The Big Heat

The Big Heat

A hard cop and a soft dame.

1953 · 89 min · ★ 7.7 · Crime, Thriller

After the suspicious suicide of a fellow cop, tough homicide detective Dave Bannion takes the law into his own hands when he sets out to smash a vicious crime syndicate.

Directed by Fritz Lang · Written by Sydney Boehm

Your Rating

Where to Watch

Streaming

YouTube TVSony Pictures Core Amazon Channel

Rent or Buy

Amazon VideoApple TV StoreGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeFandango At Home

Cast

Trailers & Videos

Make it a double feature

3h together

The Big Heat

Human Desire

Both from Fritz Lang.

More from Fritz LangSee all →

MetropolisMetropolis · 1927
Metropolis
★ 8.11927
MovieDramaScience Fiction
In a futuristic city sharply divided between the rich and the poor, the son of the city's mastermind meets a prophet who predicts the coming of a savior to mediate their differences.
MM · 1931
M
★ 8.11931
MovieDramaThriller
In this classic German thriller, Hans Beckert, a serial killer who preys on children, becomes the focus of a massive Berlin police manhunt. Beckert's heinous crimes are so repellant and disruptive to city life that he is even targeted by others in the seedy underworld network. With both cops and criminals in pursuit, the murderer soon realizes that people are on his trail, sending him into a tense, panicked attempt to escape justice.
Scarlet StreetScarlet Street · 1945
Scarlet Street
★ 7.61945
MovieDramaCrime
Cashier and part-time starving artist Christopher Cross is absolutely smitten with the beautiful Kitty March. Kitty plays along, but she's really only interested in Johnny, a two-bit crook. When Kitty and Johnny find out that art dealers are interested in Chris's work, they con him into letting Kitty take credit for the paintings. Cross allows it because he is in love with Kitty, but his love will only let her get away with so much.
The Woman in the WindowThe Woman in the Window · 1944
The Woman in the Window
★ 7.41944
MovieCrimeDrama
A seductive woman gets an innocent professor mixed up in murder.
SpiesSpies · 1928
Spies
★ 7.31928
MovieThrillerRomance
The mastermind behind a ubiquitous spy operation learns of a dangerous romance between a Russian lady in his employ and a dashing agent from the government's secret service.
You Only Live OnceYou Only Live Once · 1937
You Only Live Once
★ 7.11937
MovieCrimeDrama
Based partially on the story of Bonnie and Clyde, Eddie Taylor is an ex-convict who cannot get a break after being released from prison. When he is framed for murder, Taylor is forced to flee with his wife Joan Graham and baby. While escaping prison after being sentenced to death, Taylor becomes a real murderer, condemning himself and Joan to a life of crime and death on the road.
ContemptContempt · 1963
Contempt
★ 7.01963
MovieDramaRomance
Art film producer Jeremy Prokosch, unhappy with the work of his director, hires Fritz Lang (as himself) to direct an adaptation of The Odyssey, but when it seems that the legendary filmmaker is making a picture destined to bomb, he brings in a screenwriter to energise the script. The professional intersects with the personal when a rift develops between the writer and his wife.
While the City SleepsWhile the City Sleeps · 1956
While the City Sleeps
★ 6.91956
MovieThrillerDrama
Newspaper men compete against each other to find a serial killer dubbed "The Lipstick Killer".
Ministry of FearMinistry of Fear · 1944
Ministry of Fear
★ 6.91944
MovieCrimeMystery
Stephen Neale is released into WWII England after two years in an asylum, but it doesn't seem so sane outside either. On his way back to London to rejoin civilization, he stumbles across a murderous spy ring and doesn't quite know to whom to turn.
Beyond a Reasonable DoubtBeyond a Reasonable Doubt · 1956
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
★ 6.81956
MovieCrimeDrama
A newspaper publisher, wanting to prove a point about the insufficiency of circumstantial evidence, talks his possible son-in-law Tom into a hoax in an attempt to expose ineptitude of the city's hard-line district attorney. The plan is to have Tom plant clues leading to his arrest for killing a female nightclub dancer. Once Tom is found guilty, he is to reveal the setup and humiliate the DA.
House by the RiverHouse by the River · 1950
House by the River
★ 6.81950
MovieThrillerCrime
Wealthy writer Stephen Byrne tries to seduce the family maid, but when she resists, he kills her. Long jealous of his brother John, Stephen does his best to pin the blame for the murder on his sibling. Also affected by Stephen's arrogant dementia is his long-suffering wife Marjorie.
The Thousand Eyes of Dr. MabuseThe Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse · 1960
The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse
★ 6.81960
MovieCrimeMystery
A reporter is murdered while driving to his job. The Police are contacted by a clairvoyant who saw the death in a vision, but some dark force is preventing him from seeing the man behind the crime...
Human DesireHuman Desire · 1954
Human Desire
★ 6.71954
MovieCrimeDrama
A Korean War vet returns to his job as a railroad engineer and becomes involved in a sordid affair with a co-worker's wife following a murder on a train.
Clash by NightClash by Night · 1952
Clash by Night
★ 6.71952
MovieDramaRomance
An embittered woman seeks escape in marriage, only to fall for her husband’s best friend.
Cloak and DaggerCloak and Dagger · 1946
Cloak and Dagger
★ 6.51946
MovieDramaThriller
Italian partisans help a professor sent by the OSS to find an atomic scientist held by Nazis.
Rancho NotoriousRancho Notorious · 1952
Rancho Notorious
★ 6.51952
MovieDramaWestern
A man in search of revenge infiltrates a ranch, hidden in an inhospitable region, where its owner, Altar Keane, gives shelter to outlaws fleeing from the law in exchange for a price.

More Like This

Kill Bill: Vol. 1Kill Bill: Vol. 1 · 2003
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
★ 8.02003
MovieActionCrime
An assassin is shot by her ruthless employer, Bill, and other members of their assassination circle – but she lives to plot her vengeance.
A History of ViolenceA History of Violence · 2005
A History of Violence
★ 7.22005
MovieDramaThriller
An average family is thrust into the spotlight after the father commits a seemingly self-defense murder at his diner.
SnatchSnatch · 2000
Snatch
★ 7.82000
MovieCrimeComedy
Unscrupulous boxing promoters, violent bookies, a Russian gangster, incompetent amateur robbers, and supposedly Jewish jewellers fight to track down a priceless stolen diamond.
ScarfaceScarface · 1983
Scarface
★ 8.21983
MovieActionCrime
After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.
The UntouchablesThe Untouchables · 1987
The Untouchables
★ 7.81987
MovieCrimeHistory
Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.
Ocean's ThirteenOcean's Thirteen · 2007
Ocean's Thirteen
★ 6.72007
MovieCrimeThriller
Danny Ocean's team of criminals are back and composing a plan more personal than ever. When ruthless casino owner Willy Bank doublecrosses Reuben Tishkoff, causing a heart attack, Danny Ocean vows that he and his team will do anything to bring down Willy Bank along with everything he's got. Even if it means asking for help from an enemy.
NotoriousNotorious · 1946
Notorious
★ 7.71946
MovieDramaRomance
In order to help bring Nazis to justice, U.S. government agent T.R. Devlin recruits Alicia Huberman, the American daughter of a convicted German war criminal, as a spy. As they begin to fall for one another, Alicia is instructed to win the affections of Alexander Sebastian, a Nazi hiding out in Brazil. When Sebastian becomes serious about his relationship with Alicia, the stakes get higher, and Devlin must watch her slip further undercover.
Once Upon a Time in AmericaOnce Upon a Time in America · 1984
Once Upon a Time in America
★ 8.41984
MovieDramaCrime
A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan over thirty years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.
Miller's CrossingMiller's Crossing · 1990
Miller's Crossing
★ 7.41990
MovieDramaThriller
Set in 1929, a political boss and his advisor have a parting of the ways when they both fall for the same woman.
Strange DaysStrange Days · 1995
Strange Days
★ 7.01995
MovieCrimeScience Fiction
In the last days of 1999, ex-cop turned street hustler Lenny Nero receives a disc which contains the memories of the murder of a prostitute. With the help of bodyguard Mace, he starts to investigate and is pulled deeper and deeper in a whirl of murder, blackmail and intrigue.
MementoMemento · 2000
Memento
★ 8.22000
MovieMysteryThriller
Leonard Shelby is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife's killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.
Beverly Hills Cop IIBeverly Hills Cop II · 1987
Beverly Hills Cop II
★ 6.51987
MovieActionComedy
Axel Foley returns to the land of sunshine and palm trees to investigate the near-fatal shooting of police Captain Andrew Bogomil. With the help of Sgt. Taggart and Det. Rosewood, they soon uncover that the shooting is associated with a series of "alphabet" robberies masterminded by a heartless weapons kingpin—and the chase is on.
48 Hrs.48 Hrs. · 1982
48 Hrs.
★ 6.71982
MovieCrimeAction
A hard-nosed cop reluctantly teams up with a wise-cracking criminal temporarily paroled to him, in order to track down a killer.
InsomniaInsomnia · 2002
Insomnia
★ 7.02002
MovieThrillerCrime
Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.
Snakes on a PlaneSnakes on a Plane · 2006
Snakes on a Plane
★ 5.52006
MovieActionAdventure
FBI agent Neville Flynn boards a flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to Los Angeles, escorting a key witness to testify against a mob boss at an upcoming trial. An on-board assassin releases a crate full of hundreds of deadly venomous snakes in an attempt to eliminate the witness. Flynn and a host of frightened passengers and crew must band together to survive the slithery threat.
Den of ThievesDen of Thieves · 2018
Den of Thieves
★ 6.92018
MovieCrimeThriller
A gritty crime saga which follows the lives of an elite unit of the LA County Sheriff's Dept. and the state's most successful bank robbery crew as the outlaws plan a seemingly impossible heist on the Federal Reserve Bank.

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter