Who directed Birdman and when was it released?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) , a satirical American film, was directed and co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu and released in 2014. The film centers on Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, who is famous for playing the superhero Birdman. In an effort to gain respect, Thomson directs and stars in a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.” The film draws viewers behind the scenes of the production and into Thomson’s mind as he struggles with his relationships and career.

Who is the main character in Birdman, and what is his role in the story?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) centers on Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, an actor famous for portraying the superhero Birdman in blockbuster films. Now, he aims to gain respect 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 portrays the behind-the-scenes drama of the production and Thomson’s internal struggles. The Birdman character haunts Thomson, and it's unclear if Thomson's magical powers are real or delusions. He struggles with his girlfriend, Laura, the unstable Lesley, and the difficult actor Mike Shiner. His relationship with his daughter, Sam, is strained, and a critic threatens to give the play a bad review before seeing it. On opening night, Thomson replaces a prop gun with a real one, shooting off his nose and finally earning a positive review. The film's ending leaves it ambiguous whether Thomson jumps out of a hospital window to commit suicide or to fly away.

What makes the way Birdman is filmed different from most movies?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) stands out due to its unique filming style. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu filmed it to appear as one continuous, seamless shot . This technique, combined with a percussion-heavy score by jazz drummer Antonio Sanchez, creates a sense of tension throughout the film.

What are some of the main themes explored in Birdman?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) explores themes of identity, relevance, and the quest for artistic recognition. The film centers on Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, who seeks to revive his career by staging a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story. Thomson grapples with his past as the superhero Birdman, a role that both defines and haunts him. The film delves into the behind-the-scenes chaos of the play's production and Thomson's internal struggles, blurring the lines between reality and delusion. He struggles to control his cast, connect with his daughter, and impress a theater critic, highlighting his desperation for respect and validation.

Which major awards did Birdman win, and why is it considered important in film history?

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) , directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. The film is considered important because of its technical achievement, appearing to be filmed in a single, seamless shot, and its exploration of themes like identity, ego, and the struggle for artistic relevance. The movie provides social commentary on the entertainment industry, fame, and the artist's struggle for respect, and is hailed by many critics as a masterpiece.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

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Michael Keaton as Riggan walks on a city sidewalk with Benjamin Kanes as young Riggan in a Birdman costume standing closely behind him in a scene from Birdman.

Michael Keaton, wearing a brown suit, stands pressed against a wall as Edward Norton, in a white shirt with suspenders, points at him in a tense hallway scene from Birdman.

Michael Keaton as Riggan Thomson walks on a city sidewalk wearing a beige coat, with a man in a dark feathered Birdman costume standing closely behind him in a scene from Birdman.

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Awards And Honors:: Academy Award (2015)

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Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

film by González Iñárritu [2014]

Written by

Patricia Bauer

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Last updated

Oct. 12, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is the movie Birdman about?
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) centers on Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, who was famous for playing the superhero Birdman. Now, he is trying to gain respect 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 draws viewers behind the scenes of the fraught production and into Thomson’s mind. The character of Birdman taunts Thomson whenever he is alone.

Other cast members include Emma Stone (Sam), Naomi Watts (Lesley), Andrea Riseborough (Laura), Edward Norton (Mike Shiner), and Lindsay Duncan (Tabitha). The film was conceived and cowritten by Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu.
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Who directed Birdman and when was it released?
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), a satirical American film, was directed and co-written by Alejandro González Iñárritu and released in 2014. The film centers on Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, who is famous for playing the superhero Birdman. In an effort to gain respect, Thomson directs and stars in a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love.” The film draws viewers behind the scenes of the production and into Thomson’s mind as he struggles with his relationships and career.
1 Britannica Source
1. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Who is the main character in Birdman, and what is his role in the story?
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) centers on Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, an actor famous for portraying the superhero Birdman in blockbuster films. Now, he aims to gain respect 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 portrays the behind-the-scenes drama of the production and Thomson’s internal struggles. The Birdman character haunts Thomson, and it's unclear if Thomson's magical powers are real or delusions. He struggles with his girlfriend, Laura, the unstable Lesley, and the difficult actor Mike Shiner. His relationship with his daughter, Sam, is strained, and a critic threatens to give the play a bad review before seeing it. On opening night, Thomson replaces a prop gun with a real one, shooting off his nose and finally earning a positive review. The film's ending leaves it ambiguous whether Thomson jumps out of a hospital window to commit suicide or to fly away.
1 Britannica Source
1. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What makes the way Birdman is filmed different from most movies?
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) stands out due to its unique filming style. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu filmed it to appear as one continuous, seamless shot. This technique, combined with a percussion-heavy score by jazz drummer Antonio Sanchez, creates a sense of tension throughout the film.
1 Britannica Source
1. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What are some of the main themes explored in Birdman?
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) explores themes of identity, relevance, and the quest for artistic recognition. The film centers on Riggan Thomson, played by Michael Keaton, who seeks to revive his career by staging a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver’s short story.

