Killer Heat

Play trailer

1:54

Killer Heat

R

2024

1h 36m

Crime

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

Romance

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

18%

Tomatometer

28 Reviews

28%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

A thrilling, contemporary mystery in classic noir style, Killer Heat follows private eye Nick Bali (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an American expat in Greece, hired to investigate the supposed accidental death of young shipping magnate Leo Vardakis (Richard Madden) on the island of Crete. The victim's sister-in-law (Shailene Woodley) doesn't believe the official police report. But what exactly happened to Leo, and why? Despite the sun-drenched beauty of its exotic Mediterranean locale, Nick finds darkness at every turn: where the rich and powerful Vardakis family rule like gods, where jealousies run deep, and anyone could be a suspect.

Watch on Prime Video

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A modern noir utterly lacking in intrigue, Killer Heat is disappointingly lukewarm.

Read Critics Reviews

Craig Mathieson

The Age (Australia)

Oct 3, 2024

Adapted from a short story by Jo Nesbo, this sun-drenched Mediterranean noir pushes hard-boiled menace and private eye diffidence to a tiring degree, but it lacks for a decent plot and even a hint of intrigue.

Go to Full Review

Owen Gleiberman

Variety

Oct 1, 2024

The director, Philippe Lacôte, does an okay job of unfurling the story, yet somehow it all lacks… heat. Maybe that’s because he wants the dots he’s connecting to be sentimental.

Go to Full Review

Benjamin Lee

Guardian

Sep 26, 2024

1/5

Killer Heat will not go down as the worst Nesbø adaptation out there but it will definitely be the most forgettable.

Go to Full Review

Matthew Koss

The Wandering Screen (YouTube)

Aug 16, 2025

D

Shailene Woodley is a highlight, and it’s a shame she didn’t get more screen time at the expense of Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s uninspired detective, Nick Bali, who should sooner be in therapy than on our screens.

Go to Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Nov 19, 2024

C

Sluggish noir thriller.

Go to Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

Oct 23, 2024

2.5/4

...familiar subject matter that’s employed to watchable yet entirely forgettable effect...

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Darrell S

@RT37459315 Mar 11, 2026

Starts out good, but ends to early and the finale ends on a whimper.

See more

Frans B

@FransB Jan 11, 2026

Lukewarm just about sums it up. Cast not convincing in character or perhaps it's been written in a wooden manner? Nothing seems to get up to speed and plot is filled with voids. Nothing noteworthy to report here ...

See more

Pedro Henrique C

@Pedro2005 Jan 5, 2026

Killer Heat (2024) A thriller that goes round and round without finding anything good, the script is terrible, and it ends with a weak twist.

See more

Jay Q

@RT45112569 Dec 27, 2025

I tried to watch but I'm not a fan of Shailene Woodley.

See more

Scott W

@RT19570288 Jul 9, 2025

Meh. Enjoyable cast. The effort to make it noir is commendable but the execution is poor. Crete is lovely but a bit sunny for the noir tone. I correctly predicted the big twist reveal in the opening scenes.

See more

Jerod S

@jeroduptown Apr 15, 2025

The parallel marriage story lines doesn't work - but the whodunnit of the free solo death is entertaining. Make it twins, to boot.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Philippe Lacôte

Director

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Nick Bali

Shailene Woodley

Penelope Vardakis

Richard Madden

Elias 'Leonidas'

Clare Holman

Audrey

Babou Ceesay

Georges Mensah

Anatomy of a Fall

96%

91%

Anatomy of a Fall

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Anatomy of a Fall

The Last Stop in Yuma County

97%

78%

The Last Stop in Yuma County

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Last Stop in Yuma County

Carancho

88%

72%

Carancho

Watchlist

Woman of the Hour

91%

68%

Woman of the Hour

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Woman of the Hour

Nightmare Alley

80%

68%

Nightmare Alley

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Nightmare Alley

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Killer Heat: Trailer 1

1:54

Now Playing

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

A thrilling, contemporary mystery in classic noir style, Killer Heat follows private eye Nick Bali (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an American expat in Greece, hired to investigate the supposed accidental death of young shipping magnate Leo Vardakis (Richard Madden) on the island of Crete. The victim's sister-in-law (Shailene Woodley) doesn't believe the official police report. But what exactly happened to Leo, and why? Despite the sun-drenched beauty of its exotic Mediterranean locale, Nick finds darkness at every turn: where the rich and powerful Vardakis family rule like gods, where jealousies run deep, and anyone could be a suspect.

Director: Philippe Lacôte
Producer: Brad Weston
Screenwriter: Matt Charman, Roberto Bentivegna
Distributor: Prime Video
Production Co: Amazon Studios, Makeready, Faliro House Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 26, 2024
Runtime: 1h 36m

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings