Bye Bye Birdie

Play trailer

Bye Bye Birdie

G

1963

1h 52m

Musical

Comedy

Music

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

30 Reviews

66%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

When the draft selects rock star Conrad Birdie, his fans are devastated, but none more than struggling songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke), whose song Birdie was just about to record. Albert's longtime girlfriend, Rosie (Janet Leigh), pushes Albert to write a new tune that Birdie will perform on television to a fan selected in a contest. The scheme works, with young Ohio teenager Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) declared the winner, but no one has counted on the jealous wrath of her boyfriend.

Watch on Fandango

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

A poppy satire on pop music, Bye Bye Birdie is silly, light, and very, very pink.

Read Critics Reviews

Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

Aug 1, 2015

4/5

Underrated satirical musical that has contributed more to popular culture than many people are aware of.

Go to Full Review

TIME Magazine

Aug 1, 2015

[Bye Bye Birdie] had an apple-cheekiness about it on the stage that seems slightly worm-eaten on film, and the result is more goof than spoof.

Go to Full Review

Keith Uhlich

Time Out

Nov 17, 2011

3/5

Why watch George Sidney's adaptation of the popular stage musical when you can slap yourself upside the head with a soggy, hot-pink slab of beef?

Go to Full Review

Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

Dec 12, 2025

4/5

Casting issues aside, Bye Bye Birdie genuinely captures the era and remains a lot of fun to watch.

Go to Full Review

Rachel Wagner

Rachel's Reviews (YouTube)

Apr 26, 2023

the whole long section with Albert creating a speed drug is so strange

Go to Full Review

Josh Larsen

LarsenOnFilm

Feb 16, 2019

2/4

Ann-Margret makes one thing clear every second she's on screen in Bye Bye Birdie: no matter how hokey, forcibly madcap, or just plain dumb the material gets, she's coming out of this thing a star.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

L S

@lensign9 Apr 29, 2026

A bit too silly for me. Really the only too that could sing were Ann-Margaret and Bobby Rydell

See more

john r

@RT63308967 Dec 2, 2025

This clumsily made musical is best remembered for the electric way Ann Margret burst on the national scene. A force of nature, she dominates every scene she is in.

See more

rex w

@RT11010153 Nov 17, 2025

Ann-Margaret is smoking hot in this.

See more

Leslie T

@RT22706110 Aug 15, 2025

Quite a bit better than I would have imagined. The " Kids!!" tune will always be one of my favorite items and is the only item w Paul Lynde that Ive ever enjoyed. Ann Margaret is a much better dancer than I would have imagined, also

See more

alan g

@agenser Mar 26, 2024

Great musical. Best of the bunch. Much better than the remake

See more

Keith N

@RT59532033 Dec 31, 2023

Watched this only because our school is doing a play, and I'm glad I watched it because it's a classic

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

George Sidney

Director

Dick Van Dyke

Albert Peterson

Janet Leigh

Rosie DeLeon

Ann-Margret

Kim McAfee

Maureen Stapleton

Mama Peterson

Bobby Rydell

Hugo Peabody

The Music Man

94%

85%

The Music Man

Watchlist

Thoroughly Modern Millie

83%

81%

Thoroughly Modern Millie

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Thoroughly Modern Millie

Help!

86%

86%

Help!

Watchlist

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

100%

75%

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

Watchlist

The Boy Friend

78%

70%

The Boy Friend

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

When the draft selects rock star Conrad Birdie, his fans are devastated, but none more than struggling songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke), whose song Birdie was just about to record. Albert's longtime girlfriend, Rosie (Janet Leigh), pushes Albert to write a new tune that Birdie will perform on television to a fan selected in a contest. The scheme works, with young Ohio teenager Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) declared the winner, but no one has counted on the jealous wrath of her boyfriend.

Director: George Sidney
Producer: Fred Kohlmar
Screenwriter: Irving Brecher
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: G
Genre: Musical, Comedy, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 4, 1963, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Runtime: 1h 52m
Sound Mix: Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

Join The Newsletter

Join The Newsletter

Cookie Settings