--- title: "In the Heat of the Night: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/in-the-heat-of-the-night/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/in-the-heat-of-the-night" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # In the Heat of the Night (1967): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 12 reviews: 11 positive, 0 mixed, 1 negative. ## The Times — Kate Muir Rating ★★★★★. 18 November 2016. The critic praises the gripping mystery in which Poitier rocks a Mississippi community as a sophisticated black detective wrongly arrested. They highlight the delicious grainy cinematography and Quincy Jones soundtrack in this classic. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/in-the-heat-of-the-night-1967-99j6lgzq3) ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic praises the twist-filled storyline and excellent understated lead performances from Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, along with strong support and a cool jazz score from Quincy Jones. It is called probably Norman Jewison's best picture and noted for its Oscar success. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/heat-night-review/) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/4/4. 16 November 2016. The re-release review praises the film's enduring political relevance and Poitier's commanding performance as the standout element over its thriller plot. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/in-the-heat-of-the-night-1967/) ## The AV Club — Mike D'Angelo Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2017. The film remains sadly topical for its sharp portrait of implicit racial bias in policing and everyday encounters. Steiger and Poitier's performances, especially in the tense initial interrogation scene, highlight the film's enduring relevance and nuanced character dynamics. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/half-a-century-later-in-the-heat-of-the-night-remains-1798256510) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 November 2016. The critic finds the 1967 film still stands up well on re-release as a brilliant feverish drama despite some dated liberalism. They single out Sidney Poitier's elegant performance as Virgil Tibbs and the clever premise of the race thriller. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/17/in-the-heat-of-the-night-review) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 4/5. 14 November 2016. The critic finds the civil rights-era melodrama gripping and intense with hindsight, highlighting the strong performances and memorable script as key strengths. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/in-the-heat-of-the-night) ## Los Angeles Times — Charles Champlin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 23 August 1967. Sees it as smooth, beguiling entertainment with sharp social observation and strong performances, especially by Poitier and Steiger. Highlights effective confrontation scenes and the way the film delivers its message without being overly heavy-handed. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/story/2022-08-31/from-the-archives-poitier-and-steiger-star-in-in-the-heat-of-the-night) ## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 May 2025. The film offers a nuanced take on racial prejudice through the combative yet evolving relationship between Poitier's Tibbs and Steiger's Gillespie. It avoids simplistic resolutions, emphasizing the persistence of bias even amid mutual respect and professional collaboration. [Read the review](https://slantmagazine.com/dvd/in-the-heat-of-the-night-4k-uhd-blu-ray-review-norman-jewison) ## The Hollywood Reporter — John Mahoney Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 August 2017. The film is a gripping and suspenseful murder mystery that gains greater importance through its social significance and racial themes. Poitier's performance as the breakthrough Negro detective hero stands out, supported by strong direction and technical credits despite some flashy excesses. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/heat-night-review-1967-movie-1026024/) ## Variety — A.D. Murphy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 June 1967. Praises excellent performances by Poitier and Steiger that overcome script and direction flaws to create an absorbing Southern murder drama. Notes strong production values and cast while criticizing uneven plotting, some pretentious direction, and unclear elements. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1967/film/reviews/in-the-heat-of-the-night-1200421432/) ## The New Yorker — Penelope Gilliatt Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 29 July 1967. Calls the film a simplistic rah-rah underdog story that reduces real racial issues to something odious and contrived. Criticizes heavy attitudinizing, predictable plot devices, and lack of genuine instinct over myth-making. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1967/08/05/heated-bandwagon) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2016. The critic highlights the film's immeasurable historic value as a landmark in changing attitudes on race, alongside its strength as a superior thriller that holds up independently. Poitier's fierce, intelligent performance as Virgil Tibbs is singled out for praise, along with the film's noirish tone, the evolving buddy dynamic with Steiger, and Haskell Wexler's moody cinematography. [Read the review](http://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/in-the-heat-of-the-night-1967-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/in-the-heat-of-the-night.md