In the Heat of the Night

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Emiliano F Both an absolute masterclass in writing subtext, and acting with subtlety. Only an actor with Poitier's confidence can say so much by doing so little. The level of restraint in this film is what makes it so brilliant and tense. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/28/25 Full Review Jonathan K It's an interesting mystery, at least up until the end, when the final reveal feels a little pedestrian compared to the whole buildup. The movie just sort of ends without much wrap-up, which I think kind of fits the era of filmmaking. Seems like movies were a bit more subtle back then. At first, I thought Rod Steiger, who won Best Actor for this, was over-acting and not very convincing. I think that's partly just the style of acting in the 60s, but as it went on, his skill became clear. There are some very natural moments in his performance and a few points where the editing, which also won an Oscar, stood out. The movie won five Academy Awards total, and in the editing, I noticed shots and visual effects type cuts that seemed very cutting edge for the time. I can see why it was so impressive back then. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 09/28/25 Full Review Peter W Overall, if you’re seeking a murder mystery film with some excellent moments of tension and drama, In the Heat of the Night is highly recommended. It should come as no surprise that actor Sidney Poitier commands the screen wonderfully with his performance, which always feels compelling and genuine. Rod Steiger, like Poitier, is convincing in his role, so much so that it’s easy to have a dislike for his character in the opening scene alone. The mystery component begins instantly, and the pacing of watching it all unfold is also entertaining. However, the film does rush its reveals and conclusions, and some minor details in the ending may seem unclear to some viewers. Nevertheless, it remains an outstanding watch, and now I’m eagerly seeking out the film’s two sequels. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 09/17/25 Full Review O g Open to accusations of extreme patronisation. Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/27/25 Full Review Mitch B I love the story, the acting and just how fast paced it was. For such a thought-provoking movie, I thought it e was also kind of fun as well. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/10/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 1 hour and 49 minutes!!!!!!!!!! Starring Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/12/25 Full Review Read all reviews

In the Heat of the Night

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