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Fantasy drama

The Starling (2021): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Ending

The Starling (2021) movie poster

The Starling is a 2021 fantasy drama directed by Theodore Melfi, starring Melissa McCarthy as Lilly Maynard, Chris O'Dowd and Kevin Kline. It runs 1 hour 42 minutes and earned $5.6 million worldwide. Critics gave it 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 31 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10.

IMDb rating
6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes
20%
worldwide gross
$5.6M
Echo Score
49
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The Starling (2021) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 42m (102 min)
Director
Theodore Melfi
Genres
Drama , Fantasy , Comedy
Original language
English
Studio
Netflix
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Starling About?

The premise of The Starling without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.

A grieving woman, Lilly, finds an unexpected connection while fiercely protecting her garden from a persistent starling. Her determination to ward off the bird becomes a catalyst for confronting personal loss and repairing relationships. Through this unlikely conflict, she discovers a path toward healing and rediscovering her ability to love and find joy again.

The Starling Themes & Keywords

· 17 tags
  • bird
  • mother
  • father
  • home
  • starling
  • love
  • couple
  • friendship
  • animal lead
  • animals gone bad
  • grief
  • loss of a child
+5 more
  • feel good romance
  • tragedy drama
  • marriage
  • 2020s
  • 21st century
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Cast & crew

The Starling Cast & Characters

Melissa McCarthy leads the cast as Lilly Maynard, with Chris O'Dowd as Jack Maynard and Kevin Kline as Dr. Larry Fine. Directed by Theodore Melfi; 15 actors are credited in all.

From the director

More from Theodore Melfi

More films directed by Theodore Melfi, best-rated first: Hidden Figures, St. Vincent and The Black Ghiandola.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Starling Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Starling 20% on Rotten Tomatoes and 31 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.4/10. Our Echo Score gives it 49/100, strongest in character & emotion (60) and weakest in art & craft (35).

49 /100

The Starling Echo Score Breakdown

The Starlet garners a mixed-to-negative reception overall, with critics highlighting tonal missteps, ineffective bird effects, and a thin emotional core, while a subset of viewers appreciates the lead performances and occasional uplifting moments. The aggregate sentiment reflects a film that struggles to balance its somber themes with its comedic aspirations, resulting in limited rewatch appeal. Consequently, the score settles in the lower-mid range, indicating modest overall merit but considerable shortcomings across key dimensions.

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

  • Art & Craft 35

    In terms of art and craft, the film is widely perceived as uneven. Critics note a confused tonal direction, unconvincing visual effects, and clunky production design that undermine the narrative. While one user praises the direction, such positive remarks are isolated amid broader criticism. The overall impression is that the technical execution falls short of industry standards, resulting in a low artistic rating.

  • Character & Emotion 60

    Character and emotion receive a moderately favorable assessment. Melissa McCarthy’s performance is consistently singled out as a redeeming element, and Kevin Kline is mentioned positively by several viewers. However, critics argue that supporting performances feel deflated and lack depth. The mixed feedback yields a middle-range score, reflecting both standout acting and notable deficiencies in character development.

  • Story & Flow 45

    The story and flow are regarded as uneven and predictable. Critics describe the plot as a tonal misfire that simplifies grief into a featherlight allegory, while users acknowledge a straightforward, occasionally engaging narrative but note a lack of surprises. The combination of critical disapproval and lukewarm audience acceptance places the story rating in the low‑mid range.

  • Sensory Experience 55

    Sensory experience draws mixed reactions. Reviewers criticize the bird effects, soundtrack choices, and overall audio design as detrimental, whereas some audience members commend the music and visual composition. This divergence results in a balanced, mid‑range rating that reflects both notable flaws and occasional auditory‑visual strengths.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    Rewatch factor is viewed as moderately limited. Critics see little incentive to revisit due to the film’s tonal inconsistencies, while certain viewers describe it as a feel‑good movie worth another viewing. The split in opinion leads to a neutral score, indicating neither strong encouragement nor outright dismissal of repeat viewings.

Plot

The Starling Plot Summary & Ending Explained

What happens in The Starling from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Jack and Lily Maynard find themselves grappling with the heartbreaking loss of their infant daughter to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). As Jack spends his days in a residential mental health hospital, Lily endures the silence of their home, carrying the heavy burden of grief alone.

Full summary

The whole story of The Starling, scene by scene, with the ending explained

Read the full summary
Box office

The Starling Box Office

The Starling grossed $5.6 million worldwide. $210,187 came from the US and Canada and $5.4 million (96%) from the rest of the world.

2021 box office

Worldwide gross

$5.6M

US & Canada
$210.2K
International
$5.4M
US & Canada 4% Rest of the world 96%
Videos

The Starling Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Starling.

The Starling | Official Trailer | Netflix
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Starling?

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 tragedy has Jack and Lily Maynard experienced?

Details

The Starling Also Known As

20 alternative titles, including “恶鸟的祝福” and “八哥”.

Also known as
  • 恶鸟的祝福
  • 八哥
  • 릴리와 찌르레기
  • El estornino
  • Скворец
  • Um Ninho para Dois
  • Lilly et l'Oiseau
  • Der Vogel
  • ‏הזרזיר
  • Szpak
  • Шпак
  • Il nido dello storno
+8 more
  • 椋鳥的春天
  • A seregély
  • Špaček
  • Чворак
  • Το Ψαρόνι
  • Скорец
  • Graurul
  • 惡鳥的祝福

Seen The Starling?

FAQ

The Starling FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings and post-credit scenes of The Starling, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Starling?

The Starling runs 1 hour 42 minutes (102 minutes).

When was The Starling released?

The Starling was released on September 17, 2021.

Who directed The Starling?

The Starling was directed by Theodore Melfi.

More films by Theodore Melfi

Who is in the cast of The Starling?

The Starling stars Melissa McCarthy as Lilly Maynard, Chris O'Dowd as Jack Maynard and Kevin Kline as Dr. Larry Fine, among 15 credited actors.

How much did The Starling make at the box office?

The Starling grossed $5.6 million worldwide ($210,187 domestic, $5.4 million international).

How is The Starling rated?

The Starling has 6.4/10 on IMDb, 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, 31 on Metacritic and 69% on TMDB.

Does The Starling have a post-credit scene?

No. The Starling has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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