Bird

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Bird

R

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1h 59m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

84%

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107 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

The long-awaited return to fiction filmmaking from Academy Award-winner Andrea Arnold (American Honey, Fish Tank), BIRD is a tender, striking and extraordinarily surprising coming-of-age fable about marginalized life in the fringes of contemporary society. 12-year-old Bailey (astounding newcomer Nykiya Adams) lives with her devoted but chaotic single dad Bug (Barry Keoghan, Saltburn) and wayward brother Hunter in a squat in Gravesend, north Kent. Approaching puberty and seeking attention and adventure, Bailey's fractured home life is transformed when she encounters Bird (Franz Rogowski, Passages), a mysterious stranger on a journey of his own. A wondrous portrait of the transition from childhood to adolescence that remains grounded in her typically empathetic social realism, Arnold's latest strides to the wildly poetic rhythm of her own drum.

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Critics Consensus

Director Andrea Arnold strikes a coming-of-age chord through Nykiya Adams' moving performance, marrying fantasy and reality to the dizzying end.

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Mark Kermode

Kermode and Mayo's Take (YouTube)

I think the leap of faith doesn't entirely work but I kind of went with it, not least because it felt like a positive move.

Nov 23, 2024

Full Review

Thelma Adams

AARP Movies for Grownups

In this ecstatic coming-of-age drama set among the squatting classes in Northern Kent, England, Newcomer Nykiya Adams, in a refreshingly natural performance that carries the movie, plays Bailey.

Rated: 5/5

Nov 15, 2024

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

“Bird” at least maintains a heartbeat of ache and affection for youth in all its rudeness, revealing a filmmaker who isn’t afraid of losing her claws if she traffics in the thing with feathers.

Nov 15, 2024

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Steven Prokopy

Third Coast Review

Arnold does a fantastic job capturing the dead-end existence that surrounds Bailey, making her sparks of imagination stand out in the bleakness.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 21, 2024

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Jared Rasic

Metro Times (Detroit, MI)

Bird is strange and singular in a way only Arnold could have achieved.

Nov 20, 2024

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Manuel São Bento

Movies We Texted About

Bird is a raw, honest portrayal that, despite some pacing issues and a challenging blend of fantasy and reality, offers a deeply human experience elevated by Nykiya Adams' impressively genuine performance.

Rated: B-

Nov 19, 2024

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Elsie M

Another great Andrea Arnold film. This definitely needs time to process after watching it.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/19/24

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James

This is a remarkable movie. It ranges from a level of realism that will make you a little uncomfortable to outright magic, and the acting is uniformly superb. No summary could do it justice, just see it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/18/24

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Edith

Very boring. I walked out of the theater

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/17/24

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Shannon P

Gritty view of life, with some fantasy as well. Interesting film good job by actors

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/15/24

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Joyce H

All the performances were Grade A. Keoghan & Rogowski at their best.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/08/24

Full Review

SkyRo P

The film Bird comes across as a poorly executed independent project that somehow made its way to theaters, but it’s unlikely to remain there for long. With an almost nonexistent storyline and a lack of creative vision, the movie fails to engage its audience. The dull plot and weak character development undermine the entire experience, leaving viewers confused about what is happening most of the time. The character of the disoriented man, who seems to have lost touch with reality, is particularly perplexing. The writing and development of this character are subpar at best. The climactic moments involving the protagonist's relationship with his father feel forced and unearned, stripping the film of any emotional impact. The erratic cinematography adds to the discomfort, with jarring transitions that leave the audience feeling dizzy and unsettled. Watching the film becomes a chore, as it’s not only tedious but also suffers from lackluster performances. The casting choices are questionable, and the story itself is both dull and implausible. The only standout is Barry, whose talent shines amid the mediocrity. Ultimately, I found the movie to be utterly unenjoyable and unworthy of viewing.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

11/21/24

Full Review

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Andrea Arnold

Director

Barry Keoghan

Bug

Franz Rogowski

Bird

Nykiya Adams

Bailey

James Nelson-Joyce

Skate

Jasmine Jobson

Peyton

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Bird: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

The long-awaited return to fiction filmmaking from Academy Award-winner Andrea Arnold (American Honey, Fish Tank), BIRD is a tender, striking and extraordinarily surprising coming-of-age fable about marginalized life in the fringes of contemporary society. 12-year-old Bailey (astounding newcomer Nykiya Adams) lives with her devoted but chaotic single dad Bug (Barry Keoghan, Saltburn) and wayward brother Hunter in a squat in Gravesend, north Kent. Approaching puberty and seeking attention and adventure, Bailey's fractured home life is transformed when she encounters Bird (Franz Rogowski, Passages), a mysterious stranger on a journey of his own. A wondrous portrait of the transition from childhood to adolescence that remains grounded in her typically empathetic social realism, Arnold's latest strides to the wildly poetic rhythm of her own drum.

Director: Andrea Arnold
Producer: Lee Groombridge, Juliette Howell, Tessa Ross
Screenwriter: Andrea Arnold
Distributor: MUBI
Production Co: arte France Cinéma, Access Entertainment, FirstGen Content, British Film Institute, Pinky Promise, BBC Films, House Productions, Ad Vitam
Rating: R (Drug Material|Some Violent Content|Language Throughout)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 8, 2024, Limited
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital