The Birds

Play trailer

The Birds

PG-13

1963

1h 59m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Horror

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

73 Reviews

83%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Melanie Daniels meets Mitch Brenner in a San Francisco pet store and decides to follow him home. She brings with her the gift of two love birds, and they strike up a romance. One day birds start attacking children at Mitch's sister's party. A huge assault starts on the town by attacking birds.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Proving once again that build-up is the key to suspense, Alfred Hitchcock successfully turned birds into some of the most terrifying villains in horror history.

Read Critics Reviews

Brendan Gill

The New Yorker

Aug 15, 2022

Hard as it may be to believe of a Hitchcock, it doesn’t arouse suspense, which is, of course, what justifies and transforms the sadism that lies at the heart of every thriller. Here the sadism is all too nakedly, repellently present.

Go to Full Review

Wendy Ide

The Times (UK)

Aug 1, 2022

There’s a fair amount of beak-based eye trauma.

Go to Full Review

James Powers

The Hollywood Reporter

Mar 28, 2017

Hitchcock prolongs his prelude to horror for more than half the film, playing with audience suspense with comedy and romance while he sets his stage. The horror when it comes is a hair-raiser ...

Go to Full Review

Max Allen

Horror Movie Talk

Dec 4, 2025

6/10

it is a fine movie that kept me engaged enough throughout most of it but not really anything special to me.

Go to Full Review

Joshua Polanski

The Rapidian

Oct 29, 2025

His bird attacks invite an array of valid interpretations, and anyone can well garner new theories ready to be applied to the classic. That’s the genius of the film: they all work and none of them work at the same time.

Go to Full Review

Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

Oct 27, 2025

4/5

After a lifetime of avoiding Hitchcock's goofiest film, your critic takes the plunge with the foul fowl and finds, despite some unconvincing 1960s special effects, the movie does take wing.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Gabriel

Oct 2, 2025

Hitchcock is awesome!

See more

Eron F

Jul 24, 2025

I watched this movie when I was a kid and took the opportunity to share it with my grandchildren on the big screen! To top it off we had dinner and a movie for our evening out.

See more

Huntin P

@PaxVobiscum80 Sep 18, 2026

Impressive creature feature. This horror movie has special effects that deserve praise even today. Ever been divebombed by just one seagull, or a tern? Not nice, was it. Now imagine having to deal with this motley crew. What the meaning, what the deeper symbolic significance, of The Birds may be, that will be for you and your folks to discuss after; to ponder over a cordial and a cookie, casting doubtful glances at the fireplace, and listening for any sound of disturbance on the roof. Personally, I just think it was an exercise to see how a bird swarm could be choreographed.

See more

Robert P

@Superbad Sep 9, 2026

An excellent movie... but a little Known thing is that Alfred never earned an academy award!

See more

Bruno B

@Kebabarian Sep 2, 2026

I was quite surprised to see Hitchcock technically doing an apocalyptic movie.

See more

R T

@RT51844103 Aug 29, 2026

This is my favorite horror movie. It's flawless and I don't think there's a better one.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Alfred Hitchcock

Director

Rod Taylor

Mitch Brenner

Tippi Hedren

Melanie Daniels

Suzanne Pleshette

Annie Hayworth

Jessica Tandy

Lydia Brenner

Veronica Cartwright

Cathy Brenner

The Birds: Official Clip - The Gas Station Explosion

1:48

Now Playing

The Birds: Official Clip - Eyes Pecked Out

1:13

Now Playing

The Birds: Official Clip - I Think You're Evil!

2:53

Now Playing

The Birds: Official Clip - Crows Stalk the Playground

2:02

Now Playing

The Birds: Official Clip - Escaping The Birds

2:57

Now Playing

The Birds: Official Clip - Trapped in a Phone Booth

1:37

Now Playing

The Birds: Official Clip - The Birthday Party Attack

1:52

Now Playing

The Birds: Official Clip - The Seagull Attack

1:03

Now Playing

The Birds: Official Clip - The Birds Invade Through the Chimney

2:11

Now Playing

The Birds: Official Clip - Attacked in the Attic

2:55

Now Playing

View more videos

The Manchurian Candidate

96%

90%

The Manchurian Candidate

Watchlist

Jaws the Revenge

2%

15%

Jaws the Revenge

Watchlist

What Lies Beneath

49%

58%

What Lies Beneath

Watchlist

TRAILER

for What Lies Beneath

Touch of Evil

96%

92%

Touch of Evil

Watchlist

An American Haunting

12%

35%

An American Haunting

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Melanie Daniels meets Mitch Brenner in a San Francisco pet store and decides to follow him home. She brings with her the gift of two love birds, and they strike up a romance. One day birds start attacking children at Mitch's sister's party. A huge assault starts on the town by attacking birds.

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Producer: Alfred Hitchcock
Screenwriter: Evan Hunter, Daphne Du Maurier
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures, Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Horror
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 28, 1963, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 2023
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2014
Runtime: 1h 59m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings