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Mention the name “Heat” to any film enthusiast, and you’re likely to hear it hailed as one of the finest movies ever made. Directed by Michael Mann, this 1995 crime thriller is renowned for its stellar cast, including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, and Ashley Judd. The film’s gripping action sequences have left a lasting impact on the industry, inspiring a new wave of filmmakers. Among them is Christopher Nolan, who took cues from “Heat” while crafting his 2008 blockbuster, “The Dark Knight.”
Warner Bros.
The influence of “Heat” is particularly evident in the opening scene of “The Dark Knight.” In this sequence, Heath Ledger’s Joker masterminds a meticulously planned bank heist, reminiscent of the precision and detail that would make Neil McCauley (De Niro’s character in “Heat”) proud. This thrilling scene, which ranks among the film’s standout moments, even features actor William Fichtner, known for his role as Roger Van Zant in “Heat,” as the bank manager. The homage is clear, and Nolan openly acknowledged it, telling IGN, “It’s a bit of a nod to that.”
To ensure his team understood the vision, Nolan screened “Heat” for them before filming “The Dark Knight.” He expressed to Variety that “Heat” is an outstanding example of creating a vast narrative universe within a single city, adeptly balancing numerous characters and their emotional arcs.
Despite “Heat” being a cinematic classic, Michael Mann believes the film would face challenges in today’s Hollywood landscape. With a production budget of $60 million and a box office return of approximately $190 million, “Heat” was not cheap to make. In comparison, other 1995 films such as “GoldenEye” and “Jumanji” had comparable budgets but grossed $356 million and $263 million, respectively.
Additionally, Mann acknowledges the film’s lengthy runtime of 170 minutes. In an era where studios often shy away from movies approaching three hours unless they’re major comic book adaptations or epic blockbusters like James Cameron’s “Avatar,” “Heat” would be a tough sell. Even in the ’90s, Mann had to employ persuasive tactics to secure funding from Warner Bros., leveraging the attached talent and giving the studio just two days to decide. Reflecting on this at the 2017 Lumière Film Festival, Mann recounted to The Hollywood Reporter that he “basically held them for ransom, and they were furious.”
Michael Mann doesn’t think it would be possible to make Heat now
Warner Bros.
Despite “Heat” being a classic, Michael Mann doesn’t think it would be an easy sell in modern-day Hollywood. “Heat” wasn’t exactly a budget-friendly film, costing a reported $60 million to make and bringing in around $190 million at the box office. Comparing it to other 1995 films, “GoldenEye” cost the same amount of money but made $356 million, and “Jumanji” cost $65 million and raked in $263 million.
Additionally, Mann knows that “Heat” is a long movie at 170 minutes. Unless it’s a tentpole comic book movie or James Cameron’s 72-hour cut of “Avatar,” most studios turn up their noses at films nearing the three-hour mark. Even in the ’90s, Mann employed strongarm tactics to get Warner Bros. to open the studio coffers, showing the script, revealing the two leads attached, and giving the studio two days to make a decision. “I basically held them for ransom, and they were furious,” Mann said at the Lumière Film Festival (via The Hollywood Reporter) in 2017.
Warner Bros. got some revenge, passing on releasing “Heat 2” – reportedly because the parties disagreed on the budget. United Artists landed the film thereafter. That said, it’s mind-blowing to think that anyone could say no to a sequel to one of the best films ever made. Perhaps everyone — including Christopher Nolan — should be grateful that the movie’s journey from a real-life heist to Hollywood history happened when it did, because it would be unlikely now.