Thomson grapples with his past as the superhero Birdman, a role that both defines and haunts him. The film delves into the behind-the-scenes chaos of the play's production and Thomson's internal struggles, blurring the lines between reality and delusion. He struggles to control his cast, connect with his daughter, and impress a theater critic, highlighting his desperation for respect and validation.
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2. Birdman of Alcatraz
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Which major awards did Birdman win, and why is it considered important in film history?
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu, won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography.

The film is considered important because of its technical achievement, appearing to be filmed in a single, seamless shot, and its exploration of themes like identity, ego, and the struggle for artistic relevance. The movie provides social commentary on the entertainment industry, fame, and the artist's struggle for respect, and is hailed by many critics as a masterpiece.
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1. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
2. Alejandro González Iñárritu
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Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), American satiric film, released in 2014, that won four Academy Awards, including that for best picture. A complex and quirky movie, it was hailed as a masterpiece by many critics, though some viewers found it pretentious and puzzling.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) centres on Riggan Thomson (played by Michael Keaton), an actor who is famous for having played the superhero Birdman in a series of blockbuster films and who is now trying to burnish his credentials 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 draws viewers behind the scenes of the fraught production and into Thomson’s mind. The character of Birdman taunts Thomson whenever he is alone, and Thomson exhibits magical powers under Birdman’s influence, but it is not obvious whether these are delusions. He is unable to control the play’s cast members—his girlfriend, Laura (Andrea Riseborough), the unstable Lesley (Naomi Watts), and especially the top-notch yet insufferable actor Mike Shiner (Edward Norton). He does not get along with his daughter, Sam (Emma Stone), who has recently completed a drug rehabilitation program. To make matters worse, the theatre critic Tabitha (Lindsay Duncan) promises to pan the production before she has seen it. Achieving respect on any level seems out of Thomson’s reach. On opening night, Thomson substitutes a real gun for a prop gun, and in the play’s climactic scene he shoots his nose off, prompting a rave review from Tabitha. In the final scene, set in the hospital, Thomson exits through the window—but whether as a suicide or in flight is left to the viewer to decide.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) was conceived of and cowritten by Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu and filmed in a way that made it appear to be a single seamless shot. That, together with the percussion-heavy score, written and played by jazz drummer Antonio Sanchez, served to convey a sense of almost unbearable tension. The movie’s mysterious subtitle is the headline of the review written by Tabitha. There were notable parallels between the lives of the characters and the actors portraying them. Keaton had played the superhero Batman in two movies directed by Tim Burton in the early 1990s (the same time period in which Thomson portrayed Birdman), and Norton had a reputation for being difficult to work with. The film debuted at the Venice International Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Golden Lion.

Empty movie theater and blank screen (theatre, motion pictures, cinema).

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Production notes and credits

Studios: New Regency Pictures, M Prods, Le Grisbi Productions, TSG Entertainment, and Worldview Entertainment
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Writers: Alejandro González Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo
Music: Antonio Sanchez
Cinematographer: Emmanuel Lubezki

Cast

Michael Keaton (Riggan Thomson)
Emma Stone (Sam)
Naomi Watts (Lesley)
Andrea Riseborough (Laura)
Edward Norton (Mike Shiner)
Lindsay Duncan (Tabitha)

Academy Award nominations (* denotes Win)

Picture*
Lead actor (Michael Keaton)
Supporting actor (Edward Norton)
Supporting actress (Emma Stone)
Cinematography*
Directing*
Sound editing
Sound mixing
Writing*

Patricia Bauer

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

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Production notes and credits

Cast

Academy Award nominations (* denotes Win)