The Birds

Play trailer

The Birds

PG-13

Released Mar 28, 1963

1h 59m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

94%

Tomatometer

67 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

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.

Read Critics Reviews

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

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Times (UK)

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

Aug 1, 2022

Full Review

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

Full Review

Diana Tuova

Spotlight on Film

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

Rated: 5/5

Aug 9, 2024

Full Review

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

Full Review

June Butler

Film Ireland Magazine

Both moving and unique. A masterful touch to one of the greatest film classics of all time...

Jan 22, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Tim S

I love Hitchcock movies, but this one was way over rated. Such a flat ending and the pot line / love interest was very thin, never explaining any backstory as to what people were eluding to. Sorry to go against the grain, but I was super disappointed this The Birds...

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

12/17/24

Full Review

Audience Member

1963?! Some parts of this movie looked like it was in the 2000's! For it's time, the acting, story, and makeup was all done perfectly! GREAT MOVIE! It's a must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

Full Review

Kimberly C

A classic Alfred Hitchcock. A must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

Full Review

Lauren T

It was very well done for its time. The ending was terrible.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

10/18/24

Full Review

Marc Z

What a different take on horror for the time. Alfred Hitchcock masterfully centers this modern horror classic around his muse, Tippie Herdron. The film is ahead of its time with its stunning visual effects, despite the fact that they may appear crude by today's standards. The film really pushed the envelope into the scary and the grisly. Rod Taylor is very compelling. The entire cast is terrific. Catch Hitchcock in his signature cameo in the opening Pet Store Scene. This is a must watch in filmmaking and horror. Aside from Psycho it is Hitchcock's most memorable film, in my opinion.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

Full Review

William B

Despite being a Hitchcock film, this doesn't arouse any suspense. It freaked me out because I deem birds attacking people as something that, while unlikely, is still within the realm of possibility.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/11/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Rod Taylor

Mitch Brenner

Tippi Hedren

Melanie Daniels

Suzanne Pleshette

Annie Hayworth

Jessica Tandy

Lydia Brenner

Veronica Cartwright

Cathy Brenner

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

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

View more videos

The Manchurian Candidate

97%

90%

The Manchurian Candidate

Watchlist

Jaws the Revenge

2%

15%

Jaws the Revenge

Watchlist

What Lies Beneath

47%

58%

What Lies Beneath

Watchlist

TRAILER

for What Lies Beneath

Touch of Evil

97%

92%

Touch of Evil

Watchlist

An American Haunting

12%

35%

An American Haunting

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Weekly Ketchup: Angry Birds Movie in the Works

Exclusive: Brand New The Children Photos and Director Introduction

Naomi Watts Joins Bay’s Birds Flock

View more photos

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)

Most Popular at Home Now