Overview
A washed-up actor battles his past and present in a desperate bid for artistic redemption.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- sardonic
- frantic
- cinephile night
- theatre lovers evening
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an inventive, energetic, darkly comic examination of celebrity, artistic ambition, and theatrical ego, powered by its formal bravura and ensemble performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The camera fluidly follows Riggan and the theatre company through corridors, dressing rooms, stage spaces, and rooftops, creating the impression of one uninterrupted shot.
Riggan repeatedly hears and confronts the Birdman voice as an embodiment of the fame and identity he is trying to escape.
The conflict among a former blockbuster star, a Broadway critic, a volatile theatre actor, and a struggling production scrutinizes fame, prestige, and artistic legitimacy.
Riggan’s mental battles, apparent telekinetic episodes, and dreams of flight merge theatrical reality with destabilized inner experience.
Films like Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), and why
All About Eve
shared backstage theatre setting, ego-driven artistic conflict, and darkly comic ensemble drama
The Player
shared show-business satire, troubled performers, and bittersweet examination of fame and artistic identity
Black Swan
shared black comedy, psychological instability, and performers collapsing the boundary between art and life
Synecdoche, New York
shared meta-fictional performance anxiety, theatrical ambition, and inventive formal experimentation
Movie Details
- Director
- Alejandro G. Iñárritu
- Release Date
- 2014-10-17
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Rating
- 7.4 / 10 (13864)
Cast
- Michael Keaton
- Emma Stone
- Zach Galifianakis
- Edward Norton
- Andrea Riseborough
- Naomi Watts
- Amy Ryan
- Lindsay Duncan
- Merritt Wever
- Jeremy Shamos
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) about?
- An aging superhero star stages a desperate Broadway comeback while his fame, ego, and hallucinated alter ego threaten to overtake the production.
- What is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) as mild.
- What did critics think of Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an inventive, energetic, darkly comic examination of celebrity, artistic ambition, and theatrical ego, powered by its formal bravura and ensemble performances.
- Which films are like Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)?
- Films with a similar feel include All About Eve, The Player, Black Swan, and Synecdoche, New York.
- How long is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)?
- Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) runs 120 minutes.
- Where can I watch Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)?
- In United States, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
