Heaven Can Wait (1978): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Heaven Can Wait is a 1978 sports comedy starring James Mason and Warren Beatty. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes and earned $81.6 million worldwide. It won 1 Oscar, including Art Direction, and 4 awards in all. Critics gave it 72 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 41m (101 min)
- Original language
-
Chinese - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Heaven Can Wait About?
The premise of Heaven Can Wait without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A charismatic con artist engineers an elaborate scheme, leading people to believe a naive actor is a deity. As the deception takes hold, wealth and confusion spread, and a humorous conflict arises between the trickster and the man unwittingly cast as a god. The story explores themes of love, fortune, and the ridiculousness of celebrity.
Heaven Can Wait Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- quarterback
- heaven
- angel
- back from the dead
- remake
- body swap
- football team
- murder of husband
- afterlife
- american football
- reincarnation
- neo screwball comedy
+38 more Show fewer
- falling in love
- guardian angel
- los angeles rams
- infidelity
- jogging
- industrialist
- cheating wife
- adultery
- adulterous wife
- football player
- victory celebration
- boardroom meeting
- burial
- football match
- football game
- football training
- attempted murder
- riding a bicycle
- coach athlete relationship
- mistake
- hit by a car
- murder plot
- shot to death
- body switching
- soprano saxophone
- crotchety old man
- supernatural fantasy
- high concept comedy
- body swap comedy
- fiance fiancee relationship
- butler
- based on a stage play
- co directed by star
- american football sport
- professional football
- athletic trainer
- athletic training montage
- co written and co directed by cast member
Heaven Can Wait Cast
James Mason leads the cast, with Warren Beatty.
Heaven Can Wait Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Heaven Can Wait 72 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 72 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 66% User score
See on TMDB
Heaven Can Wait Plot Summary
What happens in Heaven Can Wait from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Following a knee injury, Joe Pendleton, a second-string quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, dedicates himself to training, impressing both the team managers and his coach with his remarkable performance. Beyond the football field, Joe finds solace in fitness and often turns to his saxophone as a means of relaxation. On the day of his birthday, his close friend and Rams trainer, Max Corkle, surprises him with a cake and news that the coach has chosen Joe to replace Tom Jarrett as the starting quarterback for an upcoming game against the Dallas Cowboys. Energized by this opportunity, Joe intensifies his training regimen, but his journey takes a sudden turn when he faces a life-threatening accident while biking through a tunnel, where he is struck by a van.
Full summary
The whole story of Heaven Can Wait, scene by scene
Heaven Can Wait Box Office
Heaven Can Wait grossed $81.6 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$81.6M
- US & Canada
- $81.6M
Heaven Can Wait Awards & Nominations
Heaven Can Wait won 1 Oscar, including Art Direction, and 4 awards in all. Its biggest night was the Saturn Awards 1979, with 2 wins from 5 nominations.
4 wins18 nominations4 ceremonies
-
Saturn Awards 1979 2 wins · 5 nominations- Won Best Actor
- Won Best Supporting Actress
- Nominated Best Costumes
- Nominated Best Music
- Nominated Best Supporting Actor
-
Oscars 1979 1 win · 9 nominations- Won Art Direction
- Nominated Actor in a Leading Role – Warren Beatty
- Nominated Actor in a Supporting Role – Jack Warden
- Nominated Actress in a Supporting Role – Dyan Cannon
- Nominated Best Picture
-
Golden Globes 1979 1 win · 3 nominations- Won Best Supporting Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama, Comedy or Musical (Supporting Actress) – Dyan Cannon
- Nominated Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
- Nominated Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (Actor) – Warren Beatty
-
DGA Awards 1979 1 nomination- Nominated Feature Film
Heaven Can Wait Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 featurette.
- Featurette Warren Beatty on 'Heaven Can Wait' and Why He Gave Up Playing Football | TCMFF 2022
How Well Do You Know Heaven Can Wait?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What profession does Joe Pendleton hold before his accident?
Cars in Heaven Can Wait
9 cars on screen, including the 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 and the 1971 Ford Econoline.
-
1974 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 Important role -
1971 Ford Econoline Minor role -
1973 Ford F-Series Minor role -
1977 Ford LTD Landau Minor role
Heaven Can Wait Also Known As
22 alternative titles, including “Der Himmel soll warten” and “Der Himmel kann warten”.
- Also known as
-
- Der Himmel soll warten
- Der Himmel kann warten
- 天国から来たチャンピオン
- Az ég tud várni
- O Céu Pode Esperar
- 천국의 사도
- Il paradiso può attendere
- 上错天堂投错胎
- El cielo puede esperar
- Le ciel peut attendre
- Ép testben épp, hogy élek
- השמיים יכולים לחכות
+10 more Show fewer
- Niebiosa mogą zaczekać
- Cennet Bekleyebilir
- Nebe může počkat
- Небеса могут подождать
- Himlen kan vänta
- Небо може да чека
- Nebo može čekati
- El cel pot esperar
- Taivas saa odottaa
- สวรรค์ต้องรอ
Seen Heaven Can Wait?
Movies Like Heaven Can Wait
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Heaven Can Wait, Here Comes Mr. Jordan and Heaven Sent.
Heaven Can Wait FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, awards, post-credit scenes and language of Heaven Can Wait, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Heaven Can Wait?
Heaven Can Wait runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).
When was Heaven Can Wait released?
Heaven Can Wait was released on June 28, 1978.
Who is in the cast of Heaven Can Wait?
Heaven Can Wait stars James Mason and Warren Beatty.
How much did Heaven Can Wait make at the box office?
Heaven Can Wait grossed $81.6 million worldwide.
How is Heaven Can Wait rated?
Heaven Can Wait has 72 on Metacritic and 66% on TMDB.
What awards did Heaven Can Wait win?
Heaven Can Wait won 4 awards from 18 nominations, including Best Actor at the Saturn Awards 1979.
Does Heaven Can Wait have a post-credit scene?
No. Heaven Can Wait has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Heaven Can Wait in?
The original language of Heaven Can Wait is Chinese.
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