Hallmark Entertainment produced the three hour TV event of The Five People You Meet in Heaven, which aired on ABC-TV in December 2004 with an all star cast of Academy Award Winner Jon Voight, as Eddie, Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn, as Ruby, Emmy Award Winner Michael Imperioli, as the Captain, and Golden Globe nominee Jeff Daniels, as the Blue Man. 

It was the first film of his books for which Mitch wrote the screenplay. Directed by Lloyd Kramer, the film was critically acclaimed and the most watched TV movie of the year, with 18.6 million viewers.

    Reviews   "Beautifully acted and gorgeously produced." - USA Today   "Earns tears with finesse and fearlessness." - The Washington Post   "A miniature war movie, a revenge drama, a love story and a classic tale." - Chicago Tribune