Heaven Can Wait
“Joe Pendleton... the only guy who ever raised Hell about going to Heaven.”
Synopsis
Joe Pendleton is a 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 wasn't ready to die, and that his body has been cremated. A new body must be found, and that of a recently-murdered millionaire is chosen. His wife and accountant—the murderers—are confused by this development, as he buys the L.A. Rams in order to once again quarterback them into the Superbowl.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2014-10-09
Top Cast
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Warren Beatty
Joe Pendleton
Julie Christie
Betty Logan
James Mason
Mr. Jordan
Jack Warden
Max Corkle
Charles Grodin
Tony Abbott
Dyan Cannon
Julia Farnsworth
Buck Henry
The Escort
Vincent Gardenia
Krim
Joseph Maher
Sisk
Hamilton Camp
Bentley
Arthur Malet
Everett
Stephanie Faracy
Corinne
Jeannie Linero
Lavinia
Harry D.K. Wong
Gardener
George J. Manos
Security Guard
Larry Block
Peters
Frank Campanella
Conway
Bill Sorrells
Tomarken
Release History & Theatrical Window
June 28, 1978
Wide Cinema Exhibition
June 28, 1978
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$15M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$98.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
6.59x
+$83.8M net gain
Theatrical Status
Mega Hit
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Warren Beatty, Buck Henry
- Screenplay & Story
- Elaine May, Warren Beatty
- Original Score
- Dave Grusin
- Original Title
- Heaven Can Wait
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 41m
- Production Budget
- $15M
- Worldwide Gross
- $98.8M
- Production Studios
- Paramount Pictures
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Warren Beatty, Buck Henry
Elaine May, Warren Beatty, Harry Segall
Dave Grusin
William A. Fraker
Robert C. Jones, Don Zimmerman
Warren Beatty, Hawk Koch, Charles H. Maguire
Department Leadership Roster
Warren Beatty
Director
Elaine May
Screenplay
Warren Beatty
Producer
Dave Grusin
Original Music Composer
William A. Fraker
Director of Photography
Robert C. Jones
Editor
Don Zimmerman
Editor
Buck Henry
Director
Warren Beatty
Screenplay
Theadora Van Runkle
Costume Design
Richard Bruno
Costume Design
Paul Sylbert
Production Design
Craig R. Baxley
Stunt Coordinator
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG: Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.
Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Heaven Can Wait.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Heaven Can Wait.
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
North American Cinema
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金球奖最佳音乐/喜剧片
Golden Globe Best Musical/Comedy 金球奖历届最佳音乐及喜剧电影。 *(Updated via Automated ETL Pipeline: 2026-10-18 07:43:19 UTC+8)*
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Frequently Asked Questions About Heaven Can Wait
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Heaven Can Wait about?
Joe Pendleton is a 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 wasn't ready to die, and that his body has been cremated. A new body must be found, and that of a recently-murdered millionaire is chosen. His wife and accountant—the murderers—are confused by this development, as he buys the L.A. Rams in order to once again quarterback them into the Superbowl.
Who directed Heaven Can Wait?
Heaven Can Wait was directed by Warren Beatty, Buck Henry.
Who stars in Heaven Can Wait?
The principal cast of Heaven Can Wait includes Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, James Mason, Jack Warden, Charles Grodin.
When was Heaven Can Wait released and how long is it?
Heaven Can Wait was released in 1978 with a total runtime of 1h 41m.
What was the box office and production budget of Heaven Can Wait?
Heaven Can Wait had a reported production budget of $15M and grossed $98.8M at the worldwide box office (6.59 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).
Who composed the musical score for Heaven Can Wait?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Heaven Can Wait was composed by Dave Grusin.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Heaven Can Wait?
Heaven Can Wait holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: PG (Parental Guidance — Unlikely to upset children 8 and older.); US: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested — May contain mild violence or suggestive material.).