These are two great performances that are strikingly opposite but snap perfectly together.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | May 12, 2025

Even without the racial overtones that makes the film historic, "In the Heat of the Night" is a top-notch and superior mystery film and crime drama. That strength of story and intrigue only adds to the tangible racial tension of the setting.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 4, 2023

As usual, Poitier lights up the screen with dignity and grace as he works through racial bigotry opposite Rod Steiger.

| Jun 14, 2023

The small town vibe permeates every single scene, and the hot and humid Southern summer makes everything sweatier and grimier.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 22, 2022

An extremely well directed and acted film. I appreciate it doesn’t try to have inspirational moments and keeps characters messy and complex

| Original Score: 8/10 | Aug 17, 2022

Fast and enjoyable... The cinematography by Haskell Wexler has an exciting, alive quality, and the good Quincy Jones score includes a title song sung by Ray Charles.

| Jul 29, 2022

With its stellar slate of extras, which includes both sequels, and top-notch AV presentation, Kinos 4K release is now the definitive home video edition of In the Heat of the Night.

| Apr 27, 2022

This is a far cry from examining the structural and sociological ramifications of racism, but hey, we gotta start somewhere.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Mar 22, 2022

The two stars play their roles to the hilt. You don't feel they are trying to surpass each other. Rather, it seems Steiger and Poitier are acting together like a team, each with his eye on the ball every second and not missing a single chance to score.

| Feb 3, 2022

In the Heat of the Night is one of the year's best detective stories and most remarkable films.

| Feb 3, 2022

Greatly to their credit and without getting preachy, they manage to transcend their cute premise and make a sound, serious and altogether excellent film that is quite possibly the best we have had from the U.S. this year.

| Feb 2, 2022

Stirling Silliphant's screenplay is commendably unusual in that the relationship between the black and white protagonists is never conveniently defined.

| Feb 2, 2022

Norman Jewison's brilliant direction and Stirling Silliphant's trenchant screenplay have turned out a powerful picture, with bitter confrontations between two master actors, Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, as diametrically opposed forces.

| Feb 2, 2022

Artful and entertaining at once, pulse-pounding and thought-provoking at the same time.

| Feb 2, 2022

There is an aura of gold about In the Heat of the Night. It is the gold of statuettes -- Oscar-shaped statuettes... But if there is here to be an Academy recognition of a leading player, male, only a twin Oscar would be justified.

| Feb 2, 2022

Poitier is simply one of the finest actors anywhere, and reconfirms it here. And it's hard to recall a role in which Steiger has seemed more engaging, and less the studied actor.

| Feb 2, 2022

Steiger's portrayal of the paunchy, cagey police chief is what reminds you that a really good actor is like a virtuoso who excels on a dozen instruments. Director Norman Jewison may have mapped the action, but the characterization belongs to Steiger.

| Feb 2, 2022

[Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger have] achieved a dazzling dramatic collaboration. Watching them convey the nuances of their roles becomes so fascinating that you almost resent the intrusion of the exciting murder plot.

| Feb 2, 2022

It purports to be a thriller concerning an act of violence in the Deep South, but it is really a satire. And the butt of all its jokes -- the phenomenon the others and I were splitting our sides over -- is bigotry.

| Feb 2, 2022

In the Heat of the Night is really an excuse for Rod Steiger and Sidney Poitier to snipe and rage and hate each other. And the ferocious clash of these two fine actors in this racial drama transcends script and setting.

| Feb 2, 2022