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Days of Heaven (1978) | Criteria

Still from Days of Heaven — Days of Heaven (1978) — Terrence MalickPhotographed by Néstor Almendros

Poster for Days of Heaven

Terrence Malick

Days of Heaven

United States / English / 1978 / 1h 34m

Not streamingNot currently on the Criterion Channel.

Criterion Collection: Spine №409
Letterboxd: 4.09/5·166.1K ratings·43.1K reviewson Letterboxd
Connections: View Connections

Synopsis

In 1916, a Chicago steel worker accidentally kills his supervisor and flees to the Texas panhandle with his girlfriend and little sister to work harvesting wheat in the fields of a stoic farmer.

Kahlil Joseph
Oct 2025
Ethel Cain
Jul 2025

Amy Irving

Feb 2025

Maya and Ethan Hawke

Apr 2024

The Wolfpack

Jul 2015

Bret Easton Ellis#2
Lena Dunham#2
Paweł Pawlikowski#4tie
Keith Gordon#4tie
Richard Ayoade#4
Terence Nance#5
Jonathan Caouette#5
Chloe Domont#6
Jenni Olson#6tie
Andrew Ahn#6
Meg Baird#6
Stephen Cone#7tie
Al Reinert#7
Sloane Crosley#9
Sonic Youth#12

Included in
The New American Cinema (1966–1979)
Position 16
Included in
May 2023
Position 13
Included in
April 2021
Position 35
Included in
The Maestro: Scores by Ennio Morricone
Position 19
Included in
December 2020
Position 29
Included in
Three by Terrence Malick
Position 2

Credits

Crew

DirectorTerrence Malick

WriterTerrence Malick

CinematographerNéstor Almendros

ComposerEnnio Morricone

EditorBilly Weber

ProducerBert Schneider, Harold Schneider

Cast

Richard Gereas Bill

Brooke Adamsas Abby

Sam Shepardas The Farmer

Linda Manzas Linda

Robert J. Wilkeas The Farm Foreman

Jackie Shultisas Linda's Friend

Stuart Margolinas Mill Foreman

Timothy Scottas Harvest Hand

Gene Bellas Dancer

Doug Kershawas Fiddler

Richard Libertinias Vaudeville Leader

Frenchie Lemondas Vaudeville Wrestler

Sahbra Markusas Vaudeville Dancer

Bob Wilsonas Accountant

Muriel Jolliffeas Headmistress

John Wilkinsonas Preacher

King Coleas Farm Worker

Terrence Malickas Mill Worker (uncredited)

Double Feature

Streaming now, and why it pairs with this film

Poster for Picnic at Hanging Rock

Picnic at Hanging Rock1975

Both picked by Ethel Cain and Maya and Ethan Hawke in the Criterion Closet, and both on Top 10 lists by Lena Dunham and Meg Baird

Or

A Woman Under the Influence1974Both on Top 10 lists by Andrew Ahn, Chloe Domont and 3 others
Ali: Fear Eats the Soul1974Both on Top 10 lists by Lena Dunham, Sonic Youth and Terence Nance

Related Films

via Criterion Collection

Poster for Badlands

Badlands

1973

Poster for The Thin Red Line

The Thin Red Line

1998

Poster for The Tree of Life

The Tree of Life

2011

Articles

via Criterion Collection

Days of Heaven: On Earth as It Is in HeavenAdrian Martin — Mar 24, 2010
Subvert Normality: The Streetwise Voice of Linda ManzRebecca Bengal — Aug 28, 2020
Out of Time: Sam Shepard in Days of HeavenHillary Weston — Jul 5, 2018