Heaven's Gate (1980): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Heaven's Gate is a 1980 adventure western directed by Michael Cimino, starring Kris Kristofferson, John Hurt and Christopher Walken. It runs 5 hours 25 minutes and earned $3.5 million worldwide on a $44 million budget. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
- Released
- Runtime
- 5h 25m (325 min)
- Director
- Michael Cimino
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- United Artists
- Budget
- $44M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Heaven's Gate About?
The premise of Heaven's Gate without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In 1880s Wyoming, Harvard-educated Sheriff James Averill finds himself caught between desperate immigrant laborers and powerful, wealthy ranchers embroiled in a bitter land dispute. As tensions escalate and violence erupts, Averill struggles to maintain order and uphold justice. His efforts are complicated by the arrival of Nathan Champion, a skilled mercenary, and the complex affections of Ella Watson, an enigmatic madam who holds influence over them both. The sheriff’s pursuit of justice forces him to confront his own beliefs and the brutal realities of the frontier.
Heaven's Gate Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- female full frontal nudity
- cattle ranch
- epic
- shot to death
- period piece
- cockfight
- controversy
- immigrant
- battle
- cult film
- western town
- epic battle
+38 more Show fewer
- kissing while having sex
- female nudity
- violence
- rape
- love triangle
- brothel
- ranch
- prostitute
- montana
- troubled production
- punctuation in title
- apostrophe in title
- death
- rifle
- speech
- dancing
- actor shares last name with character
- siege
- sex scene
- ethnic hatred
- hitman
- pulled from theater
- united states of america
- two word title
- final battle
- failure
- epic western
- 1890s
- ensemble cast
- sheriff
- johnson county war
- female gunfighter
- rape victim
- gang rape
- sex in bed
- skinny dipping
- lust
- female pubic hair
Heaven's Gate Cast
Kris Kristofferson leads the cast, with John Hurt and Christopher Walken. Directed by Michael Cimino; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Michael Cimino
Also Starring in Heaven's Gate
· 6 moreMore from Michael Cimino
More films directed by Michael Cimino, best-rated first: The Deer Hunter, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Year of the Dragon and Desperate Hours.
Heaven's Gate Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Heaven's Gate 57% on Rotten Tomatoes and 57 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.
-
IMDb 6.7 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 57% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 54%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 57 Metascore
User score 6.5
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 68% User score
See on TMDB
Heaven's Gate Plot Summary
What happens in Heaven's Gate 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
In 1870, privileged young graduates James Averill (Kris Kristofferson) and Billy Irvine (John Hurt) celebrate their Harvard College graduation with lively bands, heartfelt speeches, and dances beneath the stars. Amidst the festivities, a tipsy Billy forlornly exclaims, > “It’s over!” The Reverend Doctor inspires the graduates to go forth and enlighten the future of the nation.
Fast forward twenty years, and we find Jim serving as the marshal in Johnson County, Wyoming, where a surge of Eastern European immigrants struggles to carve out new lives as farmers. Returning by train from St. Louis, Jim is excitedly bringing a stunning horse and carriage for his beloved. The train winds its way through lush, untouched wilderness, its front deck adorned with grand deer antlers.
Full summary
The whole story of Heaven's Gate, scene by scene
Heaven's Gate Box Office & Budget
Heaven's Gate grossed $3.5 million worldwide on a $44 million budget, 8% of what it cost. $3.5 million came from the US and Canada and $192 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$3.5M
8% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $3.5M
- International
- $192
- Budget
- $44M
Heaven's Gate Awards & Nominations
Heaven's Gate was nominated for 1 Oscar.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Oscars 1982 1 nomination- Nominated Art Direction
Heaven's Gate Trailers & Videos
26 videos: 3 trailers, 8 clips, 5 featurettes and 10 behind-the-scenes videos.
- Trailer Official Trailer
- Trailer Heaven's Gate (Modern Trailer)
- Clip Heaven's Gate (Michael Cimino, 1980) Champion's Last Stand
- Clip Heaven's Gate (Michael Cimino, 1980) The Johnson County War (Part 2)
How Well Do You Know Heaven's Gate?
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 year does the graduation scene at Harvard College take place?
Heaven's Gate Also Known As
23 alternative titles, including “Heaven's Gate – Das Tor zum Himmel” and “La Porte du paradis”.
- Also known as
-
- Heaven's Gate – Das Tor zum Himmel
- La Porte du paradis
- Portti ikuisuuteen
- I cancelli del cielo
- 天国の門
- Portal do Paraíso
- La puerta del cielo
- As Portas do Céu
- Wrota Niebios
- Nebeská brána
- 天堂之门
- A Mennyország kapuja
+11 more Show fewer
- שערי החופש
- 천국의 문
- Портите на Рая
- Врата рая
- Η Πύλη της Δύσης
- Poarta Raiului
- O Portal do Paraíso
- Cennetin Kapısı
- Брама небесна
- 天堂之門
- Cổng Thiên Đàng
Seen Heaven's Gate?
Movies Like Heaven's Gate
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Heaven with a Gun, South of Heaven, West of Hell and 1883.
Heaven's Gate FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Heaven's Gate, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Heaven's Gate?
Heaven's Gate runs 5 hours 25 minutes (325 minutes).
When was Heaven's Gate released?
Heaven's Gate was released on November 19, 1980.
Who directed Heaven's Gate?
Heaven's Gate was directed by Michael Cimino.
More films by Michael Cimino Who is in the cast of Heaven's Gate?
Heaven's Gate stars Kris Kristofferson, John Hurt and Christopher Walken, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Heaven's Gate make at the box office?
Heaven's Gate grossed $3.5 million worldwide ($3.5 million domestic, $192 international) on a budget of $44 million.
How is Heaven's Gate rated?
Heaven's Gate has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 57% on Rotten Tomatoes, 57 on Metacritic and 68% on TMDB.
Was Heaven's Gate nominated for any awards?
Heaven's Gate received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
Does Heaven's Gate have a post-credit scene?
No. Heaven's Gate has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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