In the Heat of the Night

1967 • 110 minutes
4.7
156 reviews
96%
Tomatometer
Eligible
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About this movie

Sidney Poitier, in one of his most-celebrated roles, appears as Virgil Tibbs, a Philadelphia homicide detective who, while visiting a small Mississippi town, will find himself falsely arrested for a murder and then, in a strained collaboration with the town's sheriff (Rod Steiger), stays on to help solve the murder. Steiger's town is a backward "redneck" Southern burg whose population includes an aristocratic racist, the eccentric owner of a fly-infested diner, exceptionally stupid cops, young thugs who beat up "niggers" for the fun of it and a young woman who provocatively cools herself by standing nude at her window. When the murder is finally solved, Poitier and Steiger will part with reserve and distance, but with enormous respect for each other. Norman Jewison directed.

Ratings and reviews

4.7
156 reviews
A Google user
December 31, 2016
a tense and gripping thriller with two outstanding central performances,, unfortunately its thought provoking social commentary is still as relevant today as when the film was first released
Tom Beaudry
August 17, 2019
Google's use of the "N" word in the movie description is unsatisfactory! Who do you think you are?!?!!!! It doesn't matter, Google will just delete this comment before anyone can read it.
11 people found this review helpful
Stephen Grubbs
October 31, 2014
This movie has two of the best performances ever given on screen in those of Rod Steiger and Sydney Poitier. Steiger demonstrates the prejudice of his town but then pressure from the victims widow he grows to see beyond color and swallowing his pride a asks for help from Philadelphia detective Poitier. Both men judge each other, are judged by outward appearance but then learn to respect and appreciate each other. A truly odd couple, the unlikely duo break from status quo and solve a mystery.
17 people found this review helpful