For the past few months, Chi-Raq and its outspoken director have received a lot of attention, and now, viewers are welcome to form their own opinions. The Spike Lee-directed feature film, which retells the Greek play Lysistrata on the violent streets of Chicago, is now available on Amazon.
Chi-Raq is not just the latest Spike Lee joint; it’s also the first offering from Amazon Original Movies, which launched last year as an offshoot of the retailer’s Amazon Studios division. The film was initially released with a limited theatrical run on December 4th, and Amazon Prime subscribers now have a chance to check it out as well.
Ahead of Chi-Raq’s release, Lee made headlines by announcing his decision to boycott the Oscars as a protest against the award show’s lack of minority nominees. Chi-Raq was initially speculated as a potential Oscar contender itself, though it has generated a polarizing reception. Critics have offered generally positive reviews, but early Amazon users are divided. One-star reviews and five-star reviews together make up three-quarters of all the ratings the film has received so far.
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Beyond Chi-Raq, Amazon also plans to distribute several other films, including an upcoming feature directed by cult favorite Jim Jarmusch.
