AFI (2007) • AFI-075
In the Heat of the Night
1967 • Norman Jewison
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ABOUT THIS FILM
RUNTIME
110 min
FAMOUS QUOTE
“They call me Mister Tibbs!”
When a wealthy businessman is murdered in a small Mississippi town, local police chief Bill Gillespie reluctantly accepts help from Virgil Tibbs, a skilled Black homicide detective passing through town. Despite racial tensions and suspicion from the local community, Tibbs works to uncover the truth behind the crime. Sidney Poitier’s commanding performance as Tibbs and Rod Steiger’s portrayal of Gillespie create a tense partnership that evolves over the course of the investigation. Blending mystery with social commentary, In the Heat of the Night confronts racism and injustice in the American South during the civil rights era.
Why it matters
- A defining work in the AFI canon, it showcases the craft of classical Hollywood storytelling (or its modern evolution) at a high level.
- Its influence shows up in later films—through structure, tone, or visual language—making it a useful reference point for how the medium developed.
- It endures because its core conflicts feel human and repeatable, letting new audiences find fresh meaning in familiar moments.
Watch for
- How the opening establishes tone and stakes—often more is set up visually than in dialogue.
- Key scenes where performance choices (pauses, glances, timing) do the emotional heavy lifting.
- Editing and transitions: notice what the film hides, what it reveals, and when it decides to do each.
Vibe
Mystery DramaSouthern RacismPolice InvestigationCivil Rights EraSmall-Town TensionMoral AuthorityCrime SolvingHot-Weather HostilityPoitier PowerSocial Conscience
AFI RANK
1998: —
2007: #75