Overview
A whimsical tale of love that transcends life and death, where fate intertwines the past and present.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warm
- sentimental
- date night
- nostalgic movie night
What critics said
Critics generally found the reincarnation romance lighthearted, witty, and appealing despite its highly contrived premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Alex is attracted to Miranda while gradually realizing he was once her mother's husband and Miranda's father.
Louie dies and returns twenty years later as Alex Finch, whose memories of his former life begin to resurface.
Alex's emerging memories create ironic romantic and family situations as his former identity becomes apparent.
The film frames death, heaven, and reincarnation as playful mechanisms for restoring lost relationships.
Films like Chances Are, and why
Heaven Can Wait
shared romantic comedy structure, supernatural premise, and warm treatment of fate and identity
Made in Heaven
shared reincarnation fantasy, mistaken identity, and playful romantic complications
Defending Your Life
shared afterlife premise, sentimental romance, and comedic exploration of loss
Movie Details
- Director
- Emile Ardolino
- Release Date
- 1989-03-10
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 6.6 / 10 (290)
Cast
- Cybill Shepherd
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Ryan O'Neal
- Mary Stuart Masterson
- Christopher McDonald
- Josef Sommer
- Joe Grifasi
- Henderson Forsythe
- Susan Ruttan
- Lester Lanin
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Chances Are about?
- A reincarnated man rediscovers his former family and identity while navigating an impossible attraction to the daughter he once fathered.
- What is Chances Are like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Chances Are as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Chances Are violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Chances Are as mild.
- What did critics think of Chances Are?
- Critics generally found the reincarnation romance lighthearted, witty, and appealing despite its highly contrived premise.
- Which films are like Chances Are?
- Films with a similar feel include Heaven Can Wait, Made in Heaven, and Defending Your Life.
- How long is Chances Are?
- Chances Are runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Chances Are?
- In United States, Chances Are streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel.
