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Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, Jack Warden, Charles Grodin ... see more see more... , Dyan Cannon , Buck Henry , Vincent Gardenia , Joseph Maher , Dolph Sweet , R.G. Armstrong , John Randolph , William Sylvester , Keene Curtis , Hamilton Camp , Jeannie Linero , Arthur Malet , Stephanie Faracy , Larry Block , Jim Boeke , Roger Bowen , Frank Campanella , Paul D'Amato , Dick Enberg , Morgan Farley , Robert Fortier , Curt Gowdy , Bryant Gumbel , Will Hare , Jim Healy , Deacon Jones , William Larsen , George J. Manos , Joel Marston , Penelope Milford , Richard O'Brien , Ed Peck , Elliott Reid , Lisa Blake Richards , Lee Weaver , Byron Webster , Harry D.K. Wong , Bennie Massa , Earl Montgomery Jr. , Garrett Craig , Bill Sorrells , William Bogart , Allison Caine

Opting for light entertainment after the critical satire of Shampoo (1975), producer-director-writer-star Warren Beatty remade the 1941 comic fantasy Here Comes Mr. Jordan. Dimly amiable L.A. Rams qua... read more read more...rterback Joe Pendleton (Beatty) is prematurely called to Heaven by an over-eager escort (Buck Henry, who co-directed) after a traffic accident. When archangel Mr. Jordan (James Mason) discovers the error, he offers to return Joe to his body, only to find that it has been cremated. On the verge of playing in the Super Bowl, Joe demands a fit body rather than the old about-to-be-murdered industrialist Farnsworth he has been offered, but he reconsiders when he sees environmentalist Betty Logan (Julie Christie) in Farnsworth's house. Assuming Farnsworth's body while keeping his sweet self, Joe hires his beloved coach Max Corkle (Jack Warden) to get him in shape (after convincing Max who he really is), sets Farnsworth's business on an eco-friendly path, and romances Betty. Farnsworth's homicidal wife (Dyan Cannon) and secretary (Charles Grodin), however, are still determined to succeed in their plan to kill him. When Mr. Jordan finally finds the Super Bowl body Joe wanted, Joe has to trade his old self for the new life -- but will he remember his love for Betty? Heaven Can Wait offered contemporary yet old-fashioned escapism and tapped into the late-1970s vogue for nostalgic fun, becoming one of 1978's most popular summer movies after Grease. Updating the original while following its blueprint, Beatty and co-writer Elaine May switched Joe's sport and turned Joe into a man of his '70s moment, adoring Betty for her convictions and favoring "green" policies over corporate greed. Gently breathing life into a classic form, Heaven Can Wait found romantic innocence in a jaded time, and it went on to receive nine Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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59% liked it

12,404 ratings

Critics

87% liked it

30 critics

PG, 1 hr. 45 min.

Directed by: Warren Beatty, Buck Henry

Release Date: June 28, 1978

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DVD Release Date: July 27, 1999

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Stats: 446 reviews

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Jack Warden in Heaven Can Wait Heaven Can Wait Warren Beatty in Heaven Can Wait Jack Warden in Heaven can Wait Dyan Cannon in Heaven Can Wait Dick Enberg and Warren Beatty in Heaven Can Wait Charles Grodin and Dyan Cannon in Heaven Can Wait Julie Christie in Heaven Can Wait Warren Beatty in Heaven Can Wait Heaven Can Wait Heaven Can Wait Heaven Can Wait Heaven Can Wait
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Flixster Reviews (446)

  • ajv2688
    January 5, 2011
    ajv2688
    Does the story sound familiar? Yes, it's been played around with in many films, but this one is good too. The movie has a good cast, and is directed by Warren Beatty as well. This movie has good comedy, and it's enjoyable.
  • tsigur
    May 10, 2010
    tsigur
    I know this movie has been done umpteenth amount of times, but this one is good because of the cast. Warren Beatty is stellar as always and he has his old buddy Jack Warden and the beautiful Julie Christie at his side, so you forget the plot holes that you could drive a fleet of ... read moreMack trucks through. Felt the movie was a little rushed at certain points, but overall, very funny (especially Charles Grodin and Dyan Cannon who have some of the best bits in the whole film). Liked it, but pales in comparison to other Beatty classics.
  • sononothing
    March 31, 2009
    sononothing
    The reluctant ghost is a tried and true tale in Hollywood and it repeated itself in 1978's Heaven Can Wait, a film that was a remake of 1941's Here Comes Mr. Jordan and had a backbone made of its star Warren Beatty. The film is about the quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams Joe P... read moreendleton (Beatty) who appears to get into a fatal accident causing an angel (Buck Henry) to pull Joe from his body and take him to a weigh station for heaven. The problem is that it isn't Joe's time, so a higher authority (James Mason) options Joe into take over the body of millionaire Leo Farnsworth after he has been "killed" by his scretary (Charles Grodin) and his wife (Dyan Cannon). As Farnsworth Joe takes on a new love (Julie Christie) who is trying to stop one of his companies environmental blunders. But Joes main goal is to get back into football with the help of the Rams trainer Max (Jack Warden).

