Heaven Can Wait

1978, Comedy/Fantasy, 1h 41m

46 Reviews 10,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

A throwback to the high-gloss screwball comedies of the 1940s, Heaven Can Wait beguiles with seamless production values and great comic relief from Charles Grodin and Dianne Cannon. Read critic reviews

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Heaven Can Wait Photos

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

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Movie Info

Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty), quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, is killed in an auto accident. In the afterlife, Joe discovers that his guardian angel (Buck Henry) has taken him from his body prematurely, and he is due many more years on earth. Unable to return to his body, Joe assumes the form of greedy multimillionaire industrialist Leo Farnsworth. As Farnsworth, Joe attempts a return to football and falls in love with environmental activist Betty Logan (Julie Christie).

Rating:

PG
Genre:

Comedy, Fantasy
Original Language:

English
Director:

Warren Beatty, Buck Henry
Producer:

Warren Beatty
Writer:

Harry Segall, Elaine May, Warren Beatty, Robert Towne
Release Date (Theaters):

Jun 28, 1978 wide
Release Date (Streaming):

Jul 27, 1999
Runtime:

1h 41m
Distributor:

Paramount Pictures
Sound Mix:

Stereo

Cast & Crew

Warren Beatty
Joe Pendleton

Julie Christie
Betty Logan

Jack Warden
Max Corkle

James Mason
Mr. Jordan

Dyan Cannon
Julia Farnsworth

Charles Grodin
Tony Abbott

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Heaven Can Wait

All Critics (46) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (41) | Rotten (5)

Full Review… Nicholas Wapshott Times (UK)

Full Review… Judith Martin Washington Post

Full Review… Frank Rich TIME Magazine

Full Review… Variety Staff Variety

Full Review… Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader

Full Review… Geoff Brown Time Out

Full Review… Allison Rose FlickDirect

Full Review… Matt Brunson Film Frenzy

Full Review… Ginger Varney L.A. Weekly

Full Review… Michael Clark Epoch Times

Full Review… Marina Hirsch Berkeley Barb

Full Review… People Staff People Magazine

View All Critic Reviews (46)

Audience Reviews for Heaven Can Wait

Dec 27, 2020

Delightfully reminiscent of certain comedies from the 30s and 40s. Grodin and Cannon give truly hysterical performances.

Alec B Super Reviewer
Mar 22, 2017

A pro-footballer is given a second chance after being taken out of the game early. A milquetoast remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan, I would advise you see the original first before this lame-o copy, which, though the cast is stellar, has a low level life light going. Only James Mason and Dyan Cannon have any idea of what's needed here.

Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
Dec 20, 2015

Very enjoyable film. Entertaining and thoughtful, and also pretty funny at times, along with some great football scenes, Heaven Can Wait has a bit of something for everyone.

Stephen S Super Reviewer
Nov 29, 2014

A consistently funny story concerning a backup quarterback (Warren Beatty) for the St. Louis Rams who finally gets his chance to start for the team before he is killed in a car accident. However, when he arrives at Heaven's gates he is told that he was killed by accident, and is instead given a new body of an older rich man where he is still determined to get his old job with the Rams back. While there are plenty of plot holes if you look at it closely, this movie aims to be a comedy and it accomplishes just that. Beatty's character is likeable and easy to root for and there are enough interesting characters and situations that arise that make this film worthwhile.

Dan S Super Reviewer

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