Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysTIFFFestival SeasonHispanic Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Birdman oder (Die unverhoffte Macht der Ahnungslosigkeit)

Original title: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
  • 2014
  • 12
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
673K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,161
302
Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Ryan, Naomi Watts, Emma Stone, and Andrea Riseborough in Birdman oder (Die unverhoffte Macht der Ahnungslosigkeit) (2014)
A washed-up actor who once played an iconic superhero must overcome his ego and family trouble as he mounts a Broadway play in a bid to reclaim his past glory.
Play trailer2:53
45 Videos
99+ Photos
Dark ComedySatireShowbiz DramaWorkplace DramaComedyDrama

A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.

  • Director
    • Alejandro G. Iñárritu
  • Writers
    • Alejandro G. Iñárritu
    • Nicolás Giacobone
    • Alexander Dinelaris
  • Stars
    • Michael Keaton
    • Zach Galifianakis
    • Edward Norton
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.7/10
    673K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,161
    302
    • Director
      • Alejandro G. Iñárritu
    • Writers
      • Alejandro G. Iñárritu
      • Nicolás Giacobone
      • Alexander Dinelaris
    • Stars
      • Michael Keaton
      • Zach Galifianakis
      • Edward Norton
    • 1.5KUser reviews
    • 556Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 Oscars
      • 192 wins & 294 nominations total

    Videos45

    International Trailer
    Trailer 2:53
    Watch International Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:47
    Watch Official Trailer
    Clip
    Clip 1:20
    Watch Clip
    Birdman
    Clip 1:26
    Watch Birdman
    Birdman
    Clip 1:25
    Watch Birdman
    Birdman
    Clip 1:08
    Watch Birdman
    Birdman
    Clip 1:38
    Watch Birdman
    Birdman: Relevant
    Clip 1:36
    Watch Birdman: Relevant
    Birdman: Ask Me If He Sells Tickets
    Clip 1:08
    Watch Birdman: Ask Me If He Sells Tickets
    Birdman: Does She Talk?
    Clip 1:58
    Watch Birdman: Does She Talk?
    Birdman: Foreign Press
    Clip 1:38
    Watch Birdman: Foreign Press
    Birdman: Does She Talk? (UK)
    Clip 1:58
    Watch Birdman: Does She Talk? (UK)

    Photos312

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 307
    View Poster

    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Michael Keaton
    Michael Keaton
    • Riggan
    Zach Galifianakis
    Zach Galifianakis
    • Jake
    Edward Norton
    Edward Norton
    • Mike
    Andrea Riseborough
    Andrea Riseborough
    • Laura
    Emma Stone
    Emma Stone
    • Sam
    Kenny Chin
    Kenny Chin
    • Korean Grocer
    Jamahl Garrison-Lowe
    • Stagehand (Daniel)
    Naomi Watts
    Naomi Watts
    • Lesley
    Jeremy Shamos
    Jeremy Shamos
    • Ralph
    Katherine O'Sullivan
    Katherine O'Sullivan
    • Costume Assistant
    Damian Young
    Damian Young
    • Gabriel
    Keenan Shimizu
    • Han
    Akira Ito
    • Translator
    Natalie Gold
    Natalie Gold
    • Clara
    Merritt Wever
    Merritt Wever
    • Annie
    Michael Siberry
    Michael Siberry
    • Larry
    Clark Middleton
    Clark Middleton
    • Sydney
    Amy Ryan
    Amy Ryan
    • Sylvia
    • Director
      • Alejandro G. Iñárritu
    • Writers
      • Alejandro G. Iñárritu
      • Nicolás Giacobone
      • Alexander Dinelaris
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Best Picture Winners by Year

    Best Picture Winners by Year

    See the complete list of Best Picture winners. For fun, use the "sort order" function to rank by IMDb rating and other criteria.
    See the complete list
    Poster
    List

