One of the pinnacle action crime thrillers, and a movie that has cemented itself as a bona fide genre classic in the three decades since it was released, hits a new streaming home for 2026. Not only is the crime thriller helmed by Academy Award-nominee Michael Mann, but it also stars two of Hollywood’s most iconic actors in this quintessential tale of cops and robbers.
Released way back in 1995, Heat is the epic crime thriller to end all epic crime thrillers. Written and directed by Michael Mann, the movie sets two Hollywood icons against each other as Oscar-winner Al Pacino stars as s LAPD Robbery Homicide Lieutenant Vincent Hanna alongside Oscar-winner Robert De Niro as professional thief Neil McCauley. Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, and Amy Brenneman make up the rest of the cast.
Heat stands at 84% from critics, alongside a much more accurate 94% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, with the former praising Pacino and De Niro in “an engrossing crime” that “confirms Michael Mann’s mastery of the genre.” Audiences, meanwhile, have bombarded Heat with five-star reviews.
“One of my top 5 favorite movies of all time. The coffee shop scene is incredible,” says one Rotten Tomatoes user, with another adding, “This is a crime classic. Between the cinematography, incredibly performances, Mann’s attention to detail, and the pacing, this is a home run.” Finally, this user declares Heat “A CLASSIC ! There’s no missing this one ! Forget what you heard about it, just watch it, make up your own mind ! I really don’t see how you could be disappointed…”
‘Heat 2’ Is Now Happening With Leonardo DiCaprio Set to Star
As of January 1, 2026, Heat is now streaming on 
Hulu, giving audiences the chance to discover (or rediscover) this seminal crime thriller on another popular platform before the long-awaited sequel arrives. You can check out the official synopsis for Heat below…
Master criminal Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) is trying to control the rogue actions of one of his men, while also planning one last big heist before retiring. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Hanna (Al Pacino) attempts to track down McCauley as he deals with the chaos in his own life, including the infidelity of his wife (Diane Venora) and the mental health of his stepdaughter (Natalie Portman). McCauley and Hanna discover a mutual respect, even as they try to thwart each other’s plans.
Heat 2 is now happening, with writer and director Michael Mann returning to adapt his 2022 novel. The movie will act as both prequel and sequel, covering the formative years of homicide detective Vincent Hanna and elite criminals Neil McCauley, Chris Shiherlis, and Nate, played in the first movie by Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, and Jon Voight, respectively. While casting details remain largely under wraps, Oscar-winner and Hollywood icon Leonardo DiCaprio has now confirmed his involvement, with filming expected to begin in summer 2026.
- Release Date
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December 15, 1995
- Runtime
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170 minutes
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
