Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Birdy

Play trailer Poster for Birdy R Released Dec 14, 1984 2h 0m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
84% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Birdy returns from the Vietnam War scarred from the horrific experiences of battle. He is so damaged by what he saw that he has shut himself off from reality completely, imagining that he is actually a bird. Birdy is confined to a mental hospital, where the doctors are at a loss as to how to treat him. In an attempt to help, Al, his best friend from high school -- and who was also in Vietnam -- visits him every day to try and get through to him.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Birdy

Birdy

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Aided by strong work from Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage, Birdy finds director Alan Parker turning a supposedly unfilmable novel into a soaring -- and emotionally searing -- success.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (45) Critics Reviews
William Thomas Empire Magazine Despite the film's heavily symbolic tone, little is revealed about either of the characters or indeed the Vietnam War. Rated: 2/5 Dec 16, 2023 Full Review Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Far better as an antiwar film than as a poetic tribute to flight. Rated: 2.5/4 Dec 16, 2023 Full Review Sheila Benson Los Angeles Times It may not satisfy hard-line lovers of the book, who may argue that William Wharton's eccentric characters should have remained between its covers, but for those who do not know the novel, or for less rigid William Wharton-ites, it is a risk well taken. Dec 16, 2023 Full Review Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap Nicolas Cage and Matthew Modine give stellar performances as Philly youths torn apart physically and spiritually by war in Alan Parker's unsparing portrait of brotherly affection. Rated: 4/5 Aug 19, 2024 Full Review Jeff Simon Buffalo News It has more cinematic integrity than 90 per cent of the rest of local movie fare combined. It ought to be seen. Dec 16, 2023 Full Review JoAnn Rhetts Charlotte Observer What's particularly gratifying about Cage's performance as the preening and pitiful Al is that it proves at long last that his delightful work in "Valley Girl" was no fluke. Dec 16, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (271) audience reviews
Leaburn O Not entirely sure what I just watched but certain that I didn’t enjoy it. A guy with a bird fetish goes mad?? I mean errr I don’t want to state the obvious here but. Watched on SKY Cinema. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 06/18/24 Full Review Daniel N 2 hours I’ll never get back. Strange lust for birds that makes audience very uncomfortable. Bird costume was a nice touch. Mr Cage was ripped. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 06/16/24 Full Review Jelisije J If you ever want to watch a movie about a young man obsession with being a bird....... you are in for a treat in this unforgettable film. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/08/24 Full Review Susan H So weird, creepy, depressing. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 04/20/24 Full Review Chris H A film with high ideals, perhaps, to show us how war affects people, but it is let down by the fact that Birdy has always been a very strange individual and, to be frank, he seems just the same (albeit even more withdrawn) after his Vietnam experiences. Al is the more interesting character and his insecurities eventually reveal themselves. A lot of the film is made up of mawkish flashbacks to Birdy and Al's childhood, which can be tedious. Eventually the film approaches some kind of conclusion, then falls apart at the very end. It's well acted and is better than I'm making it sound but, honestly, don't expect anything profound here. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/21/23 Full Review Napon A It's a funny idea for a person to be so obsessed about becoming a bird to the point where he wants to be one, but this film makes you really believe that these people do exist. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 05/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Birdy

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

Gardens of Stone 44% 55% Gardens of Stone Watchlist Paris, Texas 94% 93% Paris, Texas Watchlist An Officer and a Gentleman 79% 81% An Officer and a Gentleman Watchlist TRAILER for An Officer and a Gentleman Whose Life Is It Anyway? 70% 79% Whose Life Is It Anyway? Watchlist Born on the Fourth of July 84% 76% Born on the Fourth of July Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Birdy returns from the Vietnam War scarred from the horrific experiences of battle. He is so damaged by what he saw that he has shut himself off from reality completely, imagining that he is actually a bird. Birdy is confined to a mental hospital, where the doctors are at a loss as to how to treat him. In an attempt to help, Al, his best friend from high school -- and who was also in Vietnam -- visits him every day to try and get through to him.
Director
Alan Parker
Producer
Alan Marshall
Screenwriter
Jack Behr, Sandy Kroopf, William Wharton
Distributor
TriStar Pictures
Production Co
TriStar Pictures, Delphi III Productions
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 14, 1984, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2012
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Dolby, Surround
Most Popular at Home Now