    More like this

    Her
    8.0
    Her
    The Revenant - Der Rückkehrer
    8.0
    The Revenant - Der Rückkehrer
    Spotlight
    8.1
    Spotlight
    Grand Budapest Hotel
    8.1
    Grand Budapest Hotel
    Black Swan
    8.0
    Black Swan
    The Social Network
    7.8
    The Social Network
    Dallas Buyers Club
    7.9
    Dallas Buyers Club
    Shape of Water: Das Flüstern des Wassers
    7.3
    Shape of Water: Das Flüstern des Wassers
    Marriage Story
    7.9
    Marriage Story
    Moonlight
    7.4
    Moonlight
    The King's Speech - Die Rede des Königs
    8.0
    The King's Speech - Die Rede des Königs
    Bardo, die erfundene Chronik einer Handvoll Wahrheiten
    6.7
    Bardo, die erfundene Chronik einer Handvoll Wahrheiten

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Because the movie was carefully rehearsed and shot in sequence, editing took only two weeks.
    • Goofs
      When Riggan goes back to the theater after a drunk night out, right after he's touching ground beneath his feet again, there can a couple be seen walking from the left side of the frame to the right, away from the camera (we can only see them from behind). When Riggan passes the couple the right man can be seen making a very sudden quick (and very unnatural looking) hand-movement in direction to Riggan's back. This movement might have been necessary to detach the cables from Michael Keaton's back that he needed to be attached to for the flying scene.
    • Quotes

      Note on Riggan's dressing room mirror: A thing is a thing, not what is said of that thing.

    • Crazy credits
      Begin and end credits are presented in a peculiar style with the rhythm of the drums
    • Alternate versions
      The Sundance TV broadcast removes the swearing and crops the scene featuring Edward Norton's butt so that it is not shown.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Zach Galifianakis/Casey Wilson/Andrew Orvedahl (2014)
    • Soundtracks
      Birdman Blind Melody
      Composed by Joan Valent

    User reviews1.5K

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    audacious concept
    Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) is famous for his role as comic book superhero Birdman. He is trying to revive his waning career with his first Broadway show that he wrote and directing with his friend Jake (Zach Galifianakis). His daughter Sam (Emma Stone) works as his grumpy assistant. Lesley (Naomi Watts) acts in the play. When a light falls on the lead, Lesley suggests headliner Mike Shiner (Edward Norton). Mike is a method actor who gets on Riggan's nerves.

    The concept of long continuous scenes is interesting. It adds to the level of difficulty. It is audacious and makes the audience sit up to pay attention. Although this movie does not take place in real time. It's not 2 hours of Riggan's life. There is one amazing scene with Keaton in his underwear. There is a daring in that it is outside in the real world. It adds a higher level of energy and that scene buzzes. The standout performance is Norton. He's got the most fun character. Everybody does a great job especially Galifianakis, Stone and of course Keaton.
    • SnoopyStyle
    • Jul 19, 2015
    • Permalink

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ2

    • 64 minutes in, as Lesley walks away from Riggan's dressing room, who are the two naked people who can be seen very briefly?
    • What does "The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance" mean? Why is it the movie's secondary title?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 29, 2015 (Germany)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Fox Searchlight (United States)
      • Stream Birdman or officially on Disney+ Hotstar Indonesia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Birdman o (La inesperada virtud de la ignorancia)
    • Filming locations
      • Rum House, Hotel Edison, 228W, 47th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(bar scenes)
    • Production companies
      • New Regency Productions
      • M Productions
      • Le Grisbi Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $18,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $42,340,598
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $424,397
      • Oct 19, 2014
    • Gross worldwide
      • $103,215,094
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • Datasat
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Edward Norton, Zach Galifianakis, Amy Ryan, Naomi Watts, Emma Stone, and Andrea Riseborough in Birdman oder (Die unverhoffte Macht der Ahnungslosigkeit) (2014)
    Top Gap
    What is the streaming release date of Birdman oder (Die unverhoffte Macht der Ahnungslosigkeit) (2014) in Canada?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    You have no recently viewed pages
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2024 by IMDb.com, Inc.