Performance & Direction: Bird Review
Last updated: February 13, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is Bird (1988) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a HIT with a verified audience rating of 6.8/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Drama.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and Bird features a noteworthy lineup led by Forest Whitaker . Supported by the likes of Diane Venora and Michael Zelniker , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: Bird
Quick Plot Summary: Bird is a Drama, Music film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through detailed character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Ending Explained: Bird
Ending Breakdown: Bird concludes its story with a mix of closure and open interpretation. The finale presents its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes by addressing its primary narrative threads, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Character journeys reach their narrative endpoints, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the drama themes established throughout the runtime.
The final moments of Bird reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch Bird?
Worth Watching If You:
- Enjoy Drama films and don't mind familiar tropes
- Are a fan of the cast or director
- Want a character-driven story with emotional moments
Box Office Collection: Bird
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $9.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $2.0M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Bird Budget
The estimated production budget for Bird is $9.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
Top Cast: Bird
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Where to Watch Bird Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
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Fandango At HomeBird Parents Guide & Age Rating
1988 AdvisoryWondering about Bird age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of Bird is 161 minutes (2h 41m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 6.8/10, and global performance metrics, Bird is classified as a HIT. It remains an essential part of the 1988 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bird worth watching?
Bird is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies. It has a verified rating of 6.8/10 and stands as a HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find Bird parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for Bird identifies it as R. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of Bird?
The total duration of Bird is 161 minutes, which is approximately 2h 41m long.
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Critic Reviews for Bird
I personally found 'Bird' - directed by Clint Eastwood - to be an absolute slog to sit through. It's an interesting story no doubt, but it's told in the most mundane and boring way possible. I didn't know anything about Charlie Parker beforehand, which is what kept that aforementioned interest there. I'm no jazz fan either, but I am always happy to listen to it when it comes up though. Despite that, I just couldn't get into the film itself. It just felt like it was 160 minutes (!) worth of the following on repeat: performance, drunk and/or depressed, performance, drunk and/or depressed etc. I didn't feel like I was learning anything about Parker and his life. I literally gave an internal cheer when the credits finally rolled around. I do enjoy Forest Whitaker as an actor and he is probably the reason I'm not rating this lower. As for the rest, I don't even recall any of them - though I'm putting that down to what I've already noted, as opposed to the cast themselves who I'm sure tried their upmost. Way too long, in short. As I said it's an intriguing person to make a film about, an around 100 minute production would've been perfect in my opinion. A shame, all in all.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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