The Birdcage

Released Mar 8, 1996

1h 59m

Comedy

LGBTQ+

List

84%

Tomatometer

64 Reviews

81%

Audience Score

100,000+ Ratings

In this remake of the classic French farce "La Cage aux Folles," engaged couple Val Goldman (Dan Futterman) and Barbara Keeley (Calista Flockhart) shakily introduce their future in-laws. Val's father, Armand (Robin Williams), a gay Miami drag club owner, pretends to be straight and attempts to hide his relationship with Albert (Nathan Lane), his life partner and the club's flamboyant star attraction, so as to please Barbara's father, controversial Republican Sen. Kevin Keeley (Gene Hackman).

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Critics Consensus

Mike Nichols wrangles agreeably amusing performances from Robin Williams and Nathan Lane in this fun, if not quite essential, remake of the French comedy La Cage aux Folles.

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Andrea Thompson

Chicago Reader

Remakes don’t get much better than Mike Nichols’s The Birdcage, which embraced drag shows long before they became the height of cool, and more unsettlingly, another casualty of the rising tide of fascism.

Jun 20, 2023

Full Review

Geordie Gray

The Australian

The Birdcage is silly in all the right ways.

Dec 3, 2022

Full Review

Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

The Birdcage is a little film with knee-slapping scenes coupled with thoughtfully acute moments as well.

Sep 8, 2017

Full Review

Romey Norton

Film Focus Online

Amongst all the hilarity, there are also some poignant moments in the film - when the audience is reminded that the underlying themes in this story are love, acceptance, and support. You can be giggling one second and then tearing up the next.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 22, 2024

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Hank Azaria steals the entire picture as houseboy Agador.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 20, 2024

Full Review

Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

I was wildly entertained by this. It had a lot of heart and is more than just a bag of laughs. The theme about accepting yourself was really powerful.

Rated: 5/5

Nov 19, 2023

Full Review

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Audience Member

Robin Williams and Nathan Lane…need I say more?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/29/24

Full Review

James E

Thoroughly underrated part of Robin Williams impressive resume. This is one of very few 90s comedy movies featuring queer characters without the jokes being at their expense. This is clearly for the queer community by the queer community. This is hilarious and deep and easy to get sucked into.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

06/02/24

Full Review

Christian S

I loved this movie! Hysterical! Well acted!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/12/24

Full Review

Luan R

amazing cast! Robin Williams in an awesome performance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/30/24

Full Review

Louis M

One of Robin Williams best movies. Fantastic and funny.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/24/24

Full Review

Ikiv N

v: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ a: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hilarious hehe

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/24

Full Review

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Mike Nichols

Director

Robin Williams

Armand Goldman

Gene Hackman

Sen. Kevin Keeley

Nathan Lane

Albert Goldman

Dianne Wiest

Louise Keeley

Hank Azaria

Agador 'Spartacus'

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The Birdcage: Official Clip - Wigging Out