Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Heaven's Gate

  • 19801980
  • RR
  • 3h 39m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Heaven's Gate (1980)
Three Reasons Criterion Trailer for Heaven's Gate
Play trailer1:23
2 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Western

During the Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, a sheriff born into wealth does his best to protect immigrant farmers from rich cattle interests.During the Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, a sheriff born into wealth does his best to protect immigrant farmers from rich cattle interests.During the Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, a sheriff born into wealth does his best to protect immigrant farmers from rich cattle interests.

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
15K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Cimino
  • Writer
    • Michael Cimino
  • Stars
    • Kris Kristofferson
    • Christopher Walken
    • John Hurt
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Cimino
  • Writer
    • Michael Cimino
  • Stars
    • Kris Kristofferson
    • Christopher Walken
    • John Hurt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 253User reviews
    • 139Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos2

    Heaven's Gate: The Criterion Collection
    Trailer 1:23
    Heaven's Gate: The Criterion Collection
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 27
    Video 29:09
    Sneak Previews Season 3 Episode 27

    Photos105

    Isabelle Huppert and Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Isabelle Huppert and Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert, and Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert, and Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert, and Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert, and Kris Kristofferson in Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Heaven's Gate (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kris Kristofferson
    Kris Kristofferson
    • James Averillas James Averill
    Christopher Walken
    Christopher Walken
    • Nathan D. Championas Nathan D. Champion
    John Hurt
    John Hurt
    • William C. Irvineas William C. Irvine
    Sam Waterston
    Sam Waterston
    • Frank Cantonas Frank Canton
    Brad Dourif
    Brad Dourif
    • Mr. Egglestonas Mr. Eggleston
    Isabelle Huppert
    Isabelle Huppert
    • Ella Watsonas Ella Watson
    Joseph Cotten
    Joseph Cotten
    • The Reverend Doctoras The Reverend Doctor
    Jeff Bridges
    Jeff Bridges
    • John H. Bridgesas John H. Bridges
    Ronnie Hawkins
    Ronnie Hawkins
    • Maj. Wolcottas Maj. Wolcott
    Paul Koslo
    Paul Koslo
    • Mayor Charlie Lezakas Mayor Charlie Lezak
    Geoffrey Lewis
    Geoffrey Lewis
    • Trapper Fredas Trapper Fred
    Richard Masur
    Richard Masur
    • Cullyas Cully
    Rosie Vela
    • Beautiful Girlas Beautiful Girl
    • (as Roseanne Vela)
    Mary Catherine Wright
    • Nellas Nell
    • (as Mary C. Wright)
    Nicholas Woodeson
    Nicholas Woodeson
    • Small Manas Small Man
    Stefan Shcherby
    • Big Manas Big Man
    Waldemar Kalinowski
    • Photographeras Photographer
    Terry O'Quinn
    Terry O'Quinn
    • Capt. Minardias Capt. Minardi
    • Director
      • Michael Cimino
    • Writer
      • Michael Cimino
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    Year of the Dragon
    6.8
    Year of the Dragon
    Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
    7.0
    Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
    The Sunchaser
    6.1
    The Sunchaser
    The Sicilian
    5.3
    The Sicilian
    Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
    7.2
    Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid
    The Deer Hunter
    8.1
    The Deer Hunter
    Desperate Hours
    5.4
    Desperate Hours
    McCabe & Mrs. Miller
    7.6
    McCabe & Mrs. Miller
    To Live and Die in L.A.
    7.3
    To Live and Die in L.A.
    Nashville
    7.7
    Nashville
    Silent Running
    6.6
    Silent Running
    Reds
    7.3
    Reds

    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1890 Wyoming, James Averill is the Sherriff of Johnson County, which is largely inhabited by foreign immigrants. The wealthy cattle owners view the immigrant farmers as a nuisance and hindrance to them enlarging their own land. The cattlemen's association, the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, effectively declares war on the immigrant farmers and gets the state government's blessing. They assemble an army of guns-for-hire and, backed by the U.S. Cavalry, set out to rid the state of the immigrants. James Averill's heart is with the immigrants, but he doesn't think they have a chance of winning the inevitable war. —grantss
    • shot to death
    • period piece
    • female full frontal nudity
    • cattle ranch
    • rape
    • 121 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • What one loves about life are the things that fade.
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Western
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir John Hurt spent so long waiting around for something to do that he made The Elephant Man (1980), then came back to shoot more scenes for this movie.
    • Goofs
      Despite music and a yard full of waltzing couples, several 360-degree panning shots at the Harvard commencement ball show that there is no orchestra.
    • Quotes

      Frank Canton: Mr. Champion, my grandfather was the Secretary of War to Harrison. His brother was the governor of the state of New York. My brother-in-law is Secretary of State. And to you, I represent the full authority of the government of the United States and the President.

