The Birds (1963): cast, story & where to watch
1963 · Film · ★ 7.5
Released in 1963, The Birds is a horror film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, running about 119 minutes. “...and remember, the next scream you hear may be your own!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Chic socialite Melanie Daniels enjoys a passing flirtation with an eligible attorney in a San Francisco pet shop and, on an impulse, follows him to his hometown bearing a gift of lovebirds. But upon her arrival, the bird population runs amok. Suddenly, the townsfolk face a massive avian onslaught, with the feathered fiends inexplicably attacking people all over Bodega Bay.
Who’s in it. The Birds stars Rod Taylor as Mitch Brenner, Jessica Tandy as Lydia Brenner, Suzanne Pleshette as Annie Hayworth and Tippi Hedren as Melanie Daniels, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.5/10, The Birds has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $11.5M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Birds page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Birds tend to enjoy Psycho, The Silence of the Lambs, The Shining and Alien.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Birds (1963)?
- In US, The Birds is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Birds worth watching?
- The Birds holds an audience score of 7.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy horror. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in The Birds?
- The Birds stars Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette, Tippi Hedren and Veronica Cartwright.
- When was The Birds released?
- The Birds was released in 1963, with a runtime of about 119 minutes.