You probably remember the frenzy back in 2010. Colton Burpo, a four-year-old kid from Nebraska, claimed he visited heaven during an emergency appendectomy. His dad, Todd Burpo, wrote a book about it that basically sat on the New York Times bestseller list forever. Then came the movie. It’s one of those films that people either absolutely love for its message of hope or approach with a healthy dose of skepticism. If you’re looking for where to watch Heaven Is For Real, you’re likely in the mood for something that tugs at the heartstrings and makes you wonder "what if?"
Finding it isn't hard, but where it lives on streaming changes constantly. Licensing deals are a headache. One month it's on Netflix, the next it’s vanished into the Sony Pictures vault.
The Best Places to Stream Heaven Is For Real Right Now
Currently, the most reliable way to catch the film is through Starz. If you have a subscription to the Starz app or the Starz add-on via Amazon Prime Video or Hulu, you can hit play immediately. It’s been sitting there for a while because Sony (who produced the film through TriStar) often cycles its mid-budget hits through premium cable streamers.
Don't have Starz? Honestly, just rent it.
It’s available on all the usual suspects. Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu all have it for a few bucks. Usually, it's about $3.99 for a standard rental. If you’re a physical media nerd—and let's be real, sometimes having the disc is better because digital licenses can be revoked—you can find the Blu-ray in the bargain bin at Walmart or on eBay for less than the price of a latte.
Why Is It Sometimes Hard to Find on Netflix?
People always ask why a movie this popular isn't just "always on Netflix." It comes down to the "Pay 1" and "Pay 2" windows of distribution. Netflix had a massive deal with Sony, but that deal primarily covers newer theatrical releases. Older titles like Heaven Is For Real (released in 2014) get shuffled around to whoever pays the most for a 6-month or 12-month window. If you see it on Netflix today, watch it. It might be gone by Tuesday.
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What Actually Happens in the Movie?
If you haven't seen it yet, or maybe it's been a decade, the plot follows the Burpo family in Imperial, Nebraska. Greg Kinnear plays Todd Burpo, a small-town pastor and garage door installer who is struggling to make ends meet. It's a gritty look at rural life that many faith-based films gloss over. When Colton (played by Connor Corum) undergoes surgery, he later starts describing things he couldn't possibly know.
He talks about meeting a great-grandfather who died 30 years before he was born.
He mentions a sister who died in a miscarriage—a secret his parents had never told him.
The film doesn't just focus on the "supernatural" elements. It’s really more of a character study on how a community reacts when someone claims something impossible. Todd faces backlash from his congregation and his own internal doubts. It’s surprisingly grounded for a movie about a trip to the afterlife.
The Real-Life Impact and Controversy
You can't talk about where to watch Heaven Is For Real without acknowledging the massive debate it sparked. When the book came out, it sold over 10 million copies. The movie pulled in over $100 million at the box office on a tiny budget.
But not everyone was a fan.
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Some theological scholars argued the "version" of heaven Colton described didn't align perfectly with scripture. Secular critics, meanwhile, looked for medical explanations like DMT release in the brain during trauma or "suggestive memory" where a child internalizes stories told by parents.
There was also the shadow of another "heavenly" story. A few years after the Burpo success, another boy, Alex Malarkey (who wrote The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven), admitted he made his story up. This put a huge amount of pressure on the Burpos. However, Colton, who is now an adult, has stood by his story for over twenty years. He’s done numerous interviews, including high-profile spots on The Kelly Clarkson Show and with various news outlets, maintaining that his experience was 100% literal.
Does the Movie Hold Up?
Visually, the director, Randall Wallace (who wrote Braveheart), chose to depict heaven in a very vibrant, almost painterly way. It’s bold. Some find it beautiful; others think it feels a bit like a Sunday School mural. But Kinnear’s performance is objectively great. He brings a level of sincerity that prevents the movie from becoming "cheesy" or overly "preachy."
If you like films like The Shack or Miracles from Heaven, this is right in your wheelhouse. It's a "comfort watch."
Expert Tips for the Best Viewing Experience
If you’re planning a movie night, here are a few things to keep in mind to get the most out of the experience:
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- Check the 4K Status: Most streaming platforms only offer this in HD. If you want the best visual pop for the "heavenly" sequences, the 4K digital version on Apple TV is significantly crisper than the standard HD stream on Starz.
- Watch the Bonus Features: If you buy it on Vudu or Apple, look for the "Colton Goes to Heaven" featurette. It shows the real Colton Burpo talking about the production. It adds a layer of reality to the fictionalized version you see on screen.
- Prepare for a Cry: This isn't a "background noise" movie. It deals with some heavy themes regarding loss and faith. Keep the tissues nearby.
The Burpo Family Today: Where Are They Now?
A lot of people finish the movie and immediately head to Google to see if the family is still around. Todd Burpo is still active in ministry, and the family runs a ministry called "Heaven Is For Real Ministries." They travel and speak quite a bit. Colton went to college, got married, and has mostly stayed out of the Hollywood spotlight, appearing only occasionally to discuss the impact of his story.
They didn't become "Hollywood rich" in the way people assume. Much of the proceeds from the book and movie went back into their ministry and helping their local community. It’s a rare case where the people involved seem to have kept their feet on the ground despite a literal "out of this world" experience.
Actionable Steps for Your Movie Night
If you're ready to dive in, don't waste time scrolling through twenty different apps.
- First step: Open your "Search" function on your Smart TV or Roku. Type in the title. This is the fastest way to see if it has moved to a free service like Tubi or Pluto TV (which happens occasionally for weekend runs).
- Second step: If you have an Amazon Prime account, check if you have a "7-day free trial" for Starz available. You can sign up, watch the movie, and cancel before you're charged.
- Third step: If you want to compare the movie to the source material, the ebook is usually under $10. Many people find the book much more detailed than the 90-minute film.
Regardless of whether you believe Colton's story or think it's a fascinating psychological phenomenon, the film remains a cornerstone of modern faith-based cinema. It’s a conversation starter. Watching it with friends or family usually leads to a long discussion about what happens when the lights go out, and in a world that feels pretty chaotic, a little bit of hope—even if it's via a Nebraska kid's surgery—isn't a bad thing to spend an evening on.
Check your Starz subscription first, then head to the rental stores. It’s a straightforward path to a pretty profound story.