Parents' Guide to

The Birdcage

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Campy, comedic romp with lots of profanity.

Movie R 1996 117 minutes
The Birdcage Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

See all
age 11+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Amanda S.
Amanda S. Parent of 3, 5 and 7-year-old
June 24, 2023
age 2+

Let the kids watch!

This is one of my kid’s favorites! We addressed the drinking/smoking/cursing as with our kids as talking points for “adult behavior” that is dated/dangerous and that we don’t want to repeat. The overall wholesome message and positive LBGTQ+ representation of the movie far outweighs those negatives for us. (And the comedic genius of this cast is just amazing)

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
Mark H.
Mark H. Parent
April 28, 2018
age 15+

Great, but not for tweens as others may insist.

This is a really beautiful story of how heart breaking it is to finally find comfort in who you are only to be thrust back into the closet again as well as an astute commentary on the hypocrisy of social conservatives. However it does have it's faults, many of which make it unsuitable for less savvy kids. First and foremost, one of the dilemmas in the film is the conservative politician being attached to a colleague who is found dead with an underage prostitute who's youth and African American heritage is part of the "joke". If pedophilloic sex trafficking is not something you want to discuss with your kids then this movie ain't for them. Other problems include a lot of body shaming language as well as depictions of hispanics solely as wait staff. It's actually interesting to see a young (and buff) Hank Azaria playing an effeminate Guatemalan with a ridiculously thick accent considering the(appropriate) grief he's now getting for playing Apu on the Simpsons. Over all, a hilarious film with Nathan Lane and Robin Willaims at the finest. Enjoy it with your older teens.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
1 person found this helpful.
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Armand (Robin Williams) and Albert (Nathan Lane) run a South Beach drag show and nightclub. Their son Val, who's away at college, returns home and announces he's getting married. Unfortunately, Val's fiancée Barbara is the daughter of an ultra-conservative senator, played by Gene Hackman, in the midst of a scandal and a reelection campaign. To help Val win the senator's approval, Armand and Albert reluctantly agree to present themselves as straight when they meet Barbara and her family. But to succeed, they'll have to pull off the greatest performances of their lives.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (6 ):

THE BIRDCAGE is a fun, comedic romp with a great ensemble cast. Robin Williams gives an understated performance as straight man to Nathan Lane, who chews the scenery with gusto. Even South Beach itself becomes a delightful character under Mike Nichols' direction, and with such a talented cast and strong material he mostly just stays out of the way. Younger teens might be drawn to the colorful, campy atmosphere, but the movie's heart is in the more adult situations. Older teens will more easily relate to the characters as they struggle with how to present themselves to the world.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the world of the Birdcage, a drag-show nightclub, is shown in the movie. Do you think society's attitudes toward homosexuality and drag culture have changed since the movie was made in 1996? Did you notice any stereotyping, or do you think the characters were realistic?

  • If you fell in love with someone whose parents were gay, would you try to hide that from your own parents? Why do you think Val wants to hide the truth from Barbara's parents?

  • What other Robin Williams movies have you seen? How do you think this one compares? Which is your favorite?

Movie Details

Inclusion information powered by

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended movie lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate