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Comedy drama

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014): Cast & Where to Watch

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) movie poster

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a 2014 comedy drama directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, starring Michael Keaton, Naomi Watts and Lindsay Duncan. It runs 1 hour 59 minutes and earned $103.2 million worldwide on a $18 million budget. Critics gave it 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 87 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10. Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

IMDb rating
7.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
91%
worldwide gross
$103.2M
Metascore
87
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 59m (119 min)
Genres
Comedy , Drama
Original language
English
Budget
$18M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) About?

The premise of Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A washed-up actor, once famous for playing a superhero, attempts a comeback on Broadway with a bold new stage play. Battling inner demons and the pressures of a demanding production, he struggles with the blurred lines between reality and illusion. As he chases a desperate need for validation, he confronts his past failures and the complicated relationships with those around him, ultimately questioning his sense of self and the pursuit of artistic recognition.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • actor
  • replacement
  • inner voice
  • former celebrity
  • show business
  • acting career
  • theater production
  • emotional instability
  • long take
  • broadway play
  • alter ego
  • artist
+38 more
  • stage
  • theater
  • female female kiss
  • blonde
  • scantily clad female
  • stage play
  • misunderstanding
  • dysfunctionality
  • rediscovery
  • second chance
  • nervousness
  • midlife crisis
  • entertainment business
  • stage adaptation
  • desperation
  • unhappiness
  • theater audience
  • starting over
  • sarcasm
  • psychological disorder
  • egocentrism
  • inner dialogue
  • theater play
  • frustration
  • sexual innuendo
  • cigarette smoking
  • imaginary person
  • levitation
  • rehearsal
  • backstage
  • title spoken by character
  • washed up actor
  • dark comedy
  • critic
  • ego
  • tragicomedy
  • showbiz drama
  • down on their luck
Where to watch

Where to Watch Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Stream it on HBO Max, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Cast

Michael Keaton leads the cast, with Naomi Watts and Lindsay Duncan. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu; 20 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 91% on Rotten Tomatoes and 87 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.7/10.

Plot

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Plot Summary

What happens in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Riggan Thomson, portrayed by Michael Keaton, is a once-famous actor best known for his role as the superhero Birdman in a beloved trilogy spanning from 1989 to 1992. Haunted by the sardonic and critical voice of his former self, Riggan is tormented by visions of superhuman abilities, constantly grappling with the possibility that he might still be, in some sense, Birdman himself.

Full summary

The whole story of Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Box Office & Budget

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) grossed $103.2 million worldwide on a $18 million budget, 5.7 times what it cost. $42.3 million came from the US and Canada and $60.9 million (59%) from the rest of the world.

2014 box office

Worldwide gross

$103.2M

5.7× its budget

US & Canada
$42.3M
International
$60.9M
Budget
$18M
US & Canada 41% Rest of the world 59%
Videos

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Trailers & Videos

5 videos: 3 trailers and 2 featurettes.

Official Teaser Trailer
  • Trailer Official Worldwide Trailer
  • Trailer Official UK Trailer
  • Featurette Featurette: "The Story"
  • Featurette Director's Commentary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)?

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

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What is Riggan Thomson's former claim to fame?

Cars

Cars in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

7 cars on screen, including the 2009 Ford Crown Victoria and the 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

All 7 cars
  • 2009 Ford Crown Victoria in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 2009 Ford Crown Victoria Minor role
  • 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Background role
  • 1986 Ford Taurus in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 1986 Ford Taurus Background role
  • 2001 Honda Civic in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) 2001 Honda Civic Background role
Details

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) Also Known As

34 alternative titles, including “Birdman avagy a mellőzés meglepő ereje” and “Birdman - The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance”.

Also known as
  • Birdman avagy a mellőzés meglepő ereje
  • Birdman - The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance
  • Birdman ou (A Inesperada Virtude da Ignorância)
  • Birdman o la inesperada virtud de la ignorancia
  • 버드맨
  • Birdman o (La inesperada virtud de la ignorancia)
  • Birdman - o (L'imprevedibile virtù dell'ignoranza)
  • Birdman czyli nieoczekiwane pożytki z niewiedzy
  • בירדמן או (היתרון הבלתי צפוי של הבורות)
  • Birdman o (l'imprevedibile virtù dell'ignoranza)
  • Бёрдмэн
  • Birdman oder (Die unverhoffte Macht der Ahnungslosigkeit)
+22 more
  • בירדמן
  • Birdman ή Η Απρόσμενη Αρετή της Αφέλειας
  • Birdman avagy (A mellőzés meglepő ereje)
  • 鸟人
  • Бърдмен
  • Бердмен
  • Omul Pasăre sau Virtutea nesperată a ignoranței
  • Birdman ali Nepričakovana odlika nevednosti
  • Birdman veya (Cahilliğin Umulmayan Erdemi)
  • مرد پرنده ای
  • バードマン あるいは(無知がもたらす予期せぬ奇跡)
  • เบิร์ดแมน มายาดาว
  • 鳥人
  • Birdman ou (les vertus insoupçonnées de l'ignorance)
  • Човек птица
  • Putncilvēks
  • Žmogus-paukštis
  • 飛鳥俠, ბერდმენი
  • الرجل الطائر
  • Người Chim
  • Човекот-птица
  • Lindmees ehk (võhiklikkuse ootamatu voorus)

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FAQ

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) FAQ: Where to Watch & Cast

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), each answered in a sentence.

How long is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) runs 1 hour 59 minutes (119 minutes).

When was Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) released?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) was released on October 17, 2014.

Who directed Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) was directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

More films by Alejandro G. Iñárritu

Who is in the cast of Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) stars Michael Keaton, Naomi Watts and Lindsay Duncan, among 20 credited actors.

Where can I watch Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)?

In the US, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is streaming on HBO Max and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) make at the box office?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) grossed $103.2 million worldwide ($42.3 million domestic, $60.9 million international) on a budget of $18 million.

How is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) rated?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) has 7.7/10 on IMDb, 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, 87 on Metacritic and 75% on TMDB.

Does Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) have a post-credit scene?

No. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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