The Birds
1963 · Movie · NR · 119 min · ★ 7.5 · 93% critics
Thousands of birds flock into a seaside town and terrorize the residents in escalating, deadly attacks. As the threat spreads, the town’s people scramble to survive amid mounting chaos and mounting fear.
Based on The Birds
Also known as Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds
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Details
- Years
- 1963
- Release date
- 1963-03-28
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 119 min
- Critic score
- 93/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.5/10 (4,475 votes)
- Box office
- $11,436,618
- Budget
- $3,300,000
About
You’ll like this if you enjoy classic horror and escalating animal attacks that keep suspense high with little explanation; Not for you if you want clear answers or consistently scary pacing, or if you prefer Psycho or Night of the Living Dead instead.
Pros: tense town-wide dread; iconic bird imagery; character-focused drama | Cons: unclear motivations; pacing swings; effects feel dated
Themes
- pet shop
- seclusion
- playground
- fireplace
- seagull
- bird attack
- socialite
- based on short story
- practical joke
- schoolteacher
- lovebird
- shopkeeper
- +3 more
Awards & recognition
- Golden Globe Award — New Star of the Year – Actress · 1963
- Academy Award — Best Visual Effects · 1964 · nominated
Cast & crew
Tippi Hedren
as Melanie Daniels
Rod Taylor
as Mitch Brenner
Jessica Tandy
as Lydia Brenner
Suzanne Pleshette
as Annie Hayworth
Veronica Cartwright
as Cathy Brenner
Ethel Griffies
as Mrs. Bundy
Charles McGraw
as Sebastian Sholes
Ruth McDevitt
as Mrs. MacGruder
Lonny Chapman
as Deke Carter
Joe Mantell
as Le voyageur de commerce au bar
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock