The Birdcage (1996)
85%RT Audience Score: 81%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
7 wins & 25 nominations total
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
The Birdcage is a hoot and a half! This movie has everything: knee-slapping scenes, thoughtfully acute moments, and a cast that is just perfect. Sure, it might embrace some stereotypes, but they’re harmless and the performances by Robin Williams and Nathan Lane are just too good to pass up. Plus, the dialogue is sensational and the directing is sharp. If you’re looking for a frequently hilarious comedy that also has a heart, then The Birdcage is the movie for you!
Production Company(ies)
Little Monster Films, Itinerant Films, Parkes MacDonald Image Nation
Distributor
United Artists
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Carlyle Hotel – 1250 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language
Year of Release
1996
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTSDTS-Stereo
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:1h 59m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 8, 1996 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 27, 1997
Genre(s)
Comedy/Lgbtq+
Keyword(s)
starring Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, Dianne Wiest, Hank Azaria, Christine Baranski, Calista Flockhart, directed by Mike Nichols, written by Jean Poiret, Francis Veber, Edouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Elaine May, comedy, LGBTQ+, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Candice Frederick, Caroline Westbrook, Jonathan Rosenbaum, Hal Hinson, Todd McCarthy, Nell Minow, Lance Loud, Brian Eggert, Rosa Parra, David Nusair, Mike Massie, Richard Propes, R rating, United Artists, produced by Mike Nichols
Worldwide gross: $185,260,553
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $353,615,248
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 433
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 38,562,186
US/Canada gross: $124,060,553
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $236,800,023
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 279
US/Canada opening weekend: $18,275,828
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $34,883,905
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 373
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $31,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $59,171,111
Production budget ranking: 687
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $31,863,643
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $262,580,494
ROI to date (est.): 288%
ROI ranking: 472
Gene Hackman – Sen. Kevin Keeley
Nathan Lane – Albert Goldman, Starina
Dianne Wiest – Louise Keeley
Hank Azaria – Agador ‘Spartacus’
Christine Baranski – Katherine Archer
Director(s)
Mike Nichols
Writer(s)
Jean Poiret, Francis Veber, Edouard Molinaro, Marcello Danon, Elaine May
Producer(s)
Mike Nichols
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
7 wins & 25 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (55) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (10)
The Birdcage is a little film with knee-slapping scenes coupled with thoughtfully acute moments as well.
September 8, 2017
Candice Frederick
Reel Talk Online
TOP CRITIC
It undoubtedly remains a genial crowd pleaser. If the dress fits, wear it.
May 29, 2011 | Rating: 3/5
Caroline Westbrook
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
This isn’t the supreme masterpiece it might have been, but Nichols’s direction is very polished and some of the lines and details are awfully funny.
May 29, 2011
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
If The Birdcage isn’t exactly the Mike Nichols-Elaine May movie of our dreams, it does manage to transform what was formerly a campy bit of French fluff into one of the loopiest, most hysterical family-values movies ever made.
May 27, 2011
Hal Hinson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
The Birdcage is a scream.
March 26, 2009
Todd McCarthy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
November 14, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Nell Minow
Movie Mom
TOP CRITIC
These underlying feelings of compassion, tolerance, and understanding are this Bird’s brightest plumage.
April 19, 2022
Lance Loud
The Advocate
The Birdcage embraces stereotypes and frequently uses its gay characters as comedic devices, even while it weaves a place for them into the fabric of American culture.
February 18, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
It’s a decent well shot film with moving & memorable performances
October 9, 2021 | Rating: 3/5
Rosa Parra
Latinx Lens
…a frequently hilarious comedy…
March 17, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
The dialogue is sensational, the cast is perfect, the directing is sharp (by celebrated filmmaker Mike Nichols), the music is snazzy, and the film concludes quite cleverly.
September 10, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
While the film occasionally drifts into stereotypes, they are typically rather harmless and Williams and Lane play off of each other perfectly.
September 3, 2020 | Rating: 3.0/4.0
Richard Propes
TheIndependentCritic.com…
Plot
Armand Goldman owns a popular drag nightclub in South Miami Beach. His long-time lover, Albert, stars there as Starina. “Their” son Val (actually Armand’s by his one heterosexual fling, twenty years before) comes home to announce his engagement to Barbara Keeley, daughter of Kevin Keeley, US Senator, and co-founder of the Committee for Moral Order. The Senator and family descend upon South Beach to meet Val, his father and “mother.” What ensues is comic chaos.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nathan Lane’s performance as the flamboyant star attraction of a Miami drag club is a scene-stealer in The Birdcage.
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