Skip to content
What's After the Movie?
Comedy drama

Lady Bird (2017): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Lady Bird (2017) movie poster

Lady Bird is a 2017 comedy drama starring Saoirse Ronan as Lady Bird McPherson, Tracy Letts and Jordan Rodrigues. It runs 1 hour 34 minutes and earned $79 million worldwide on a $10 million budget. It won 3 awards from 29 nominations, among them 5 Oscar nominations. Critics gave it 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and 93 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
99%
worldwide gross
$79M
awards won
3
Loading streaming availability…
Lady Bird (2017) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 34m (94 min)
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
A24
Budget
$10M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Lady Bird About?

The premise of Lady Bird without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

In 2002 Sacramento, Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson experiences a complicated and often strained relationship with her mother, a nurse working hard to support the family following her father's job loss. Yearning for independence and a future beyond her hometown, Lady Bird explores friendships, romantic interests, and various extracurricular activities while trying to define her own identity. The film portrays her journey of self-discovery amidst the challenges of adolescence and the changing dynamics within her family.

Lady Bird Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • teenage girl
  • mother daughter relationship
  • sacramento california
  • coming of age
  • loss of virginity
  • mother daughter conflict
  • prom
  • catholic school
  • jumping out of a moving car
  • high school
  • teen sex
  • gay boyfriend
+38 more
  • female protagonist
  • friendship
  • high school graduation
  • year 2002
  • girl on top sex
  • closeted homosexual
  • going away to college
  • school uniform
  • high school musical
  • father daughter relationship
  • best friend
  • given name
  • title directed by female
  • new york city
  • graduation cap and gown
  • broken arm
  • nosebleed
  • friendship between girls
  • gay character
  • family relationships
  • rebellious teenager
  • 2000s
  • first time sex
  • shakespeare's the tempest
  • teen angst
  • poor family
  • teenage girl as protagonist
  • f rated
  • triple f rated
  • reference to alanis morissette
  • reference to john steinbeck
  • teenage boy
  • year 2003
  • attitude
  • teen partying
  • airport
  • airplane
  • classroom
Loading streaming availability…
Cast & crew

Lady Bird Cast & Characters

Saoirse Ronan leads the cast as Lady Bird McPherson, with Tracy Letts as Larry McPherson and Jordan Rodrigues as Miguel McPherson.

Also Starring in Lady Bird

· 12 more
Ratings

Lady Bird Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Lady Bird 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and 93 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 85/100, strongest in character & emotion (92) and weakest in rewatch factor (75).

85 /100

Lady Bird Echo Score Breakdown

Lady Bird demonstrates notable strength in performance and emotional authenticity, balanced by occasional reliance on familiar tropes. Critics and viewers highlight the assured direction and warm cinematography alongside dynamic mother-daughter conflicts. The narrative’s blend of humor and drama resonates through nuanced dialogue and everyday settings. While some note the conventional texture and occasional pacing lulls, the film maintains a cohesive voice. Overall, Lady Bird leaves a largely uplifting impression with enduring emotional resonance.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of direction and visual craft, Lady Bird exhibits a confident and distinctive style. Critics praise the framing and production details that underscore suburban life and emotional nuance. The editing is seamless, guiding tonal shifts from humor to drama without jarring transitions. Some note a conventional texture, yet the measured pacing and thoughtful composition create a cohesive visual identity. The overall design enriches the narrative.

  • Character & Emotion 92

    When it comes to character depth and emotional resonance, Lady Bird offers compelling performances anchored by Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. Reviewers highlight the nuanced mother-daughter dynamic and authentic chemistry, capturing generational tension and affection. Supporting roles deliver understated moments that enhance familial realism. While a few mention occasional reliance on archetypal tropes, the ensemble’s heartfelt portrayals drive the film’s emotional core. The characters remain memorable.

  • Story & Flow 80

    In terms of storytelling and pacing, Lady Bird balances humor and drama through a semi-autobiographical lens. Critics praise its engaging plot flow and relatable teenage dilemmas, though some note familiar coming-of-age elements. The script’s wit and introspective dialogue maintain momentum, even when events follow expected patterns. Early acts open energetically, while the final tone wavers between resolution and ambiguity. The narrative sustains interest with personal authenticity.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    From a sensory perspective, Lady Bird delivers an understated yet effective soundtrack and sound design that support each scene’s mood. The musical choices underscore emotional beats without overwhelming, while ambient audio enhances domestic settings. Visually, the film employs a warm color palette and naturalistic lighting that convey mid-2000s suburban life. Although some viewers find the cinematography straightforward, the cohesive audiovisual approach amplifies emotional engagement throughout.

