

Heaven's Gate
What one loves about life are the things that fade.
Harvard graduate James Averill serves as the sheriff of prosperous Jackson County, Wyoming, standing at the center of a conflict between impoverished immigrants and affluent cattle farmers. Politically connected ranchers enlist mercenary Nathan Champion—who is also vying for the affections of local madam Ella Watson—to combat the immigrant uprising. As tensions escalate, both Averill and Champion start to question their decisions.
TMDB
6.7/10
439 votes
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- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $44M
- Box office
- $3.5M
- Language
- English
- immigrant
- showdown
- wyoming, usa
- love triangle
- montana
- brothel
- marshal
- idealist
- cock fighting
- cockfight
- cattle baron
- fiddler
Top billed cast
















Behind the camera
Where to watch
All optionsAvailability for United States. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.
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Videos
Release dates
United StatesUS
- PremiereRNew York City, New York18 Nov 1980
- Theatrical (limited)R19 Nov 1980
- PremiereLos Angeles, California (Edited Version)23 Apr 1981
- TheatricalREdited version24 Apr 1981
- PhysicalRLaserDisc (Premiere Cut)5 Mar 1992
- PhysicalRDeluxe Letter Box Edition Laserdisc (Premiere Cut)4 Jun 1997
- PhysicalRDVD (Premiere Cut)29 Feb 2000
- PhysicalRCriterion Director's Cut Blu-ray / DVD20 Nov 2012
CanadaCA
- Theatrical14A19 Nov 1980
CzechiaCZ
- Physical1 Nov 1995
FranceFR
- PremiereCannes Film Festival20 May 1981
- TheatricalTP22 May 1981
- PhysicalTPCarlotta Films Blu-ray20 Nov 2013
GermanyDE
- Theatrical161 Mar 1983
ItalyIT
- PremiereVenice International Film Festival (Director's Cut)30 Aug 2012
JapanJP
- PhysicalLaserDisc (Premiere Cut)25 Sept 1997
Frequently asked questions
Heaven's Gate was released on 19 November 1980.
Audience reviews
4- J8/10
John Chard
6/22/2019
Heaven’s Gate (1980) Barbed wire and women are the two greatest civilising agents in the world. Heaven’s Gate is written and directed by Michael Cimino and stars Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, Isabelle Huppert, Jeff Bridges, John Hurt and Sam Waterston. Music is by David Mansfield and cinematography by Vilmos Zsigmond. Picture is based around the real-life Johnson County War in 1890 Wyoming, where her…
- W7/10
Wuchak
8/4/2019
***Cimino’s epic Western about the Johnson County War, unjustly lambasted by critics*** With the government’s blessing, cattle barons in Wyoming circa 1890 hire an army of mercenaries to kill claimed rustlers who, in many cases, are innocent settlers. A marshal born into wealth (Kris Kristofferson) sides with the poor immigrants in Johnson County; in his spare time he romances a French madam (Isabelle Huppert) who…
- A6/10
adorablepanic
4/30/2020
Has any film undergone the level of critical turnaround afforded HEAVEN'S GATE (1980) since its initial banishment and failure? Nearly four decades removed from the vitriol and scorn heaped upon, not only the film, but the hubris of its director and the perceived wastefulness of an out-of-control production system, what did writer/director Michael Cimino ultimately leave his audience? Well, as with most (but certainl…
- C6/10
CinemaSerf
7/6/2024
"Averill" (Kris Kristofferson) is from wealthy stock, a Harvard graduate, and a decent man who takes up a job as a sheriff in rural Wyoming. Most of the town's population have fled persecution and poverty in Europe, and want to start afresh with their families. They are not afraid of hard work, but that doesn't ease the chagrin of the local cattle ranchers who find them little better than fleas to be swatted. "Averil…
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