      Nathan D. Champion: Fuck him too.

      Billy Irvine: Bravo, sir!

    • Alternate versions
      After its disastrous premiere engagement, the film was heavily edited to 149 minutes for wide release in 1981. Full-length version (228 minutes) later restored for home video and syndicated television.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Nighthawks/Modern Romance/Heaven's Gate/Excalibur/Napoleon (1981)

    User reviews253

    Review
    Top review
    A wasted opportunity.
    HEAVEN'S GATE will always be remembered for at least three things: destroying United Artists, wrecking director Michael Cimino's career, and ending the last golden age of Hollywood, when the directors could make the types of films they wanted to make. To this day we are still living through the effects from HEAVEN'S GATE. Although the film was made for only $36 million, back in 1980 that was a fortune. Many films since have lost more money, but this one wrecked a respected studio. There is no question as to where all the money went, for it is on the screen to see. Everything was carefully detailed exquisitely down the extras' clothing. An entire town was built in a remote area of Montana. The film opens with a graduation sequence that takes place at Harvard in 1870, which is nicely shot and choreographed, but is completely unnecessary. Many such scenes are scattered throughout, and the film is more than halfway over before the plot finally starts to move forward. The actors all play characters who are one-dimensional and/or irrelevant, especially the John Hurt character. Why Cimino needed so many extras to play the immigrants is unclear, because we never get to know any of them and they are so annoying when they gather together to plot strategies against the rich bad guys who want to kill them off. The editing is pretty bad, but that's to be expected because there really isn't much of a story here, just a series of vignettes. Vilmos Zsigmond's photography is good, but too often there is too much dust and smoke everywhere that obscures the characters and locations. Also, the colors in the film are all washed out; it looks like the filmstock was left out in sun. For example, in the middle of the roller-skating scene, the color simply vanishes, leaving only light brown and black! Granted, there are a few things in the film that I admire, like David Mansfield's score. Isabelle Huppert always looks sexy even without makeup. The battle scenes are pretty exciting, although I could swear that I saw one particular wagon blow up four times. The film has a rather odd denoument that takes place on board a ship, but everything else in this movie is pretty odd. Why the studio didn't bring in another writer or two to rewrite the script is a mystery because inside this mess there was a good movie trying to get out. It's a shame that Michael Cimino still hasn't recovered from this debacle. I sure hope he makes a comeback.
    helpful•143
    82
    • Pinback-4
    • Aug 8, 1999

    FAQ5

    • Why was Ella's name on the death list?
    • How could the cattle ranchers' association get permission to create the death list? Wouldn't they have to go through at least some judicial channels?
    • The 1985 first edition of Stephen Bach's book, what was its original title?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 24, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Serbo-Croatian
      • Russian
      • French
      • Polish
      • German
      • Ukrainian
    • Also known as
      • Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate
    • Filming locations
      • Kalispell, Montana, USA
    • Production company
      • Partisan Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $44,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $3,484,331
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,484,523
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      3 hours 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

    Related news

    Jack Campbell, Rebecca Campbell launch sales, production company Jackrabbit Media (exclusive)
    Jack Campbell, Rebecca Campbell launch sales, production company Jackrabbit Media (exclusive)
    May 10ScreenDaily
    Jack Campbell, Rebecca Campbell launch sales, production company Jackrabbit Media on eve of Cannes (exclusive)
    Jack Campbell, Rebecca Campbell launch sales, production company Jackrabbit Media on eve of Cannes (exclusive)
    May 10ScreenDaily

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Heaven's Gate (1980)
    Top Gap
    What is the Japanese language plot outline for Heaven's Gate (1980)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.