Sign up
Trailer

Birdman of Alcatraz

1962Movie2 h 27 minNR

CrimeDrama
80
GreatGoodWatch score
IMDb7.8Metacritic768.1Rotten Tomatoes88%85%

A deeply moving, melancholic drama movie about a real life story and the mind, with standout performances and characters.

Good for friends night · teens · background watch

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for laughs, scares or adrenaline.

Movies with

Story

Inside the rock called Alcatraz they tried to chain a volcano they called 'The Bird Man'!

After killing a prison guard, convict Robert Stroud faces life imprisonment in solitary confinement. Driven nearly mad by loneliness and despair, Stroud's life gains new meaning when he happens upon a helpless baby sparrow in the exercise yard and nurses it back to health. Despite having only a third grade education, Stroud goes on to become a renowned ornithologist and achieves a greater sense of freedom and purpose behind bars than most people find in the outside world.

Feels like

  • Biographical Drama
  • Prison Life
  • Redemption Story
  • Ornithology
  • Solitary Confinement
  • Character Study
  • Thought-Provoking
  • Powerful Performance
  • Classic Cinema

Cast

24 of 37

Crew

Directed by
John Frankenheimer
Written by
Guy Trosper, Thomas E. Gaddis
Produced by
Guy Trosper, Stuart Millar
Music by
Elmer Bernstein

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

July 4, 1962 · 2 h 27 min · NR

Released
July 4, 1962
Runtime
2 h 27 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence
Genres
Drama, Crime, History
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$3 million
Available in
103 countries

Tropes

The Alcatraz, Very Loosely Based on a True Story, Historical Villain Downgrade +9

  • The Alcatraz
  • Very Loosely Based on a True Story
  • Historical Villain Downgrade
  • Luxury Prison Suite
  • Prison Riot
  • Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas
  • Heel–Face Turn
  • Character Narrator
  • Foregone Conclusion
  • I Gave My Word
  • My Beloved Smother
  • Artistic License – History

12 of 15 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

3 questions, like "Where can I stream Birdman of Alcatraz?"

Questions about Birdman of Alcatraz

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Birdman of Alcatraz?

fuboTVMGM+PhiloKanopyHooplaFawesomeTubi TV

In the United States, Birdman of Alcatraz streams on fuboTV, MGM+, and Philo, and it is free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, Fawesome, and Tubi TV. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 20 other countries.

Is Birdman of Alcatraz worth watching?

80
GreatGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 80 (IMDb 7.8, Rotten Tomatoes 88%, and Metacritic 76).

Is Birdman of Alcatraz plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (10 of 10) and pathos (9 of 10) more than on its plot.