A Night in Heaven

A Night in Heaven

Year: 1983

Runtime: 86 mins

Language: English

Director: John G. Avildsen

DramaRomanceComedy

In class he blends into the background, but at Heaven, the city’s hottest dance club, he’s the star attraction. Faye Hanlon, a community‑college professor, endures a depressed husband and intense sexual frustration. A night out at a male strip club with her sister reveals that one of the dancers is her struggling student, Rick Monroe—“Ricky the Rocket.” Their illicit affair forces Faye to confront her desires and decide whether to pursue the passionate liaison or try to salvage her distant marriage.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen A Night in Heaven yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

A Night in Heaven (1983) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of A Night in Heaven (1983), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Rick Monroe is a loud, confident jock at a Florida community college in Titusville, known for his quick lines and easy charm. After delivering a final report filled with a cheap joke, his prim and proper instructor, Faye Hanlon, calls him out, flunks him, and forces him to retake the course, setting a charged dynamic in motion between mentor and student.

Meanwhile, Whitney Hanlon, a rocket scientist who has just been laid off from NASA, watches a marriage that once felt solid begin to fray. Faye’s sister, the free-spirited Patsy, visits from Chicago to lift her sister’s spirits and drags her to a male strip club where the show features a performer billed as “Ricky the Rocket”—the very same Rick who works there on the side to cover his tuition.

When Rick spots Faye in the crowd, he delivers a bold lap dance and seals the moment with a kiss, blurring the lines between teacher and student and awakening a mutual attraction neither seems prepared to admit. The next day at a school function, Rick tries to secure another chance at his final, while Faye, drawn by unresolved tension and the thrill of forbidden desire, flirts back and allows the possibility of something more to linger.

Faye and Patsy plan to meet near Patsy’s hotel, but Patsy has been duped into seeing another performance by Ricky the Rocket, and the night takes a new turn as Rick’s double life begins to collide with reality. At Patsy’s hotel, Faye arranges a ruse by calling Whitney and lying that she and Patsy are staying there together, hoping to navigate the confusing maze of feelings that have sprung up.

Back at the hotel, Rick’s onstage persona bleeds into his private life. He returns with a girlfriend named Slick, and the room becomes a scene of betrayal as Faye discovers Rick in bed with both partners. The shock of being used and humiliated drives her to retreat, while Rick is left to confront the fallout of his choices.

The story ramps up as Whitney, returning from a failed job interview, tracks down the hotel, finds Rick exiting the room, and forcibly drags him to a small dock. At gunpoint he drags Rick to a skiff, orders him to strip, and, when Rick pleads, grows angry that Rick did not follow orders exactly. Whitney then shoots holes in the skiff, leaving a naked Rick aboard as it sinks into the river.

With the danger passed but the emotional damage clear, Faye returns home to find Whitney waiting. She apologizes, and he forgives her, setting the stage for a quiet, if tentative, reconciliation as they confront their problems and decide how to move forward together.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:42

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about forbidden affairs like A Night in Heaven

Stories of illicit romance that threaten to unravel stable lives.If you enjoyed the risky teacher-student dynamic in A Night in Heaven, explore more movies about forbidden romance and dangerous liaisons. These films feature characters embracing illicit desires, often leading to tense confrontations, betrayal, and dramatic fallout.

forbiddentenseeroticdramaticconflictedriskbetrayalawkward

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a protagonist, often trapped in an unfulfilling situation, who engages in a secret, taboo relationship. The story builds tension through near-discoveries and moral conflict, escalating towards a climactic exposure that forces a difficult resolution.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the high stakes of forbidden love. They create a specific mood blending erotic tension with anxiety, driven by characters who prioritize passion over propriety, leading to inevitable dramatic consequences.

Movies about sexual awakening like A Night in Heaven

Characters breaking free from repression to discover their desires.Fans of Faye's journey in A Night in Heaven will appreciate these movies about midlife crises and sexual awakening. Discover similar stories where characters confront marital dissatisfaction and embark on transformative, often complicated, paths to self-discovery.

frustratedconflictedawakeningdramaticbittersweetliberatingself-discoverymarital strife

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist, typically in a stable but unhappy domestic situation, who experiences a catalyst that awakens repressed desires. Their journey is one of exploration and conflict, grappling with the repercussions of their choices on their existing life, often leading to a bittersweet resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their central theme of a character's late-blooming sexual and emotional awakening. They share a focus on internal conflict, the tension between duty and desire, and a realistic, often complicated, outcome for the protagonist's choices.

Unlock the Full Story of A Night in Heaven

Don't stop at just watching — explore A Night in Heaven in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what A Night in Heaven is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

A Night in Heaven Timeline

Track the full timeline of A Night in Heaven with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

A Night in Heaven Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in A Night in Heaven

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape A Night in Heaven. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in A Night in Heaven

A Night in Heaven Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of A Night in Heaven that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

A Night in Heaven Spoiler-Free Summary

More About A Night in Heaven

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about A Night in Heaven: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About A Night in Heaven

Similar Movies to A Night in Heaven

Discover movies like A Night in Heaven that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.