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THE REWATCHABLES · May 26, 2025

Heaven Can Wait

A 1978 sports / fantasy / comedy / drama movie directed by Warren Beatty; Buck Henry—and decision no. 57 in the Hanks–Cruise tape.

SportsFantasyComedyDrama1970sDirected by Warren Beatty; Buck Henry
Heaven Can Wait1978MOVIE

ON THIS EPISODE

Podcast episode#396No. 407 overall
Movie year19781970s release
Tomatometer82%No. 54 of 128 tracked
Metacritic72View score
Roger Ebert3/4Original star rating
State of the raceHanks led by 531–26 · 0 ties

FROM THE CONVERSATION

What they said about the movie

The episode treats Heaven Can Wait as a charming, highly rewatchable 70s star vehicle built around Warren Beatty's charisma, football credibility, and light screwball structure. The hosts admire its first half, its final stretch, and its mix of romance, metaphysics, and football, while also noting that some plot mechanics, dating, and tonal choices feel dated or overly elaborate.
Based only on this episode’s transcriptTimes approximateSome speakers unidentifiedExplore the connections
In this conversation
Bill SimmonsChris RyanVan LathanCraig Horlbeck

WHY IT WORKS

What made it rewatchable

  1. 01Warren Beatty's movie-star presence and believable quarterback physicality carry the whole film. Opening minutes
  2. 02The first 15 minutes and the late-game stretch are singled out as especially strong. About 32 min
  3. 03The football practices, jargon, and Super Bowl sequence make the sports material unusually fun and convincing. About 40 min
  4. 04The boarding-room/corporate-politics material and screwball plotting create a breezy, funny rhythm. About 24 min · medium confidence
  5. 05The Joe/Jarrett body-swap conceit and heaven mechanics make for a memorable high-concept hangout movie. About 8 min

WHAT DID NOT WORK

Their main criticisms

  1. minorThe movie is very PG and could have used a stronger sex scene or more adult charge. About 1:04 · medium confidence
  2. moderateSome of the plot machinery and investigative material feels overlong or less enjoyable than the football/comedy parts. About 1:12
  3. minorA few elements feel dated, including the hair, corporate era details, and the 1970s celebrity context. About 48 min
  4. moderateThe movie's pacing and direction did not fully land for Craig, despite strong casting. About 1:36

SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO

Standout moments

Favorite

Opening tunnel/car crash

The bike ride into the tunnel and the sudden death setup are praised as a great tonal opening.

About 32 min
Favorite

Birthday party with Max

A short scene that quickly sells Joe and Max as longtime buddies.

About 32 min
Favorite

Joe's Rams practice montage

The football warm-up and throwing practice are treated as one of the most rewatchable stretches.

About 32 min
positive

Boardroom/environmental politics scene

The corporate meeting and anti-refinery angle are appreciated as a strong comic-setup scene.

About 8 min · medium confidence
Favorite

Joe reveals himself to Max

The scene where Joe proves he is Joe to Max gets singled out as a perfect character beat.

About 40 min
Favorite

Final Super Bowl run

The concluding football sequence is seen as the movie's big payoff.

About 32 min
positive

Mansion romance / Joe and Betty in the limo

The slow-burn romantic material between Beatty and Christie is praised for its chemistry.

About 48 min · medium confidence

WHERE THEY DISAGREED

The biggest debates

They agreed About 8 min

How Beatty's star power compares to later 70s icons

Bill Simmons

Beatty should be ranked with or above many of the era's biggest stars, but his legacy is less durable than Redford, Pacino, De Niro, and Hackman.

Chris Ryan

Agree that Beatty is somewhat underrated today because his movies lack the later-canon status of those peers.

They partly agreed About 1:20

Whether the film is more of a comedy, romance, or metaphysical story

Bill Simmons

Primarily an upbeat screwball comedy with football and romance.

Van Lathan

The metaphysics make it feel like a horror story if you take the body-swapping seriously.

They partly agreed About 32 min

Which scene is most rewatchable

Bill Simmons

The birthday party with Max or the opening 15 minutes.

Chris Ryan

The football practice and late-game sequence are the most fun.

