In the Heat of the Night
1967, English. Directed by Norman Jewison.
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.
- Runtime
- 1h 49m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
Start now and it ends at ….
Worth the Hype
Clear your evening for this.
7.7/10 from 1,325 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch In the Heat of the Night
In the Heat of the Night is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in India.
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Amazon VideoAvailability in India as of 14 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Part of a series
Virgil Tibbs Trilogy: watch order
Cast & crew
- Norman JewisonDirector
- Sidney PoitierDet. Virgil Tibbs
- Rod SteigerPolice Chief Bill Gillespie
- Warren OatesDeputy Sam Wood
- Lee GrantMrs. Leslie Colbert
- Larry GatesEric Endicott
- James PattersonMr. Purdy
- William SchallertMayor Schubert
- Beah RichardsMama Caleba
- Peter WhitneyDeputy Courtney
- Kermit MurdockHenderson
- Larry D. MannWatkins
- Matt ClarkPacky Harrison
Details
- Released
- 2 August 1967
- Country
- United States of America
- Written by
- Stirling Silliphant
- Budget
- $2M
- Box office
- $27M
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What In the Heat of the Night is based on
In the Heat of the Night is based on In the Heat of the Night (1965) by John Ball, published by Harper.
1965
In the Heat of the Night
By John Ball
Published by Harper
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
After In the Heat of the Night
What comes next in the series.
If you liked In the Heat of the Night
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In the Heat of the Night: quick answers
What comes after In the Heat of the Night?
Next in the series: They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and The Organization (1971).
Is In the Heat of the Night worth watching?
Our verdict is Worth the Hype: Clear your evening for this. It scores 7.7/10 from 1,325 TMDB viewer ratings.
How long is In the Heat of the Night?
In the Heat of the Night runs 109 minutes (1h 49m).
Does In the Heat of the Night have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for In the Heat of the Night. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
In the Heat of the Night parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
In the Heat of the Night is rated PG-13 in India. Check the rating guidance before watching with young children.
Which OTT platform is In the Heat of the Night on?
In the Heat of the Night is streaming on Amazon Prime Video in India. (Checked 14 November 2026.)
What movies are like In the Heat of the Night?
If you liked In the Heat of the Night, try The Detective, Bad Day at Black Rock, Murder in Three Acts.
Who directed In the Heat of the Night?
In the Heat of the Night (1967) was directed by Norman Jewison and stars Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, Warren Oates.
What is In the Heat of the Night based on?
In the Heat of the Night is based on In the Heat of the Night (1965) by John Ball, published by Harper.