  • Rewatch Factor 75

    Regarding replay value, Lady Bird offers strong appeal for revisiting, driven by its nuanced dialogue and emotionally resonant scenes. Viewers appreciate rediscovering subtle performances and new emotional layers with each viewing. The film’s blend of humor and reflection remains engaging, though occasional narrative familiarity slightly tempers the experience. Despite this, the authenticity of character interactions and thematic depth encourage multiple viewings. The lasting appeal secures its place in personal collections.

Plot

Lady Bird Plot Summary

What happens in Lady Bird from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, portrayed by Saoirse Ronan, is a high school senior navigating her final year at a Catholic school in Sacramento during the year 2002. Living with her parents, she is often at odds with them, alongside her older brother, who is adopted, and his girlfriend. Lady Bird shares an unshakeable bond with her best friend, Julianne “Julie” Steffans, and together, they dive into their school’s theater program. It is there that Lady Bird encounters Danny O’Neill, played by Lucas Hedges, sparking a romance that even leads her to choose Danny’s family Thanksgiving dinner over her own.

Full summary

The whole story of Lady Bird, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Lady Bird Box Office & Budget

Lady Bird grossed $79 million worldwide on a $10 million budget, 7.9 times what it cost. $49 million came from the US and Canada and $30 million (38%) from the rest of the world.

2017 box office

Worldwide gross

$79M

7.9× its budget

US & Canada
$49M
International
$30M
Budget
$10M
US & Canada 62% Rest of the world 38%
Awards

Lady Bird Awards & Nominations

Lady Bird won 3 awards from 29 nominations, among them 5 Oscar nominations.

3 wins29 nominations8 ceremonies

Show all 8 ceremonies
Videos

Lady Bird Trailers & Videos

19 videos: 1 trailer, 8 teasers, 2 clips and 8 featurettes.

All 19 videos
Official Trailer
  • Teaser Playgirl
  • Teaser Fly
  • Teaser Give Thanks
  • Teaser Perfect
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Lady Bird?

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 Christine's nickname in the film?

Cars

Cars in Lady Bird

20 cars on screen, including the 1990 Toyota Camry and the 2000 BMW 323i E46.

All 20 cars
  • 1990 Toyota Camry in Lady Bird 1990 Toyota Camry Important role
  • 2000 BMW 323i E46 in Lady Bird 2000 BMW 323i E46 Minor role
  • 1992 Ford F-350 in Lady Bird 1992 Ford F-350 Minor role
  • 1999 Honda Odyssey in Lady Bird 1999 Honda Odyssey Minor role
Details

Lady Bird Also Known As

18 alternative titles, including “Леді-птах” and “Lady Bird - A Hora de Voar”.

Also known as
  • Леді-птах
  • Lady Bird - A Hora de Voar
  • 레이디 버드
  • Uğur Böceği
  • کفشدوزک
  • Леди Бёрд
  • 淑女鳥
  • Лейди Бърд
  • 伯德小姐
  • Леді Бьорд
  • Πασχαλίτσα
  • Boružėlė
+6 more
  • ליידי בירד
  • レディ・バード
  • 不得鳥小姐
  • Tuổi Nổi Loạn, ლედი ბერდი
  • เลดี้ เบิร์ด
  • Bubamara

Seen Lady Bird?

FAQ

Lady Bird FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Lady Bird, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Lady Bird?

Lady Bird runs 1 hour 34 minutes (94 minutes).

When was Lady Bird released?

Lady Bird was released on November 3, 2017.

Who is in the cast of Lady Bird?

Lady Bird stars Saoirse Ronan as Lady Bird McPherson, Tracy Letts as Larry McPherson and Jordan Rodrigues as Miguel McPherson, among 16 credited actors.

How much did Lady Bird make at the box office?

Lady Bird grossed $79 million worldwide ($49 million domestic, $30 million international) on a budget of $10 million.

How is Lady Bird rated?

Lady Bird has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, 93 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.

What awards did Lady Bird win?

Lady Bird won 3 awards from 29 nominations, including Best Screenplay at the Spirit Awards 2018.

Does Lady Bird have a post-credit scene?

No. Lady Bird has no extra scene during or after the credits.

Coming soon to your phone

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app