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The Birdcage
1996 119 min United States of America R 16+
★7.7
Comedy, Romance
Director: Mike Nichols
🎭 Based on
«La Cage aux Folles»
Trailers
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Teaser
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Description
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.
Budget:
$31M
US Gross:
$124.06M
Worldwide:
$185.3M
Starring
Robin Williams
Actor
Nathan Lane
Actor
Gene Hackman
Actor
Awards
Screen Actors Guild Awards 1997
— Best Cast Ensemble
Screen Actors Guild Awards 1997
— Best Supporting Actor
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1997
— Best On-Screen Duo
MTV Movie & TV Awards 1997
— Best Comedy Performance
Academy Awards 1997
— Best Production Design
Golden Globe 1997
— Best Picture (Comedy or Musical)
Golden Globe 1997
— Best Actor (Comedy or Musical)
Key opinion
The Birdcage is widely regarded as a successful and stylish American remake that balances farce with genuine warmth. While a minority of viewers find the pacing slow or the character dynamics implausible, most praise the film for avoiding crude stereotypes and delivering strong, heartfelt performances.
| Acting | Nathan Lane’s vibrant, over-the-top performance as Albert is frequently cited as the film's standout, acting as a comedic anchor. | |
| Direction | Mike Nichols directs with a precise, European-style delicacy that elevates the material above typical vulgar comedies. | |
| Acting | Hank Azaria’s portrayal of the butler Agador is consistently highlighted as a highlight of inspired, physical comedy. | |
| Acting | Robin Williams' performance divides opinion; some see his understated, grounded portrayal as an essential emotional anchor, while others feel he was underused or miscast. | |
| Runtime | The film’s two-hour runtime is a point of contention, with some viewers finding the contemplative tempo rewarding and others finding the film overly long. | |
| Acting | The central chemistry between Williams and Lane is viewed by most as a compelling portrait of a long-term partnership, though some critics find their relationship dynamics implausible or lacking heat. |