6.9/10
14,261
92 user 32 critic

Heaven Can Wait (1978)

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.

Writers:

(screenplay), (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
Reviews

Watch Now

From EUR2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video

ON DISC
Won 1 Oscar. Another 8 wins & 13 nominations. See more awards »
Learn more

People who liked this also liked... 

Reds (1981)
Biography | Drama | History
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.5/10 X  

A radical American journalist becomes involved with the Communist revolution in Russia and hopes to bring its spirit and idealism to the United States.

Director: Warren Beatty
Stars: Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Edward Herrmann
Shampoo (1975)
Comedy | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.3/10 X  

Lovers undo a hairdresser from Beverly Hills around Election Eve in 1968.

Director: Hal Ashby
Stars: Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn
Bulworth (1998)
Comedy | Drama | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.8/10 X  

A suicidally disillusioned liberal politician puts a contract out on himself and takes the opportunity to be bluntly honest with his voters by affecting the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.

Director: Warren Beatty
Stars: Warren Beatty, Halle Berry, Kimberly Deauna Adams
Bugsy (1991)
Biography | Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.8/10 X  

The story of how Bugsy Siegel started Las Vegas.

Director: Barry Levinson
Stars: Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel
Dick Tracy (1990)
Action | Comedy | Crime
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.1/10 X  

The comic strip detective finds his life vastly complicated when Breathless Mahoney makes advances towards him while he is trying to battle Big Boy Caprice's united mob.

Director: Warren Beatty
Stars: Warren Beatty, Madonna, Al Pacino
Comedy | Drama | Fantasy
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.5/10 X  

An old roué arrives in Hades to review his life with Satan, who will rule on his eligibility to enter the Underworld.

Director: Ernst Lubitsch
Stars: Gene Tierney, Don Ameche, Charles Coburn
Fantasy | Comedy | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

Boxer Joe Pendleton dies 50 years too soon due to a heavenly mistake, and is given a new life as a millionaire playboy.

Director: Alexander Hall
Stars: Robert Montgomery, Claude Rains, Evelyn Keyes
Arthur (1981)
Comedy | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.9/10 X  

Arthur is a happy drunk with no pretensions at any ambition. He is also the heir to a vast fortune which he is told will only be his if he marries Susan. He does not love Susan, but she ... See full summary »

Director: Steve Gordon
Stars: Dudley Moore, Liza Minnelli, John Gielgud
Action | Biography | Crime
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.9/10 X  

A somewhat romanticized account of the career of the notoriously violent bank robbing couple and their gang.

Director: Arthur Penn
Stars: Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, Michael J. Pollard
Coming Home (1978)
Drama | Romance | War
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.3/10 X  

A woman whose husband is fighting in Vietnam falls in love with another man who suffered a paralyzing combat injury there.

Director: Hal Ashby
Stars: Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, Bruce Dern
Drama | Western
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.7/10 X  

A gambler and a prostitute become business partners in a remote Old West mining town, and their enterprise thrives until a large corporation arrives on the scene.

Director: Robert Altman
Stars: Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, Rene Auberjonois
10 (1979)
Comedy | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6/10 X  

A Hollywood lyricist goes through a mid-life crisis and becomes infatuated with a sexy, newly married woman.

Director: Blake Edwards
Stars: Dudley Moore, Bo Derek, Julie Andrews
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Hamilton Camp ...
...
...
Jeannie Linero ...
Harry D.K. Wong ...
George J. Manos ...
Security Guard
Edit

Storyline

Joe Pendleton is a football quarterback preparing to lead his team to the Superbowl when he is almost killed in an accident. An overanxious angel plucks him to heaven only to discover that he was not ready to die, and that his body has been cremated. Another body must be found without his death being discovered, and that of a recently murdered millionaire is chosen. His wife and accountant, the murderers, are confused by this development, as he buys the Los Angeles Rams in order to once again quarterback them into the Superbowl. At the same time, he falls in love with an English environmental activist who disapproves of his policies and actions. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis


Certificate:

PG | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

28 June 1978 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El cielo puede esperar  »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was announced in Hollywood trade magazines on 4th March 1977. See more »

Goofs

In overtime of the Super Bowl, Pendleton is sacked near his own 45 yard line. On the next play, he completes a pass well downfield. However, on the next play, the Rams are back at their own 45 yard line. See more »

Quotes

Newspaperman: Isn't it true that an accident in your west coast nuclear plant could stimulate seismic activity in the San Andreas fault, which could destroy most of southern California?
Tony Abbott: I think you'd have to define "destroy".
See more »

Connections

Featured in Sports on the Silver Screen (1997) See more »

Soundtracks

Entry of the Gladiators
By Julius Fucík (as Julius Fucik)
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

 
Football Fairy Tale
26 April 2002 | by (California, USA) – See all my reviews

I too was surprised that this film received a not-much-better than average rating. I am not a huge fan of Beatty, but I think he plays his role in this movie perfectly, running rampant through the lives of his unfaithful wife and private secretary (Charles Grodin couldn't be better), and his former coach. Joe Pendleton is so sweet and earnest that he deserve a happy, fairy-tale ending. I don't think the script ever descends into sappiness and there is a fine ensemble cast. I laugh out loud still, even though I have seen the movie several times, and I still get a bit teary-eyed at the end. This film deserves better!


27 of 33 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

Message Boards

Recent Posts
Super Bowl gjoy44
Funniest part of the movie? yankee_dant
Nine Oscar nominations? spearsdw
I'm confused heykincaid
Anyone know a the name of a similar movie? evilandy3000
In the end it doesn't matter ssm117
Discuss Heaven Can Wait (1978) on the IMDb message boards »

Contribute to This Page

Create a character page for:
?