Overview
A quarterback's journey to the afterlife leads to unexpected love and second chances.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warm
- whimsical
- feel good movie night
- classic comedy night
What critics said
Critics broadly found it a charming, polished, and surprisingly fresh revival of classic screwball romantic fantasy, carried by its performances and comic relief.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Joe Pendleton returns from an accidental heavenly summons in the body of murdered millionaire Leo Farnsworth.
Joe falls for Betty Logan despite living in a body that belongs to another man.
Joe acquires the Los Angeles Rams and seeks another chance to quarterback the team into the Super Bowl.
Critics repeatedly describe the film as a fresh, high-gloss throwback to 1940s screwball comedy.
Films like Heaven Can Wait, and why
Here Comes Mr. Jordan
shared high-gloss screwball comedy, romantic fantasy, mistaken identity, and upbeat tone
A Matter of Life and Death
shared afterlife premise, romantic fantasy, gentle comedy, and warm emotional register
The Change-Up
shared body-switching fantasy, romantic comedy, identity confusion, and accessible feel-good appeal
Bull Durham
shared screwball energy, sports-world setting, romance, and comic social conflict
Movie Details
- Directors
- Buck Henry, Warren Beatty
- Release Date
- 1978-06-28
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (459)
Cast
- Warren Beatty
- Julie Christie
- James Mason
- Jack Warden
- Charles Grodin
- Dyan Cannon
- Buck Henry
- Vincent Gardenia
- Joseph Maher
- Hamilton Camp
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
- 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 Heaven Can Wait about?
- An accidentally deceased quarterback borrows a millionaire’s body to reclaim his football career and pursue an unlikely romance.
- What is Heaven Can Wait like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Heaven Can Wait as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Heaven Can Wait violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Heaven Can Wait as mild.
- What did critics think of Heaven Can Wait?
- Critics broadly found it a charming, polished, and surprisingly fresh revival of classic screwball romantic fantasy, carried by its performances and comic relief.
- Which films are like Heaven Can Wait?
- Films with a similar feel include Here Comes Mr. Jordan, A Matter of Life and Death, The Change-Up, and Bull Durham.
- How long is Heaven Can Wait?
- Heaven Can Wait runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch Heaven Can Wait?
- In United States, Heaven Can Wait streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
