In the Heat of the Night
Directed by Norman Jewison
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.
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Top cast
Sidney Poitier
Det. Virgil Tibbs
Rod Steiger
Police Chief Bill Gillespie
Warren Oates
Deputy Sam Wood
Lee Grant
Mrs. Leslie Colbert
Larry Gates
Eric Endicott
James Patterson
Mr. Purdy
William Schallert
Mayor Schubert
Beah Richards
Mama Caleba
Peter Whitney
Deputy Courtney
Kermit Murdock
Henderson
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch In the Heat of the Night online?
As of November 4, 2026, In the Heat of the Night is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, History Vault, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, The Roku Channel, YouTube Free, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Tubi TV, Amazon MX Player, Kanopy, and Hoopla in United States. Use the country selector above to check availability in other regions — streaming rights are licensed per country, so catalogues differ.
Is In the Heat of the Night on Netflix?
No — In the Heat of the Night is not currently on Netflix in any of the countries we track. In United States it streams on Amazon Prime Video, History Vault, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, The Roku Channel, YouTube Free, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Tubi TV, Amazon MX Player, Kanopy, and Hoopla instead.
Can I rent or buy In the Heat of the Night online?
Yes. In United States, In the Heat of the Night can be rented on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, and Plex and purchased on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home.
In which countries can I stream In the Heat of the Night?
As of November 4, 2026, In the Heat of the Night is included with a streaming subscription (or free with ads) in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States, among the countries we track.
Streaming availability last checked on November 4, 2026. Catalogues change frequently — data from TMDB and JustWatch.