They left it as a friendly argument About 1:20

Whether the final catch was a catch

Bill Simmons

Questions whether the final play was actually complete.

Chris Ryan

Treats the ending as the movie's great improbable football payoff.

11 People discussedActors, directors, writers, and producers
very favorableWarren BeattyBill Simmons: Praised as one of the great movie stars and a convincing quarterback, rich guy, and playboy. Opening minutes favorableJulie ChristieVan Lathan: Admired as a major 1960s star, though her haircut and vibe in this film are mocked a bit. About 24 min favorableCharles GrodinBill Simmons: Liked as the funny, slightly creepy adulterous boyfriend/lover opposite Diane Cannon. About 48 min
very favorableDiane CannonBill Simmons: Loved as a scene-stealer with great outfits, eye acting, and comic energy. About 56 min
favorableJack WardenBill Simmons: Appreciated for the buddy chemistry and for escalating the confession scene. About 32 min
favorableBuck HenryChris Ryan: Mentioned as co-director and part of the movie's tightly controlled comic construction. About 1:28 · medium confidence
criticalPauline KaelBill Simmons: Cited as a famously negative critic of the movie and of Beatty's image-consciousness. About 32 min favorableRoger EbertBill Simmons: Referenced as giving the film three stars and describing it as an old-school upbeat screwball comedy. About 24 min
neutralDiane Cannon's off-screen partnersBill Simmons: Used in a running joke about Cannon's dating history with Johnny Carson, Armand Assante, and Cary Grant. About 56 min · medium confidence
neutralMichael LandonBill Simmons: Mentioned as the face of Highway to Heaven in a comparison to other heaven-themed entertainment. Opening minutes · medium confidence
favorableBurt ReynoldsChris Ryan: Cited as an alternative star who could have played the role, especially the football parts. About 8 min · medium confidence
8 Conversation takesSpeakers shown only where the transcript identifies them
Bill SimmonsLoved it

Heaven Can Wait

Calls it one of his favorite movies and a delightful, whimsical metaphysical comedy that feels like classic screwball filmmaking.

Opening minutes
Chris RyanLoved it

Warren Beatty

Argues Beatty is a perfect example of a star who can win by doing less, just by being handsome and magnetic.

Opening minutes
Bill SimmonsLoved it

The first 15 minutes

Says the opening stretch is among the movie's best material and includes the key tonal setup.

About 32 min
Van LathanMixed

The metaphysics of heaven and memory

Likes the movie but stresses that the heaven/body-swap logic is actually brutal if taken seriously.

About 1:12
Bill SimmonsLoved it

The birthday party with Max

Names the birthday celebration as the standout rewatchable scene because it nails the buddy chemistry fast.

About 32 min
Bill SimmonsLoved it

The final football sequence

Says the movie gets 'lights out' late and the ending is the payoff that makes the whole movie work.

About 32 min
Chris RyanLoved it

Diane Cannon

Treats Cannon as a major asset whose performance could have been a star-making turn.

About 1:28
Craig HorlbeckMixed

Heaven Can Wait

Says he liked it overall but found it slow, dated, and less impressive than the panel expected.

About 1:36
5 ThemesThe larger ideas in the discussion

Star power and stardom theory

The hosts argue Beatty was at his best when he simply radiated charm, handsomeness, and control.

About 8 min

Body, soul, and identity

The movie's metaphysical premise prompts talk about whether identity is spirit, body, or memory.

About 8 min

Football as fantasy fulfillment

The fantasy of being a Rams quarterback is treated as a total wish-fulfillment engine for the movie.

About 24 min

1970s Hollywood economics and star-system power

The episode repeatedly situates the film in a moment when stars, not IP, could still carry a big movie.

About 24 min

Old LA as a mythic setting

Malibu, Topanga, and the Filoli mansion are discussed as places that make the film feel like a vanished California.

About 32 min · medium confidence
24 Facts and referencesProduction notes and other movies mentioned

Production note

The movie made almost $100 million on a $9.5 million budget.

About 24 min

Production note

The film was shot using a preseason Rams-Chargers game crowd for the Super Bowl sequence.

About 40 min

Production note

The Filoli Mansion in Woodside, California, was used as Leo Farnsworth's house.

About 1:28

Production note

Heaven Can Wait was the first Rewatchables episode on a Warren Beatty movie.

About 8 min

Production note

Neil Diamond wrote a song titled 'Heaven Can Wait' for the film, but it was not used.

About 1:28 · medium confidence

Mentioned with uncertainty

The episode jokes that Beatty had a 'pre-2' sex biography.

About 8 min · medium confidence

Production note

Pauline Kael's negative reaction allegedly damaged her relationship with Beatty.

About 32 min

Production note

Diane Cannon's Laker fandom is treated as part of her public persona.

About 56 min

Production note

The movie's title card opens in silence rather than with zany music.

About 32 min · medium confidence

The Philadelphia Story

Cited as one of the classic screwball influences on the film's structure and tone.

Opening minutes

His Girl Friday

Used as another screwball template for the film's rhythm.

Opening minutes

Highway to Heaven

Mentioned as part of the broader wave of heaven-themed entertainment.

Opening minutes · medium confidence

The Heavenly Kid

Another example of heaven/death movies from earlier decades.

Opening minutes · medium confidence

Oh God

Named as a 70s/early-80s heavenly comedy reference.

Opening minutes · medium confidence

Bonnie and Clyde

Used to situate Beatty's earlier reputation and status.

About 32 min

McCabe and Mrs. Miller

Referenced as a Beatty/Christie collaboration and part of Beatty's critical run.

About 24 min

Shampoo

Used as a major Beatty film and a model for his era-specific style.

About 16 min

Reds

Cited as Beatty's serious later prestige project.

About 8 min

Dick Tracy

Mentioned as one of Beatty's later big swings.

About 8 min · medium confidence

Bugsy

Referenced as a later Beatty project that was a big Oscar movie but less of a cultural fit.

About 8 min

Misery

Used in a discussion of a role Beatty considered but did not take.

About 8 min · medium confidence

The Game

Cited as another Filoli mansion film.

About 1:36 · medium confidence

Fletch

Suggested as a double feature because of the rich-LA vibe.

About 1:36 · medium confidence

Meet Joe Black

Mentioned as a less successful spiritual/body-swap-adjacent comparison.

About 1:36 · medium confidence
11 Running jokes and short linesRecurring bits captured from the conversation

Beatty body count / dating life jokes

The hosts repeatedly joke about Beatty's many relationships and his reputation as a womanizer.

Opening minutes

Rich-owner quarterback fantasy

The conversation spins into fantasy football owners who might play for their own teams.

About 40 min

Core memory identity test

They riff on how to prove to someone that you are really yourself after a body swap.

About 40 min

The 'pre-2' phrase

Bill keeps joking about his invented term for the pre-social-media era.

About 8 min

Diane Cannon six-pack

Bill rattles off a list of Cannon-related praises and references.

About 56 min

Heaven/hell theology riff

The panel spins into speculative jokes about what heaven and hell would actually be like.

About 1:12

Bill Simmons

“I'm starting my new narrative podcast”
Opening minutes

Chris Ryan

“It's a beautiful movie that means a lot”
Opening minutes

Bill Simmons

“This is the best movie I've ever seen.”
About 32 min

Van Lathan

“This is a horror movie.”
About 1:12

Bill Simmons

“We're being sued by a guy named Porpoise.”
About 8 min

MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT

Where to watch

UNITED STATES

Checking where Heaven Can Wait is available…

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

Movies to watch before and after.

Three movies to watch before Heaven Can Wait, and three to watch next.

Finding six movies…Three to watch first and three to watch next.
Includes a Rewatchables episodePosters from TMDB.

ON THE MIC

3 voices made the call

Bill Simmons headshotBill Simmons125 tracked appearances · 56 H / 64 C / 5 ties
Chris Ryan headshotChris Ryan77 tracked appearances · 36 H / 38 C / 3 ties
Van Lathan headshotVan Lathan36 tracked appearances · 11 H / 23 C / 2 ties

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