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The Birdcage poster
7.0 / 10(1,435 votes)IMDbR19961h 59m$185.3M Worldwide GrossUnited States of America

The Birdcage

“Come as you are.”

Synopsis

A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner agree to put up a false heterosexual front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée's conservative parents.

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Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes

Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.

TrailerOfficial

Type: Trailer • Published 2021-03-12

Release History & Theatrical Window

World Premiere

New York City, New York

Festival / Special Debut

Theatrical Premiere

March 8, 1996

Wide Cinema Exhibition

Financials & Box Office Performance

ReleasedBlockbuster Success (5.98x ROI)

Production Budget

$31M

Filming & production cost

Worldwide Gross

$185.3M

Total global ticket sales

Box Office Return

5.98x

+$154.3M net gain

Theatrical Status

Mega Hit

Box office tier

Budget: $31MWorldwide: $185.3M

Key Information & Fast Facts

Director
Mike Nichols
Screenplay & Story
Elaine May
Original Score
Jonathan Tunick
Original Title
The Birdcage
Country of Origin
United States of America
Spoken Languages
French, English
Runtime
1h 59m
Production Budget
$31M
Worldwide Gross
$185.3M
Production Studios
United Artists

Creative Leadership & Key Crew

Director

Mike Nichols

Screenplay & Story

Elaine May, Édouard Molinaro, Francis Veber, Jean Poiret, Marcello Danon

Original Score & Music

Jonathan Tunick

Director of Photography

Emmanuel Lubezki, Kurt E. Soderling

Film Editing

Arthur Schmidt

Producers

Mike Nichols, Marcello Danon, Neil Machlis

Department Leadership Roster

Mike Nichols

Mike Nichols

Director

Arthur Schmidt

Arthur Schmidt

Editor

Elaine May

Elaine May

Screenplay

Mike Nichols

Mike Nichols

Producer

Emmanuel Lubezki

Emmanuel Lubezki

Director of Photography

Jonathan Tunick

Jonathan Tunick

Original Music Composer

Jery Hewitt

Jery Hewitt

Stunt Coordinator

Bo Welch

Bo Welch

Production Design

Age Classification & Content Advisories

Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.

Primary: R

R: Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

International Certification Matrix

Australia (ACB)M

Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.

Germany (FSK)12

FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.

France (CNC)U

Tous publics — Universal audience.

United Kingdom (BBFC)15

Suitable only for 15 years and over.

United States (MPAA)R

Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Birdcage.

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Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Birdcage.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Birdcage

Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.

What is The Birdcage about?

A gay cabaret owner and his drag queen partner agree to put up a false heterosexual front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancée's conservative parents.

Who directed The Birdcage?

The Birdcage was directed by Mike Nichols.

Who stars in The Birdcage?

The principal cast of The Birdcage includes Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Nathan Lane, Dianne Wiest, Dan Futterman.

When was The Birdcage released and how long is it?

The Birdcage was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 1h 59m.

What was the box office and production budget of The Birdcage?

The Birdcage had a reported production budget of $31M and grossed $185.3M at the worldwide box office (5.98 return on budget, classified as a blockbuster success).

Who composed the musical score for The Birdcage?

The original motion picture soundtrack for The Birdcage was composed by Jonathan Tunick.

What is the age rating and content advisory for The Birdcage?

The Birdcage holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: U (Tous publics — Universal audience.); GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.); US: R (Restricted — Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.).