Ever seen a movie that feels like it was directed by two people who weren't talking to each other? That’s basically A Night in Heaven (1983) in a nutshell. It’s this bizarre, sweaty time capsule from the early '80s that tried to be a serious marital drama while simultaneously marketing itself as a "male stripper" flick. It didn't quite work.
Honestly, the film is most famous today for a song that most people don’t even realize was written for it: Bryan Adams’ "Heaven." You've definitely heard the power ballad at a wedding or on a "soft rock" radio station. But the movie itself? That’s a whole different story.
What Really Happens in A Night in Heaven?
The plot is kinda wild when you lay it out. You’ve got Faye Hanlon (Lesley Ann Warren), a buttoned-up community college professor in Florida. She’s married to Whitney (Robert Logan), a NASA rocket scientist who’s having a total midlife crisis because he’s being asked to design missiles instead of space-exploring rockets.
Enter Rick Monroe. Played by Christopher Atkins (fresh off the success of The Blue Lagoon), Rick is the "cool kid" in Faye’s speech class. He’s cocky, he doesn't take her seriously, and she eventually flunks him.
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Then things get weird.
Faye’s sister drags her to a male strip club called—you guessed it—Heaven. And who is the star attraction? "Ricky the Rocket," aka Rick Monroe. Seeing her student grind in silver lamé "Depends" (as some critics later described his costume) does something to Faye. They start an affair that is less "epic romance" and more "deeply uncomfortable academic boundary crossing."
The "Rocky" Connection
One of the most mind-blowing facts about this movie is the director. It was directed by John G. Avildsen. If that name sounds familiar, it should. He’s the guy who directed Rocky and The Karate Kid.
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You'd think a guy with an Oscar would produce a masterpiece, but even Avildsen later admitted the movie was a mess. He wanted it to be a serious look at marital forgiveness. The producers wanted Magic Mike. What we got was a movie where a rocket scientist stalks his wife’s student lover on a boat and threatens him with a gun before everyone just... goes home.
Why People Still Search for A Night in Heaven Full Movie
If you’re looking for the A Night in Heaven full movie today, you’re probably either a fan of 80s camp or you’re curious about the "legendary" production mishaps. The movie has a massive cult following, particularly in the gay community and among fans of "so-bad-it’s-good" cinema.
- The Soundtrack: Aside from the Bryan Adams hit, the movie features music by Jan Hammer and the original version of "Obsession" (later made famous by Animotion).
- The Nudity: There’s a famous story about an unscripted moment during the sex scene between Warren and Atkins. Apparently, Atkins wasn't wearing underwear, and a certain "reveal" made it into the final cut because the director thought it added "intimacy."
- The Space Center: For some reason, the movie features extensive, beautifully shot footage of the Kennedy Space Center. It’s a very strange backdrop for a story about a stripper-student affair.
The film was a total box office bomb, making only about $5.5 million against a $6 million budget. Critics were brutal. Roger Ebert basically said you could see the places where the movie had been hacked to pieces in the editing room. He wasn't wrong. The pacing is frantic, and subplots—like Whitney’s obsession with a recumbent bicycle—just sort of trail off into nothing.
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How to Actually Watch It
Finding this thing legally is a bit of a chore. It’s often "out of print" on physical media, though you can sometimes find old Anchor Bay DVDs on eBay for way more than they’re probably worth.
- Check Digital Stores: It occasionally pops up on Google Play or Amazon for rent, though its availability fluctuates.
- Physical Media: Look for the 2005 Anchor Bay DVD. It includes a commentary track where the director basically apologizes for the movie, which is worth the price of admission alone.
- Streaming: It’s rarely on the big platforms like Netflix or Max. You’re more likely to find it on niche retro channels or "trash cinema" collections.
The Final Verdict
Is it a good movie? Not by any traditional standard. But is it a fascinating look at 1983 Florida, NASA culture, and the weird way Hollywood tried to market male sexuality to women before they really knew how to do it? Absolutely.
If you decide to track down the A Night in Heaven full movie, don't expect Rocky. Expect a sweaty, neon-soaked fever dream that makes very little sense but remains strangely impossible to look away from.
Next Steps for the Curious: - Search for the "How Did This Get Made" podcast episode 199. They break down the insanity of the plot in a way that’s much more entertaining than the actual film.
- Listen to the original 1983 soundtrack version of "Heaven" to see how it differs from the radio version you know.
- Look up the filming locations at Cape Canaveral if you're a space nerd; the cinematography in those scenes is actually quite good.