Birdman (film)

Birdman
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Written by	Alejandro G. Iñárritu Nicolás Giacobone Alexander Dinelaris Jr. Armando Bó
Produced by	Alejandro G. Iñárritu John Lesher Arnon Milchan James W. Skotchdopole
Starring	Michael Keaton Zach Galifianakis Edward Norton Andrea Riseborough Amy Ryan Emma Stone Naomi Watts
Cinematography	Emmanuel Lubezki
Edited by	Douglas Crise Stephen Mirrione
Music by	Antonio Sánchez
Production companies	Regency Enterprises New Regency M Productions Le Grisbi Productions TSG Entertainment Worldview Entertainment
Distributed by	Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release dates	August 27, 2014 (2014-08-27) (Venice) October 17, 2014 (2014-10-17) (United States)
Running time	119 minutes[1]
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$16.5–18 million[2][3]
Box office	$103.2 million[3]

Birdman, stylized as BİRDMAN or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), is a 2014 American surreal dark comedy-drama film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The film stars Michael Keaton as a washed-up Hollywood actor, best known for playing a superhero named Birdman, and follows the struggles he faces while trying to make a comeback by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver's short story "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love". The film's supporting cast includes Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone, and Naomi Watts.

With a brief exception, Birdman is presented as though it was filmed in one continuous take, an idea Iñárritu had from the film's conception. Cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki believed that the recording time necessary for the long take approach could not have been made with older technology. The film was shot in New York City during the spring of 2013 with a budget of $16.5 million, jointly financed by Fox Searchlight Pictures, Regency Enterprises, and Worldview Entertainment. It premiered at the 71st Venice International Film Festival in 2014.

Birdman had a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 17, 2014, followed by a wide release on November 14. Grossing more than $103 million worldwide, the film received critical acclaim, with praise for its screenplay, direction, cinematography, and the performances of the cast (particularly Keaton, Norton, and Stone). It won the Academy Award for Best Picture, along with Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography from a total of nine nominations, tying it with The Grand Budapest Hotel for the most nominated and awarded film at the 87th Academy Awards. It also won Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture at the 21st Screen Actors Guild Awards, as well as Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy for Keaton and Best Screenplay at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards.