The Birdcage

Play trailer

The Birdcage

R

1996

1h 59m

Comedy

LGBTQ+

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

64 Reviews

81%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

In Miami Beach, a gay couple pretend to be man and wife when a son's future father-in-law and family visit.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Mike Nichols wrangles agreeably amusing performances from Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in this fun, if not quite essential, remake of the French comedy La Cage aux Folles.

Read Critics Reviews

Andrea Thompson

Chicago Reader

Remakes don’t get much better than Mike Nichols’s The Birdcage, which embraced drag shows long before they became the height of cool, and more unsettlingly, another casualty of the rising tide of fascism.

Jun 20, 2023

Full Review

Geordie Gray

The Australian

The Birdcage is silly in all the right ways.

Dec 3, 2022

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

The Birdcage is a little film with knee-slapping scenes coupled with thoughtfully acute moments as well.

Sep 8, 2017

Full Review

Joe Lipsett

The Queer Gaze (Podcast)

The American remake of the French farce feels like a product of its time, particularly how it handles queer issues (which makes it feel made for straight audiences).

Rated: 2.5/5

Jun 27, 2025

Full Review

M.V. Moorhead

Phoenix Magazine

Hackman may have been overshadowed by Lane’s brilliance, but he’s genuinely hilarious.

Jun 16, 2025

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Hank Azaria steals the entire picture as houseboy Agador.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 20, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Will J

Boring and unfunny.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

09/19/25

Full Review

Theo E

A Haiku Review: Other than being A little hysterical It’s hysterical

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/30/25

Full Review

Ace R

This is an exceptional movie. It's full of comedy, and drama. It helps viewers see the realities of life from two different views. This film will hold your interest, yet make you laugh until your ribs hurt. I highly recommend seeing this movie. 👍😊

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/29/25

Full Review

Tom F

A fascinating relic of its time, much of it doesn’t age well.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/22/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Absolutely fantastic movie! I don’t normally laugh at movies but I laughed so much throughout The Birdcage.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/15/25

Full Review

Matt C

This is quite possibly my favorite comedy of all time. It takes A LOT to make me laugh and this is one of the few films that had me laughing throughout the entire length of it. Robin Williams, Nathan Lane and Gene Hackman give amazing performances. As much as I love Robin and Gene and as good of a job they did in this movie, I think Nathan steals the show, personally.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/30/25

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Mike Nichols

Director

Robin Williams

Armand Goldman

Gene Hackman

Sen. Kevin Keeley

Nathan Lane

Albert Goldman

Dianne Wiest

Louise Keeley

Hank Azaria

Agador 'Spartacus'

The Birdcage: Official Clip - Wigging Out

2:10

The Birdcage: Official Clip - Naked Greek Bowls

2:03

The Birdcage: Official Clip - This is My Mother

2:08

The Birdcage: Official Clip - Act Like a Man

2:04

The Birdcage: Official Clip - Gays in the Military

2:12

The Birdcage: Official Clip - Albert Will Not Dance

2:11

The Birdcage: Official Clip - Walking Like John Wayne

1:32

The Birdcage: Official Clip - Family Values

1:58

The Birdcage: Official Clip - Val's "Mother" Comes to Dinner

1:55

The Birdcage: Official Clip - Val's Getting Married

2:09

View more videos

Go Fish

76%

58%

Go Fish

Watchlist

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

94%

88%

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

Watchlist

The Wedding Banquet

94%

87%

The Wedding Banquet

Watchlist

Flawless

40%

54%

Flawless

Watchlist

Strange Bedfellows

80%

58%

Strange Bedfellows

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

“Men Smear!”: Revisiting Seminal LGBTQ Comedy The Birdcage

Now Streaming: The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Need for Speed, and More

Early Reactions to "Zodiac," "Monster House," and "Killshot"

View more photos

Synopsis

In Miami Beach, a gay couple pretend to be man and wife when a son's future father-in-law and family visit.

Director: Mike Nichols
Producer: Mike Nichols
Screenwriter: Jean Poiret, Francis Veber, Edouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Elaine May
Distributor: United Artists
Production Co: United Artists, Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, LGBTQ+
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 8, 1996, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 20, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $124.0M
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Surround, Stereo

Most Popular at Home Now