HEAVEN IS WAITING
An enjoyable, faith-filled drama about grief, family, and letting go.
Should You Watch It?
HEAVEN IS WAITING is an enjoyable drama about grief, family change, and the difficult work of letting go. It handles serious emotions with a light touch, and its Christian family is shown as flawed but moral: they attend church, count the pastor as a friend, and live out their faith in ordinary life.
The musical score adds many faith-filled songs, though some song montages last longer than they should. The film's one significant content concern is the father's talking to his dead wife, a form of spiritism condemned in Scripture.
If that concern is appropriate for your family, HEAVEN IS WAITING is worth watching with middle schoolers and older viewers.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESNed is a widower trying to build a life after his wife's death. His plans to live alone and care for his daughter, Liz, are disrupted when she brings home David, her boyfriend from college.
Ned is not ready to give up his daughter or let go of his wife. As Liz and his wife encourage him toward a new future, Ned begins an awkward relationship with a neighbor.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is an enjoyable, solid drama rather than an exceptional one. The filmmakers successfully balance serious drama with light fun, and Curt Doussett does a nice job portraying a man trying to understand the changes around him.
The faith-filled musical score strengthens the film's Christian atmosphere. Some song montage sequences go on a little too long, keeping the movie from feeling as polished as it might. Still, HEAVEN IS WAITING offers a warm and accessible story about grief and family.
The Worldview
HEAVEN IS WAITING presents a strong Christian and moral worldview. It portrays a family that attends church, has a friendship with the pastor, and lives a flawed yet moral life. Faith-filled songs and a reference to the Bible reinforce that setting.
The film also treats grief with sympathy. Ned struggles to process his wife's death and the changes in his family, especially his daughter's relationship and his own need to move forward. The movie's central weakness is that Ned talks to his dead wife, who appears to him. The source review identifies this as spiritism, which Scripture condemns: “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them” (Leviticus 19:31).
The film's longing to hold on to the past is understandable, but biblical faith calls us to grieve honestly without seeking the dead.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Very strong Christian, moral worldview as man grieves loss of wife, many references to church, many faith-filled songs, and a reference to the Bible, but man talks to his dead wife, who appears; no foul language; no violence; no sexual scenes, couples kisses passionately; no nudity; no drinking of alcohol; no smoking, no drug use; and, nothing else objectionable.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Ned struggles to let go after his wife's death. How can grieving and remembering become part of trusting God?
Psalm 34:18 · 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14Liz's relationship changes the life Ned had planned. How should families respond when the people they love enter new seasons?
Proverbs 3:5–6 · Philippians 2:3–4The film shows a family whose faith is part of ordinary life. What might it look like for your family to make church, friendship, and moral choices part of daily living?
Hebrews 10:24–25 · James 1:22Why does Scripture warn people not to seek communication with the dead? What does that warning show about trusting God?
Leviticus 19:31 · Deuteronomy 18:10–12The Final Word
HEAVEN IS WAITING offers an enjoyable, gentle drama about grief, family, and moving forward, with a positive Christian setting and faith-filled music. Its portrayal of talking to the dead calls for discernment, especially with younger children. For middle schoolers and up, it is WORTH THE TRIP — MIDDLE SCHOOL AND UP.
