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In the Heat of the Night

1988·Show
146Episodes in8Seasons
60
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.6Metacritic428.3
Episodes
IMDb7.6Metacritic428.3
Episodes

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In the Heat of the Night fingerprint

Strong craft, a touch of humor.

Energy

Tense

  • Tension7
  • Fast Pace5
  • Violence4

Heart

Nostalgic

  • Nostalgia8
  • Pathos6
  • Hopefulness6

Humor

Some sharp wit

Not a comedy at heart.

  • Wit & Wordplay6
  • Satire & Parody3
  • Situational Comedy2

World

History, crime, and society

Lived-in and easy to get lost in.

  • Dialogue Centrality9
  • World Immersion8
  • Rewatchability7

Craft

Standout performances, dialogue, and characters

  • Acting9
  • Dialogue Quality8
  • Character Depth8

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Editing6
  • Music Composition6
  • Cinematography5

Who it's for

AdultsFamily Movie NightFriends NightIntergenerationalPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyThought-Provoking

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Nostalgic shows

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every show. Select a row to see all of them.

Episode ratings

IMDb rating of every episode, one row per season
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IMDb rating of every episode, one column per season
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Episode 15
Episode 16
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Episode 19
Episode 20
Episode 21
Episode 22
Episode 23
Episode 24

About

In the Heat of the Night is an American television series based on the motion picture and novel of the same name starring Carroll O'Connor as the white police chief William Gillespie, and Howard Rollins as the African-American police detective Virgil Tibbs. It was broadcast on NBC from 1988 until 1992, and then on CBS until 1995. Its executive producers were Fred Silverman, Juanita Bartlett and Carroll O'Connor. TGG Direct released the first season of the series to DVD on August 28, 2012.
Procedural DramaRacial Tension in the SouthClassic TV NostalgiaDynamic Duo PartnershipSocial Justice ThemesCharacter-Driven MysteryPeriod Piece AuthenticityLegacy of Iconic FilmThoughtful Dialogue

Crew

Directed by:
Harry Harris, Russ Mayberry, Winrich Kolbe
Written by:
Joe Gannon, Nancy Bond, Kathy McCormick
Produced by:
Carroll O'Connor, Fred Silverman

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about In the Heat of the Night

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream In the Heat of the Night legally?

PrimefuboTVMGM+PhiloThe RokuYouTube TVSpectrum On DemandTubi TV

In the Heat of the Night is included with a subscription to Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Philo, and YouTube TV in the United States. You can watch it free with ads on Tubi TV. You can also rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, and Apple TV Store. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is In the Heat of the Night worth watching?

60
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 60/100 (IMDb 7.6 and Metacritic 42). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is In the Heat of the Night rated?

ViolenceStrong language

Content advisories: violence and strong language.

How many seasons does In the Heat of the Night have?

8 seasons

It has 8 seasons with 146 episodes of about 60 minutes each.

Do critics and audiences agree on In the Heat of the Night?

Critics42
Audiences80

Not quite. Audiences rate In the Heat of the Night higher (80) than critics (42). It's more of a crowd-pleaser than a critics' pick.

When did In the Heat of the Night air?

It ran from 1988 to 1995 and has ended.

What language is In the Heat of the Night in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch In the Heat of the Night?

94ADAGALARATAUBBBEBFBGBMBOBRBS+80

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for In the Heat of the Night in 94 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does In the Heat of the Night use?

They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!Real Life Writes the PlotRunning GagThrowing the FightBookendsRed HerringDrunk DriverBeware the Nice OnesDerailing Love InterestsNoble Bigot with a BadgeVictim of the WeekChristmas Episodeand 61 more

TV Tropes lists 73 storytelling tropes for In the Heat of the Night, including They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!, Real Life Writes the Plot, Running Gag.