once more.

According to Variety, Alamo Drafthouse is dedicating a newly renovated downtown Brooklyn theater to the one and the only, Spike Lee. The He Got Game director will be honored on September 12 with a ceremony as well as a screening of his semi-autobiographical 1994 film, Crooklyn. Lee will also be in a live Q&A.

As a private event, the day will feature the unveiling of the Spike Lee Cinema plaque, which will read as follows:

“Like many of the greatest films over the past 40 years, this theater is a Spike Lee Joint. From his nuanced portrayals of Brooklyn life in ‘Do the Right Thing’ and ‘Crooklyn’ to his towering portrait of ‘Malcolm X,’ his vision has shaped our culture and left an indelible mark on this city. For that reason, as of Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, this Alamo Drafthouse Cinema shall hereby and forevermore be known as the Spike Lee Cinema.”

The news comes on the heels of the recently completed upgrade and expansion.

The theater was originally made in 2016 in the City Point complex with seven screens. But now, the Alamo Drafthouse is revamped with five new auditoriums, which feature laser projectors, RealD 3D, 70 mm, and 35 mm capabilities on select screens. These auditoriums will have premium leather recliners that are fully equipped with personal swivel tables to enjoy the “in-seat food and drink options that’s made Alamo Drafthouse a favorite among cinephiles.

“After completing this massive upgrade to our Brooklyn location, we knew immediately that we wanted to dedicate it to Spike Lee,” said Michael Kustermann, Alamo Drafthouse CEO. “His films have defined Brooklyn for generations, and we’re immensely proud to do our part to honor that legacy.”

Adding to Alamo Drafthouse’s diverse mix of first run films, classics and signature events, the new Spike Lee Cinema will screen a “retrospective programming series" of Lee’s films, which are the following: Crooklyn (Sept. 17), Mo’ Better Blues (Sept. 21), Jungle Fever (Sept. 22), Do the Right Thing (Sept. 28), Clockers (Sept. 29) and Inside Man (Oct. 6).