Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Moderate
- witty
- irreverent
- heightened
- casual movie night
- retro crime double feature
What critics said
Critics generally found the star pairing and period design mildly entertaining but judged the film an underwhelming, uneven showcase for its considerable expectations.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ex-policeman Lieutenant Speer and private investigator Mike Murphy repeatedly clash while pursuing the gangs and missing accounting records.
The Kansas City setting, private-eye protagonist, mobsters, secret records, and 1930s crime milieu draw on old-school noir and gangster traditions.
Secret accounting records stolen from a mobster prompt the rival gangs' pursuit and the central investigation.
Kansas City in the 1930s supplies mob warfare, speakeasy-era criminality, and period design for the comic action.
Films like City Heat, and why
The Sting
1930s crime setting, wisecracking detective partnership, and comic gangster violence
48 Hrs.
buddy-cop friction, action-comedy tone, and mismatched male leads
Miller's Crossing
period gangster atmosphere blended with broad comedy and rival criminal factions
Movie Details
- Director
- Richard Benjamin
- Release Date
- 1984-12-07
- Runtime
- 97 min
- Rating
- 5.5 / 10 (224)
Cast
- Clint Eastwood
- Burt Reynolds
- Jane Alexander
- Madeline Kahn
- Rip Torn
- Irene Cara
- Richard Roundtree
- Tony Lo Bianco
- William Sanderson
- Nicholas Worth
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is City Heat about?
- A wisecracking private eye and his abrasive ex-partner reunite to outfight rival Kansas City gangs in a comic 1930s crime romp.
- What is City Heat like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of City Heat as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is City Heat violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in City Heat as moderate.
- What did critics think of City Heat?
- Critics generally found the star pairing and period design mildly entertaining but judged the film an underwhelming, uneven showcase for its considerable expectations.
- Which films are like City Heat?
- Films with a similar feel include The Sting, 48 Hrs., and Miller's Crossing.
- How long is City Heat?
- City Heat runs 97 minutes.
- Where can I watch City Heat?
- In United States, City Heat streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
