Overview
Two friends confront the haunting aftermath of war and the bonds of friendship.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- morose
- lyrical
- haunting
- serious movie night
- war film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Alan Parker’s emotionally searing antiwar drama for its direction and the powerful performances of Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage, while noting occasional visual overstatement and a slow start.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Birdy’s institutionalization and Al’s own injuries frame the story around the psychological and physical consequences of Vietnam service.
Birdy’s fixation on birds and attempts to fly give the film a recurring visual metaphor for escape from bodily and psychological confinement.
Al returns to Birdy’s prewar memories and shared experiments in order to reach his uncommunicative friend.
Al’s institutional visits are interwoven with high-school memories and prewar episodes involving Birdy’s obsession with flight.
Films like Birdy, and why
The Deer Hunter
Shared focus on friendship, war trauma, masculine vulnerability, and emotionally intense postwar drama.
Coming Home
Shared antiwar perspective, psychological damage, institutional pressure, and fractured male friendship.
The Last Picture Show
Shared poetic coming-of-age atmosphere, intense male friendship, trauma, and memory-driven storytelling.
Jacob's Ladder
Shared surreal psychological drama, damaged protagonists, and visually expressive treatment of mental dislocation.
Movie Details
- Director
- Alan Parker
- Release Date
- 1984-12-14
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Rating
- 7.1 / 10 (599)
Cast
- Matthew Modine
- Nicolas Cage
- John Harkins
- Sandy Baron
- Karen Young
- Bruno Kirby
- Nancy Fish
- George Buck
- Dolores Sage
- Pat Ryan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel
- 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 Birdy about?
- Two Vietnam veterans confront the psychological wreckage of war as one friend tries to bring the other back through memories of their shared obsession with flight.
- What is Birdy like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Birdy as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Birdy violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Birdy as moderate.
- What did critics think of Birdy?
- Critics broadly praised Alan Parker’s emotionally searing antiwar drama for its direction and the powerful performances of Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage, while noting occasional visual overstatement and a slow start.
- Which films are like Birdy?
- Films with a similar feel include The Deer Hunter, Coming Home, The Last Picture Show, and Jacob's Ladder.
- How long is Birdy?
- Birdy runs 120 minutes.
- Where can I watch Birdy?
- In United States, Birdy streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Howdy Amazon Channel.
