The lyrics were written by their frontman Robert Smith, who drew inspiration from a past trip to the sea shore with his future wife.

Before Smith had completed the lyrics, an instrumental version of the song was used as the theme for the French television show Les Enfants du Rock.

[5] When the French TV show Les Enfants du Rock asked the Cure to provide a theme song, Smith offered the instrumental version.

He completed the lyrics when the group moved the sessions to Studio Miraval, located in Le Val, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.

Melody Maker's review of the single was undecided; writer David Stubbs described it as "a colourful, fluttery, fussy thing" and "unimpeachable", but added, "[it] turns my face green, as if having consumed too many truffles.

"[8] The song was the Cure's eleventh top 40 hit in the UK, and stayed on the charts there for five weeks during October and November 1987, peaking at number 29.

[9] In the United States, "Just Like Heaven" became the Cure's first top 40 hit when it reached number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in December 1987.

[11] Ned Raggett, also of AllMusic, wrote that the song was "instantly memorable, [and] sparkling with rough energy [...] it's a perfect showcase for Robert Smith's ear for wistful, romantic numbers.

[13][14] In 2005, Entertainment Weekly ranked "Just Like Heaven" 25th on its list of "The 50 Greatest Love Songs", saying, "Turns out guys who wear black eyeliner can be happy.

[18] Robert Smith said he considers "Just Like Heaven" to be one of the band's strongest works, and called it "the best pop song the Cure have ever done".

[5] During the song's piano solo the sky turns to nighttime and the band is shown clad in white shirts.

In the UK the cover was released as a double A-side single with "I Cried for You" in late 2005, and in the U.S. it became a minor adult contemporary radio hit in 2006.

[23] Robert Smith's personal favourite is the cover recorded by American alternative rock band Dinosaur Jr.,[5] which was released as a single in the UK in 1989 (and 1990 in the US).