An acclaimed crime thriller boasting a stellar ensemble cast has been hailed as ‘incredible’ by devotees, and it’s airing on Film4 this evening.

Released in 1995, Heat follows seasoned criminal Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) as he attempts to rein in the unpredictable behaviour of one of his crew members whilst orchestrating one final major robbery before hanging up his gloves.

Simultaneously, Lieutenant Hanna (Al Pacino) endeavours to apprehend McCauley whilst navigating turmoil in his personal life, including his wife’s (Diane Venora) affair and his stepdaughter’s (Natalie Portman) mental health struggles.

Despite being on opposite sides of the law, McCauley and Hanna develop a mutual admiration as their cat-and-mouse game intensifies.

The picture boasts an exceptional lineup of talent, with admirers lauding this crime action thriller and several branding it a ‘classic’.

One enthusiastic review on Rotten Tomatoes said: “This movie is incredible! There were some moments in the movie that didn’t make sense to me, but overall, this movie is spectacular. Every minute of the movie is filled with nail-biting intensity, and the story is gripping and compelling. I definitely recommend it for crime, drama, and thriller fans!”

Another viewer added: “Everytime i rewatch this movie i see more details that cement it in my brain, great action, great dialogue and righting between the main actors, the film literally tells you the entire ending of itself and you don’t even notice, absolute cinema.

“Thought it’s just another action movie with a lot of gun fights. Was pleasantly surprised about the great acting and story line. Only rarely do movies suck me in and I’m interested in what happens to the characters. This movie made me think and even mumbling “just go!, reports <a href=”https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/crown-jewel-gangster-films-airing-36538255″ rel=”Follow” target=”_self”>the Mirror</a>. “, but of course I knew, the characters ego wouldn’t allow them. I wholeheartedly recommend this great movie to anyone. It aged beautifully and is still a great watch!” remarked a third viewer.

A fourth enthusiast said: “A CLASSIC ! There’s no missing this one ! Forget what you heard about it, just watch it, makeup your own mind ! I really don’t see how you could be disappointed..

“This is a crime classic. Between the cinematography, incredibly performances, Mann’s attention to detail, and the pacing, this is a home run,” praised a fifth fan.

Another observer highlighted: “Heat feels iconic, epic even though it’s a character-driven story. It’s pretty artistic despite the genre of heist-action. This is the story of two similar people living opposing lives. The characters are very interesting, layered and pretty similar despite being on the opposite sides of the law. The dialogues are natural, fitting and sometimes funny or just cool and quotable. The directing is perfect.

“The tension, the change of tones are handled masterfully. The cinematography is pretty simple, but incredibly effective and immersive. The editing is great. The pacing is fantastic. The production design and the visual effects are good, while the score is epic and the sound design is perfect. The casting is on point. The acting is spectacular too, with Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Val Kilmer delivering career defining performances. Heat is a classic and when one decides to watch it, they immediately understand why.”

Heat airs on Film 4 on Tuesday 13 January at 9pm.