    Beatty and Buck Henry directed this nice, little romantic comedy that's been done before and since, yet this version seems to hold its own. It's one of those movies that you stumble on when flipping channels and once you start watching you can't turn the damn thing off. Beatty is a proficent director his first time out and doesn't indulge in those things that actors turned directors tend to do- over direct. He simply tells the story. It isn't a pretentious piece like you would expect from Beatty. It's a good, straightforward chick flick that gets past being for chicks.
  • matertenebraum
    January 5, 2008
    matertenebraum
    Heaven Can Wait is a milestone in Warren Beatty's long career. He produced, co-directed, co-written, and starred in this fantasy comedy of "probability and outcome". Originally Muhammad Ali was supposed to be cast for the role, but he turned it down, and it's a good thing he did.... read more Beatty does a great job of handling the work of playing three different characters, as he goes from quarterback to businessman and back again. Warren also has great support from Julie Christie (whom Beatty worked with previously), James Mason (as the mysterious Mr. Jordan), Dyan Cannon (as the businessman's treacherous wife), Jack Warden (as trainer Max Corkle), Buck Henry (as the escort), and Charles Grodin. This film definitely deserved it's 9 Oscar nominations but it should have won more than one.
  • dreamfaeries
    October 28, 2007
    dreamfaeries
    It was funny and the ending was so romantic.
  • jjnxn
    May 25, 2007
    jjnxn
    sweet, charming & very funny. Dyan Cannon is priceless.
  • garyX
    March 27, 2007
    garyX
    Remake of Here Comes Mr. Jordan, this comedy tries to recreate the magic of 40s fantasys and succeeds to come extent. Beatty displays his usual light comic charm as a football player who refuses to accept his death, and heavenly misunderstandings ensue. Dyan Cannon and Charles Gr... read moreodin's various murder plots provide some slapstick asides, and it's all amiably done.
  • binky013
    July 10, 2006
    binky013
    Something about this remake, everytime I watch it, never quite works. If you are a Beatty fan, you must, of course, see Bonnie and Clyde, and I would highly recommend Shampoo and the superb 70's conspiracy / paranoia film called The Parallax View as well.

    ... read more> I love Jack Warden, however, and the movie does have its energetic moments. One big star for Warden, and one big star for Charles Grodin.
  • jimbotender
    August 3, 2010
    jimbotender
    It's one of those movies where you actually agree to watch regardless of that annoying sport on-screen,you know what I mean.Beatty's first film is an homage to screwball comedy and for what it's worth,he is damn good in his role and on remaking a an already classic film.I'm usual... read morely opposite on any kind of remake but I have to notice he studied the original methodically and not only we have a spectacular Jack Warden,it's sometimes just as charming as a sugary romantic comedy.
  • sportsphenom1
    December 17, 2009
    sportsphenom1
    An unpolished, outdated, yet pleasantly funny and charming film

View All Heaven Can Wait Reviews

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff
March 26, 2009
Variety Staff, Variety

Heaven Can Wait is an outstanding film. Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum
March 21, 2007
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

It's certainly likable enough and was a big hit when it came out, but one could hardly call it an auspicious artistic debut -- a crafty commercial entertainment with a certain amount of intelligence i... Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

There's nothing worse than a pushy narrative. Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This is the kind of upbeat screwball comedy Hollywood used to do smoothly and well. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
July 26, 2008
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Supremely produced, this whimsical romantic comedy served as star vehicle for Julie Christie and especially Warren Beatty, who made an impressive co-directing debut with Buck Henry; the film deservedl... Full Review

March 21, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

There are a few laughs from Grodin and Cannon, but Beatty and Christie are like 400-pound gorillas chasing a milkweed seed. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
July 9, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Frivolous and amusing in spots. Full Review

Derek Adams
February 9, 2006
Derek Adams, Time Out

The film drags its feet uncertainly from beginning to end. Full Review

Clint Morris
June 11, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

A comedy classic.....if you've never seen it, you have to ask yourself...why?

Edward Douglas
January 31, 2005
Edward Douglas, ComingSoon.net

A really enjoyable high concept comedy; better than the 2000 remake!

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Heaven Can Wait Trivia

  • Who played the angel in Heaven Can Wait, starring Warren Beatty?  Answer »
  • What 1978 film is this? A Los Angeles Rams quarterback, accidentally taken away from his body by an over-anxious angel before he was supposed to die, comes back to life in the body of a recently-murdered millionaire.  Answer »
  • In the movie Hostage, What is the DVD next to the correct 'Heaven Can Wait'  Answer »
  • The movies, "Here Comes Mr. Jordan", "Heaven Can Wait", are based on the same plot line. There is a third movie also based on that plot line  Answer »
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