Performance & Direction: Heaven Can Wait Review
Last updated: January 21, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Heaven Can Wait (1978) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.6/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Fantasy.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Fantasy is often anchored by its ensemble, and Heaven Can Wait features a noteworthy lineup led by Warren Beatty . Supported by the likes of Julie Christie and James Mason , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
In summary, our editorial assessment of Heaven Can Wait (1978) is mixed. With an audience rating of 6.6/10, it stands as a highly recommended experience for genre enthusiasts.
Story & Plot Summary: Heaven Can Wait
Quick Plot Summary: Heaven Can Wait is a Fantasy, Comedy, Romance film that transports viewers to imaginative worlds filled with magic, wonder, and epic adventures. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: Heaven Can Wait
Ending Breakdown: Heaven Can Wait concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to fantasy resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the fantasy themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Heaven Can Wait reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Heaven Can Wait?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Fantasy films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want solid genre entertainment
Box Office Collection: Heaven Can Wait
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $15.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $98.8M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Heaven Can Wait Budget
The estimated production budget for Heaven Can Wait is $15.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Heaven Can Wait
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch Heaven Can Wait Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoHeaven Can Wait Parents Guide & Age Rating
1978 AdvisoryWondering about Heaven Can Wait age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Heaven Can Wait is 101 minutes (1h 41m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Final Verdict
Analyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 6.6/10, and global collection metrics, Heaven Can Wait stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 1978 cinematic year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heaven Can Wait worth watching?
Heaven Can Wait is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Fantasy movies. It has a verified rating of 6.6/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Heaven Can Wait parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Heaven Can Wait identifies it as PG. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Heaven Can Wait?
The total duration of Heaven Can Wait is 101 minutes, which is approximately 1h 41m long.
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Critic Reviews for Heaven Can Wait
Maybe Warren Beatty was also a fan of Powell & Pressburger as this has shades of "Matter of Life and Death" (1946) to it. Rather than a fighter pilot though, it's quarter-back "Joe" (Beatty) who is erroneously selected to take the Concorde to heaven. He protests to supremo "Jordan" (James Mason) who discovers that his new charge is still supposed to have another fifty-odd years with his mortal coil. OK, let's just put him back. Ah, well no - he has already been cremated. That's just one jigsaw puzzle too much, even for the celestial. "Jordan" decides that he can borrow the body of someone next in the queue, and he settles on millionaire industrialist "Farnsworth". This man has more enemies that he'd care to count, not least his scheming wife (Dyan Cannon) and the pesky British campaigner "Betty" (Julie Christie) who is adamant that her local village isn't going to be demolished to make way for an oil refinery. Now safely ensconced his new body, he only has thoughts of going back to playing ball - only now he can afford to actually buy a team. Re-uniting with coach "Max" (Jack Warden) whom he manages to convince of his true identity, we now embark on a gentle comedy that extols the virtues of team building and environmentally aware business practice. Cannon steals this as the plotting spouse, but Mason doesn't really make much impact and otherwise it's all just a rather blandly predictable offering that has it's moments but just not enough of them. Watchable, though, on a wet afternoon if it's on the telly.
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This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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