Year: 1983
Runtime: 86 mins
Language: English
Director: John G. Avildsen
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.
Get a spoiler-free look at A Night in Heaven (1983) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.
In the humid heat of a Florida college town, a quiet student‑teacher routine masks a world that pulses after dark. Rick Monroe is a charismatic jock whose swagger carries him from lecture hall to the stage of Heaven, the city’s hottest dance club, where he adopts the flamboyant persona of “Ricky the Rocket” to keep his tuition afloat. By day he blends into the background of a community college, yet by night he becomes the magnetic center of a dimly lit stage, hinting at a restless desire for something beyond the ordinary.
Across town, Faye Hanlon teaches at the same college, her disciplined exterior a thin veil over a marriage that has grown stale. Her husband, Whitney Hanlon, a former rocket scientist now grappling with unemployment, struggles to reconnect with the woman he once knew. Their shared history is a fragile balance of intellectual respect and unspoken yearning, set against the backdrop of a fading domestic routine that feels both familiar and suffocating.
The arrival of Patsy, Faye’s free‑spirited sister from Chicago, injects a reckless dose of escapism. Her invitation to a night out at Heaven promises a break from the monotony, and the club’s electric atmosphere becomes a crucible where personal secrets begin to surface. The encounter between teacher and student flares quietly, each aware that the line between professional duty and forbidden attraction is dangerously thin.
As the characters navigate the glittering yet gritty nocturnal scene, the film swirls with a sensual, slightly tense tone that explores the pull between duty and desire. The story asks whether the promise of a passionate night can illuminate hidden cravings or simply deepen the cracks already present in the lives of those who dare to step out of the shadows.
Last Updated: December 04, 2025 at 16:17
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Read a complete plot summary of A Night in Heaven, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A Night in Heaven (1983) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
A Night in Heaven (1983) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
A Night in Heaven (1983) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like A Night in Heaven – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Afternoon Delight (2013) Full Summary & Key Details
Heaven Help Us (1985) Complete Plot Breakdown
Despite the Night (2015) Movie Recap & Themes
A Night with Sabrina Love (2000) Story Summary & Characters
The Night Belongs to Lovers (2021) Movie Recap & Themes
Summer Night in Town (1990) Story Summary & Characters
Getting Into Heaven (1970) Movie Recap & Themes
Summer Night in Town (1990) Movie Recap & Themes
The Teacher (1974) Film Overview & Timeline
Oh, What a Night (1992) Story Summary & Characters
After Sex (1997) Story Summary & Characters
Warm Nights and Hot Pleasures (1964) Story Summary & Characters
One Night Stand (1997) Film Overview & Timeline
When Night Is Falling (1995) Full Summary & Key Details
Heaven in Hell (2023) Plot Summary & Ending Explained