Bird on a Wire (1990): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Bird on a Wire is a 1990 action comedy directed by John Badham, starring David Carradine, Jeff Corey and Stephen Tobolowsky. It runs 1 hour 50 minutes and earned $138.7 million worldwide. Critics gave it 26% on Rotten Tomatoes and 36 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 50m (110 min)
- Director
- John Badham
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Universal Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Bird on a Wire About?
The premise of Bird on a Wire without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Rick Jarmin lives a quiet life as a gas station attendant, until a chance encounter with Marianne threatens to expose his hidden past. Suddenly, he’s forced to flee across the country, pursued by dangerous drug lord Eugene Sorenson, who seeks revenge. Jarmin must rely on Marianne’s help to protect his identity and confront the events that forced him into hiding, all while navigating a perilous journey filled with unexpected challenges.
Bird on a Wire Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- old flame
- witness
- faked death
- on the run
- witness relocation program
- explosion
- attempted murder
- argument
- conspiracy
- framed for murder
- fbi agent
- woman in jeopardy
+38 more Show fewer
- paranoia
- road trip
- on the road
- reckless driving
- chase
- blonde
- car chase
- shootout
- false identity
- tiger
- zoo
- prank
- drug dealer
- flashback
- corporate lawyer
- airplane crash
- lion attack
- mauled by a lion
- electrocuted to death
- hotel
- car hit by a train
- airplane helicopter chase
- alzheimer's disease
- car hit by a truck
- corrupt fbi agent
- eaten by a lion
- gas station attendant
- pretending to be gay
- st. louis missouri
- title based on song
- woman with a shotgun
- chance meeting
- crash landing
- man in a shower
- release from prison
- woman in a shower
- murder
- buttocks
Bird on a Wire Cast
David Carradine leads the cast, with Jeff Corey and Stephen Tobolowsky. Directed by John Badham; 10 actors are credited in all.
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Director John Badham
Also Starring in Bird on a Wire
· 6 moreMore from John Badham
More films directed by John Badham, best-rated first: WarGames, Dracula, Stakeout and Blue Thunder.
Bird on a Wire Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Bird on a Wire 26% on Rotten Tomatoes and 36 on Metacritic.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 26% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 41%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 36 Metascore
User score 7.0
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 62% User score
See on TMDB
Bird on a Wire Plot Summary
What happens in Bird on a Wire from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As Attorney Marianne “Muffie” Graves navigates the concrete jungle of Detroit in pursuit of a high-stakes business deal, she unexpectedly crosses paths with Rick Jarmin—her former hippie fiancé, now living under the Witness Protection Program. The transformation is so seamless that Marianne, who believed Rick had perished in a tragic plane crash, finds herself covertly following him to uncover the truth of his identity. Her suspicions are confirmed when she observes a bold assassination attempt against Rick, masterminded by two merciless DEA agents, Eugene Sorenson and Albert “Diggs” Diggins. These villains have a history marked by a fifteen-year prison sentence, a consequence of Rick’s pivotal testimony against them.
Full summary
The whole story of Bird on a Wire, scene by scene
Bird on a Wire Box Office
Bird on a Wire grossed $138.7 million worldwide. $71 million came from the US and Canada and $67.7 million (49%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$138.7M
- US & Canada
- $71M
- International
- $67.7M
Bird on a Wire Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Bird on a Wire.
How Well Do You Know Bird on a Wire?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What city does Marianne navigate for a high-stakes business deal?
Cars in Bird on a Wire
54 cars on screen, including the 1989 BMW 325i Cabrio E30 and the 1979 Chevrolet Blazer.
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1989 BMW 325i Cabrio E30 Main role -
1979 Chevrolet Blazer Important role -
1979 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Important role -
1973 Ford F-Series Important role
Bird on a Wire Also Known As
35 alternative titles, including “Dos Pajaros a Tiro” and “Kuin lintu langalla”.
- Also known as
-
- Dos Pajaros a Tiro
- Kuin lintu langalla
- Som fågeln på tråden
- Alta tensão
- 逃脱死亡
- ดับอำมหิต
- Dos pájaros de un tiro
- Le Délateur
- Ein Vogel auf dem Drahtseil
- Due nel mirino
- Pták na drátě
- Comme un oiseau sur la branche
+23 more Show fewer
- Ptaszek na Uwięzi
- Du Skyder
- Jeg Smiler
- Midt i siktet
- Птичка на проводе
- Dos pájaros a tiro
- Palimadár
- Na Corda Bamba
- Ένα Πουλί Πάνω σε Σύρμα
- ציפור על תיל
- Pasărea pe sârmă
- Пташка на дроті
- Teldeki Kuş
- Птица върху жица
- Ptica na žici
- Tiro al blanco
- Lovligt byte
- 전선 위의 참새
- 轰天俏娇娃
- Vták na drôte
- バード・オン・ワイヤー
- Paukšteli, spruk
- 驚弓之鳥
Seen Bird on a Wire?
Movies Like Bird on a Wire
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including A Bird of the Air, Bird of Prey and Birds of Prey.
Bird on a Wire FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Bird on a Wire, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Bird on a Wire?
Bird on a Wire runs 1 hour 50 minutes (110 minutes).
When was Bird on a Wire released?
Bird on a Wire was released on May 18, 1990.
Who directed Bird on a Wire?
Bird on a Wire was directed by John Badham.
More films by John Badham Who is in the cast of Bird on a Wire?
Bird on a Wire stars David Carradine, Jeff Corey and Stephen Tobolowsky, among 10 credited actors.
How much did Bird on a Wire make at the box office?
Bird on a Wire grossed $138.7 million worldwide ($71 million domestic, $67.7 million international).
How is Bird on a Wire rated?
Bird on a Wire has 26% on Rotten Tomatoes, 36 on Metacritic and 62% on TMDB.
Does Bird on a Wire have a post-credit scene?
No. Bird on a Wire has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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