To provide a heat-stretching method and heat-stretching apparatus for a thermoplastic resin film by means of which a heater is instantly evacuated when a stretcher is brought to emergency stop, the thermoplastic resin film is prevented from being heated due to remaining heat, then, the softened film is prevented from being brought into contact with the heater and a heat insulating plate, fusing them and being ignited.

In a step of heating and stretching the thermoplastic resin film using the heater and the stretcher, the heater is evacuated so that the distance between the film and the heater becomes 30% of the stretching distance of the film when the stretcher is stopped.