Heaven Can Wait (1978)

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Movie Info & Cast

Director:

Warren Beatty, Buck Henry

Producer:

Warren Beatty, Hawk Koch, Charles H. Maguire

Writer:

Elaine May, Warren Beatty, Harry Segall

Runtime:

1hr 41m

Synopsis

A Los Angeles Rams quarterback, accidentally taken away from his body by an overanxious angel before he was meant to die, returns to life in the body of a recently murdered millionaire.

Cast

  • Warren Beatty
  • Julie Christie
  • James Mason
  • Jack Warden
  • Charles Grodin
  • Dyan Cannon
  • Buck Henry
  • Vincent Gardenia
  • Joseph Maher
  • Hamilton Camp

Letterboxd User Reviews

3.4
37.3K
16.5K
7.7K
RATINGS 112 FANS
3.4
  • Jun 6, 2020

    Every movie should have a subplot where Charles Grodin keeps trying unsuccessfully to kill the main character

    804 Likes
    Patrick Willems
    Patrick Willems
    May 14, 2017

    Warren Beatty's ghost leaves a trail of bodies behind in an attempt to win the Superbowl.

    536 Likes
    matt lynch
    matt lynch
    May 18, 2021

    why would they let him keep living if he can’t keep his memories tf kind of logic 😭

    322 Likes
    Brianna
    Brianna
  •
    Aug 17, 2020

    this movie is the best himbo resprentation out there

    238 Likes
    Megan Bitchell
    Megan Bitchell
    Sep 10, 2022

    Anchored by a great premise, the film directed by its star (and, as I recently learned, Shirley MacLaine's brother) Warren Beaty and Buck Henry is a sports movie with some charm and an interesting concept that Hollywood has managed to wring out later on, but which…

    181 Likes
    Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine
    Rafael "Mister Movie" Jovine
    Sep 1, 2017

    The last ten minutes of this movie take it from good to great.

    181 Likes
    Aaron Michael
    Aaron Michael
  •
    Jun 15, 2021

    Curious to see a movie with such an absurd premise remain as lowkey as this does. personally prefer the screwball antics and energy of elaine may's A New Leaf which I think would've lent themselves well to some of the sillier elements here (like the thwarted murder subplot)…

    173 Likes
    Josh Lewis
    Josh Lewis
    Jan 26, 2022

    “They don't have a football team in Heaven, so God couldn't make me first string.” 🥺🥺🥺🥺

    176 Likes
    Megan Bitchell
    Megan Bitchell
    Sep 18, 2021

    When the soul of promising quarterback Joe Pendleton (Warren Beatty) is taken from the afterlife too early by an overcautious angel, he has to find a new body in order to achieve his ambitions of playing in the Super Bowl, falling in love in the process, in this fantasy…

    116 Likes
    Josh Gillam
    Josh Gillam

Queue Community Reviews

92%
Community 430
❤️ LOVE
20%
👍 LIKE
72%
😐 MEH
8%
👎 DISLIKE
0%
Top Reviews
  • Annie
    Annie liked
    Heaven Can Wait

    Cute but sad he forgot it all

    1 2Y
    anais
    anais liked
    Heaven Can Wait

    Almost fell off the treadmill when they said Joe was supposed to die March 20th, 2025 (50 years in the future for them, 8 days ago for me). Time is a crazy concept.

    1Y
    Sophie
    Sophie is "meh" on
    Heaven Can Wait

    Meh until the end when it hit me in the feels. Glad I watched it but probably wouldn’t put it on again.

    10M
  • Melissa
    Melissa is "meh" on
    Heaven Can Wait

    I can’t believe this movie is almost 50 years old

    2Y
    alyssa
    alyssa loved
    Heaven Can Wait

    WHY DID THEY HAVE TO END IT LIKE THIS 😕

    3Y
    Javier M
    Javier M liked
    Heaven Can Wait

    8.5/10 Solid 70s Flick

    4Y
  • Mark Bateman
    Mark Bateman liked
    Heaven Can Wait

    7/10

    1Y
    Waigo
    Waigo is "meh" on
    Heaven Can Wait

    Ok

    5M

Atom Users Reviews

No one has posted a user review yet.

Metacritic

72
metacritic
Based on 10 Critics
7.5

USER SCORE (11)

Generally favorable reviews based on 11 Reviews
100

Warren Beatty's Heaven Can Wait is the most delightful movie the year has offered. Funny, fantastical, fast on its feet, this romantic fantasy comes closer than any film of the past decade to capturing the ingenious, madcap spirit of '30s comedies. [03 July 1978, p.90]

Metacritic review by David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek
75

Somehow manages to combine the sweetness and innocence of the original with a satirical bite all its own.

Metacritic review by Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
50

There is something eerily disconnected about Heaven Can Wait. It may be because in a time of comparative peace, immortality — at least in its life-after-death form — doesn't hold the fascination for us that it does when there's a war going on, as there was in 1941 when Here Comes Mr. Jordan was released and became such a hit. Or perhaps we are somewhat more sophisticated today (though I doubt it) and comedies about heavenly messengers and what is, in effect, a very casual kind of transubstantiation seem essentially silly.

Metacritic review by Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby
The New York Times

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is Heaven Can Wait (1978)?
The movie is 1hr 41min long.
What's Heaven Can Wait (1978) about?
A Los Angeles Rams quarterback, accidentally taken away from his body by an overanxious angel before he was meant to die, returns to life in the body of a recently murdered millionaire.
Who's the cast of Heaven Can Wait (1978)?
  • Warren Beatty as Joe Pendleton
  • Julie Christie as Betty Logan
  • James Mason as Mr. Jordan
  • Jack Warden as Max Corkle
  • Charles Grodin as Tony Abbott
  • Dyan Cannon as Julia Farnsworth
  • Buck Henry as The Escort
  • Vincent Gardenia as Krim
  • Joseph Maher as Sisk
  • Hamilton Camp as Bentley
Who's the director behind Heaven Can Wait (1978)?
Warren Beatty and Buck Henry directed Heaven Can Wait (1978).
Who produced Heaven Can Wait (1978)?
Warren Beatty, Hawk Koch and Charles H. Maguire produced Heaven Can Wait (1978).