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Trailer

In the Heat of the Night

1967Movie1 h 49 minPG-13

CrimeDrama
83
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.9Letterboxd4.0/5Metacritic767.9Rotten Tomatoes96%92%

A gripping, tense crime movie about crime and society, with standout performances.

Good for date night · friends night · teens

Where to watch

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Not for laughs or scares.

Movies with

Story

They got a murder on their hands. They don’t know what to do with it.

African-American Philadelphia police detective Virgil Tibbs is arrested on suspicion of murder by Bill Gillespie, the racist police chief of tiny Sparta, Mississippi. After Tibbs proves not only his own innocence but that of another man, he joins forces with Gillespie to track down the real killer. Their investigation takes them through every social level of the town, with Tibbs making enemies as well as unlikely friends as he hunts for the truth.

Feels like

  • Racial Tension
  • Small Town Crime
  • Forced Partnership
  • Murder Investigation
  • American South
  • 1960s Setting
  • Atmospheric
  • Gritty Realism
  • Social Commentary

Cast

24 of 24

Crew

Directed by
Norman Jewison
Written by
Stirling Silliphant, John Ball
Produced by
Walter Mirisch
Music by
Quincy Jones

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

August 2, 1967 · 1 h 49 min · PG-13

Released
August 2, 1967
Runtime
1 h 49 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Violence, Strong Language
Genres
Crime, Drama, Mystery
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$2 million
Box office
$27 million
Available in
104 countries

Tropes

Suddenly Shouting, In Vino Veritas, Police Are Useless +9

  • Suddenly Shouting
  • In Vino Veritas
  • Police Are Useless
  • I Didn't Mean to Kill Him
  • Accidental Murder
  • Misplaced Wildlife
  • Heat Wave
  • Tranquil Fury
  • Everyone Has Standards
  • Run for the Border
  • Title Theme Tune
  • Source Music

12 of 59 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream In the Heat of the Night?"

Questions about In the Heat of the Night

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream In the Heat of the Night?

fuboTVMGM+PhiloThe RokuKanopyHooplaHistory VaultIndieFlix

In the United States, In the Heat of the Night streams on fuboTV, MGM+, Philo, History Vault, and IndieFlix, and it is free with ads on The Roku, Kanopy, Hoopla, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Plex. It also streams in 80 other countries.

Is In the Heat of the Night worth watching?

83
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 83 (IMDb 7.9, Letterboxd 4.0 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 96%, and Metacritic 76).

Is In the Heat of the Night okay for kids?

PG-13ViolenceStrong language

Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for violence and strong language, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Was In the Heat of the Night a box office hit?

Budget$2 million
Box office$27 million

Yes, a big one: it cost about $2 million to make and earned $27 million worldwide, 13.7 times its budget.

What tropes does In the Heat of the Night use?

Suddenly ShoutingIn Vino VeritasPolice Are UselessI Didn't Mean to Kill HimAccidental MurderMisplaced WildlifeHeat WaveTranquil FuryEveryone Has StandardsRun for the BorderTitle Theme TuneSource Musicand 47 more

TV Tropes lists 59 tropes for it, including Suddenly Shouting, In Vino Veritas, and Police Are Useless.