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Bird on a Wire

  • 1990
  • PG-13
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
50K
YOUR RATING
Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn in Bird on a Wire (1990)
Home Video Trailer from Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:12
1 Video
68 Photos
ActionComedyCrime

An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.

  • Director
    • John Badham
  • Writers
    • Louis Venosta
    • Eric Lerner
    • David Seltzer
  • Stars
    • Mel Gibson
    • Goldie Hawn
    • David Carradine
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    50K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Badham
    • Writers
      • Louis Venosta
      • Eric Lerner
      • David Seltzer
    • Stars
      • Mel Gibson
      • Goldie Hawn
      • David Carradine
    • 95User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
    • 36Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Bird On A Wire
    Trailer 1:12
    Bird On A Wire

    Photos68

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    Top cast39

    Edit
    Mel Gibson
    Mel Gibson
    • Rick Jarmin
    Goldie Hawn
    Goldie Hawn
    • Marianne Graves
    David Carradine
    David Carradine
    • Eugene Sorenson
    Bill Duke
    Bill Duke
    • Albert Diggs
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    Stephen Tobolowsky
    • Joe Weyburn
    Joan Severance
    Joan Severance
    • Rachel Varney
    Harry Caesar
    Harry Caesar
    • Marvin
    Jeff Corey
    Jeff Corey
    • Lou Baird
    Alex Bruhanski
    Alex Bruhanski
    • Raun
    John Pyper-Ferguson
    John Pyper-Ferguson
    • Jamie
    Clyde Kusatsu
    Clyde Kusatsu
    • Mr. Takawaki
    Jackson Davies
    • Paul Bernard
    Florence Paterson
    • Molly Baird
    Tim Healy
    • Paul
    Wes Tritter
    • Scottie
    Lossen Chambers
    Lossen Chambers
    • Lossen
    Ken Camroux-Taylor
    Ken Camroux-Taylor
    • Neff
    • (as Ken Camroux)
    Wendy Van Riesen
    • Secretary
    • Director
      • John Badham
    • Writers
      • Louis Venosta
      • Eric Lerner
      • David Seltzer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews95

    6.049.5K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    6paul_haakonsen

    Greatly enjoyable 1990s action comedy...

    Unbelievably enough then I have actually only seen the 1990 action comedy "Bird on a Wire" twice. I remember watching it once as a teenager, and then having the opportunity to sit down and watch it again in 2022.

    Writers Louis Venosta, Eric Lerner and David Seltzer did manage to put together a genuinely entertaining and enjoyable storyline, as the story has a good amount of action and good comedy to it. I have to admit that I was genuinely entertained by "Bird on a Wire" from start to end.

    And of course with the likes of Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn in the leading roles, of course you are in for a good time. And teaming up Gibson and Hawn was just brilliant, and looking back at it now in 2022, it definitely had that 1990s feel to it. And it is also what made the movie so good, because Gibson and Hawn were phenomenal together on the screen.

    Aside from Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn, then "Bird on a Wire" also had David Carradine, Bill Duke and Stephen Tobolowsky on the cast list, with other familiar faces such as Jeff Corey and Clyde Kusatsu. So you definitely had a good handful of familiar faces on the screen if you have been watching movies and TV during the 1980s and 1990s.

    If you haven't already seen "Bird on a Wire", then you should do so, if you get the chance. It is a movie with equal parts action and good pacing, mixed with great comedy and dialogue.

    My rating of director John Badham's 1990s movie "Bird on a Wire" lands on a six out of ten stars.
    7blanche-2

    bad day at the zoo for Mel and Goldie

    The star power of Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn help this 1990 action film, which is about a witness protection program refugee who reconnects by accident with his old girlfriend. The two then run to avoid the people after him. And run and run and run.

    There are so many chase scenes in this movie, I lost count, but they lead to a very effective finale in the zoo. I enjoyed this movie because of its two stars. I thought they had great chemistry and repartee.

    The movie is short on plot and character development, you know, things that one would occasionally enjoy seeing in a film, and long on action, charm, Mel's rear, Goldie's figure, and fashion. On this basis, I found it enjoyable.
    6Pjtaylor-96-138044

    Only as good as it needs to be.

    'Bird On A Wire (1990)' is just a generic action-comedy with a will they/won't they central dynamic that takes the 'cop' out of 'buddy cop' and replaces it with 'romance'. Basically, it's 'It Happened One Night (1934)' meets 'Lethal Weapon (1987)', except that it's nowhere near as good as either of those inspirations. It's not bad, of course. It has a couple of engaging set-pieces and it's generally rather enjoyable. It's just very generic and, ultimately, forgettable. It's only as good as it needs to be, essentially. It's not bad, but it's not great, either. 6/10.
    7Soledad-2

    This movie is really good.

    Don't pay attention to negative reviews. This movie is really good and I'm sure everyone will enjoy it as much as I did. Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn are a wonderful couple and their performance is excellent. Don't wait any longer ... rent it right now!
    8Willy_D

    Nice, entertaining

    I don't think this movie is as bad as some comments say, it is not a hit, but it is just the kind of movie I like very much and that IMHO are not being made anymore. It's a classical 90's easy-going action/comedy that won't disappoint anybody, who is not looking for a complicated plot and surprising end :)

    I really enjoyed watching this movie, especially thanks to a beautiful couple made by Mel Gibson and Golide Hawn. It's just one of those movies you can watch over and over again and it sill keeps you entertained (well, the final scene seems a little boring to me...).

    If you are looking for a nice action/comedy, check this one out, you won't be disappointed.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Goldie Hawn did most of her own stunts, after being convinced by Mel Gibson to do so. She was originally reluctant to perform them, fearing the harsh and overwhelming nature of the tasks. She was eventually so pleased with her stunt performances that she kept her stuntman's jacket after filming resumed, and as of 2017 still exhibits it next to her Oscar statuette.
    • Goofs
      When Rick & Marianne are escaping across the top of the hotel room it is only minutes after her 'early' breakfast was delivered @ ten to seven. As they crawl across the framework on th hotel roof a clock in the background is showing around 07:30. When Rick falls and clambers back up, less than a minute later the clock is showing nearer 08:00
    • Quotes

      Rick Jarmin: I haven't had a girlfriend for 5 years.

      Marianne Graves: Really?

      Rick: Yeah - Mr. Wiggly's been on bread and water for 5 long years.

    • Crazy credits
      Credits scroll down instead of up
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: You Blew It! (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      Bird On A Wire
      Written by Leonard Cohen

      Produced and Arranged by David A. Stewart

      Performed by The The Neville Brothers

      Courtesy of A&M Records

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    FAQ18

    • How long is Bird on a Wire?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 18, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Tiro al blanco
    • Filming locations
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Interscope Communications
      • The Badham-Cohen Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $20,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $70,978,012
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $15,338,160
      • May 20, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $138,697,012
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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