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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.
Body Heat
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 4 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie >
Movie Info
Genre(s): Crime | Drama | Suspense/Thriller
Written by: Lawrence Kasdan
Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
Release Date:
Theatrical: August 28, 1981
DVD: October 24, 2006
Running Time: 113 minutes, Color
Origin: USA
Summary
RATING: R for restricted, under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian
Starring Kathleen Turner, William Hurt, Ted Danson, and Mickey Rourke
Body Heat, a sexy, haunting tale of desire and skullduggery that echoes 1940s film noirs but is charged with an energy and passion that could only flare in the '80s. Sit back and bask in this contemporary classic's wicked warmth. (Warner Bros.)
Also On Metacritic
FILM: Dreamcatcher French Kiss Grand Canyon I Love You to Death Silverado The Accidental Tourist The Big Chill Wyatt Earp
Also On The Web: Internet Movie Database Official Studio Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
Body Heat is good enough to make film noir play like we hadn't seen it before.
Read Full Review >TV Guide Staff (Not Credited)
An excellent crime drama in the style of Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, and Dashiell Hammett.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club) Nathan Rabin
Kasdan's moody tribute to cinema's dark past set a gold standard for neo-noirs that has seldom been equaled.
Read Full Review >Empire Ian Nathan
Still regarded as one of the steamiest movie's of all time, Body Heat is a fantastic exponenet of how noir has developed.
Read Full Review >Chicago Reader Dave Kehr
Lawrence Kasdan's 1981 noir fable is highly derivative in its overall conception, but it finds some freshness in its details. All in all, this evokes the spirit of James M. Cain more effectively than the 1981 remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice did.
Read Full Review >Film Threat Stuart Swineford
Aside from the over abundance of rather large glasses and sweaty actors, Body Heat succeeds fabulously, not only as an excellent example of a classic film noir but as a solidly executed production in its own right.
Read Full Review >The New York Times Janet Maslin
While Body Heat involves murder, fraud, a weak hero led astray and a seductive, double-dealing broad, it also incorporates something new: a sexual explicitness that the old films could only hint at.
Read Full Review >Time Richard Corliss
Body Heat is full of meaty characters and pungent performances...a film to be seen at a drive-in, on a heavy summer night, with someone you trust.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe Bruce McCabe
Lawrence Kasdan's Body Heat--an homage to film noir--gets off to a nice start before it becomes entangled in its convoluted and somewhat uninteresting plot machinations.
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jay Scott
Hurt is so good at capturing the charming and chilling Ned that he almost makes up for the film's two primary weaknesses: Kasdan's inexperience and a message of significant unpleasantness. [28 Aug 1981, p.P17]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this movie is 10.0 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Alan M. gave it a10:
Great Film Noir. My favorite of many great Lawrence Kasdan films, with Kathleen Turner at her sexiest best. Great intrigue and setup.
Michael R. gave it a10:
This homage to Double Indemnity is one of the most captivating film noirs since Double Indemnity.
