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The Birds

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The Birds

PG-13

Released Mar 28, 1963

1h 59m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Horror

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

68 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) meets Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) in a San Francisco pet store and decides to follow him home. She brings with her the gift of two love birds and they strike up a romance. One day birds start attacking children at Mitch's sisters party. A huge assault starts on the town by attacking birds.

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Critics Consensus

Proving once again that build-up is the key to suspense, Alfred Hitchcock successfully turned birds into some of the most terrifying villains in horror history.

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Brendan Gill

The New Yorker

Hard as it may be to believe of a Hitchcock, it doesn’t arouse suspense, which is, of course, what justifies and transforms the sadism that lies at the heart of every thriller. Here the sadism is all too nakedly, repellently present.

Aug 15, 2022

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Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

There’s a fair amount of beak-based eye trauma.

Aug 1, 2022

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James Powers

The Hollywood Reporter

Hitchcock prolongs his prelude to horror for more than half the film, playing with audience suspense with comedy and romance while he sets his stage. The horror when it comes is a hair-raiser ...

Mar 28, 2017

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Chris Barsanti

PopMatters

A frustratingly slow build that could provide grist for a 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' episode. However, once Hitchcock shows his hand, 'The Birds' turns into maybe the most terrifying entry in his filmography.

Jan 8, 2025

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Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

The Birds represents one of Hitchcock’s most admirable accomplishments.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 9, 2024

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

When you put, essentially, a creature feature like The Birds in the hands of someone as brilliant as Alfred Hitchcock, you're not getting a cheesy B-movie. Instead, you're getting quality ratcheted suspense that exudes creativity.

Rated: 5/5

Feb 16, 2024

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jacob c

A brilliant film on every level. Among its many notable features is its phenomenal use of silence, with its lack of music greatly escalating the tension.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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Garry A

I wish I could have seen this in the theater when it came out in 1963. It had to be awesome because it was great now seeing it over 60 years later. The ending disappointed a lot of people but I thought the closing frame was good.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/11/25

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Rami A

While many see this as a slow picture, Alfred Hitchcock used that technique to build suspense. The absence of music creates an eerie atmosphere, enhancing the location's presence and making it scarier than necessary! I do wish Hitchcock filmed the original ending, though.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/25/25

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Jerico C

Very slow start and lacked the suspense that I had expected.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

04/20/25

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Robert M

Brilliant movie! Beautiful actress great acting all round. way ahead of its time!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/12/25

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Miron H

The moment Tippi(Melanie) Entering the room full of crazy birds??!! After all the attacks ) looks so unreliable so stupidity! like in most horror movies… that brings you a big laugh instead, and the movie filmed most with so old grotesque techniques. Begins lovely that’s all, A Stupid 2hrs! movie of Mr Hitchcock, a waste of time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/05/25

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Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Rod Taylor

Mitch Brenner

Tippi Hedren

Melanie Daniels

Suzanne Pleshette

Annie Hayworth

Jessica Tandy

Lydia Brenner

Veronica Cartwright

Cathy Brenner

The Birds: Official Clip - The Gas Station Explosion

1:48

The Birds: Official Clip - Eyes Pecked Out

1:13

The Birds: Official Clip - I Think You're Evil!

2:53

The Birds: Official Clip - Crows Stalk the Playground

2:02

The Birds: Official Clip - Escaping The Birds

2:57

The Birds: Official Clip - Trapped in a Phone Booth

1:37

The Birds: Official Clip - The Birds Invade Through the Chimney

2:11

The Birds: Official Clip - The Seagull Attack

1:03

The Birds: Official Clip - The Birthday Party Attack

1:52

The Birds: Official Clip - Attacked in the Attic

2:55

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Synopsis

Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) meets Mitch Brenner (Rod Taylor) in a San Francisco pet store and decides to follow him home. She brings with her the gift of two love birds and they strike up a romance. One day birds start attacking children at Mitch's sisters party. A huge assault starts on the town by attacking birds.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Evan Hunter, Daphne Du Maurier
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 1963, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 2023
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2014
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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