Birdman, or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance, arrives on Prime Video on June 5, 2026. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the film follows a washed-up superhero actor attempting a career comeback by mounting a Broadway play, in a story that blends dark comedy, intimate drama, and a sharp satire of the entertainment world.
Birdman
Film | 2014
In theaters on January 25, 2015
Available on Prime Video on June 5, 2026
Comedy, drama | Runtime: 1h59
From Alejandro G. Iñárritu | Screenplay: Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Nicolás Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Armando Bo
Starring Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts
Original title: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Nationality: United States
Michael Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, once a global icon famed for donning a superhero called Birdman. With that glory now a thing of the past, he seeks artistic legitimacy by staging a Raymond Carver short story. As the premiere draws near, the project is strained by family tensions, actors’ egos, media scrutiny, and his own inner contradictions.
The film centers on the arc of its star, long tied to Batman in Tim Burton’s universe. That link between Michael Keaton and Riggan Thomson drives the story without turning it into a mere biographical parallel: Birdman is above all a meditation on fame, ego, the hunger for validation, and the fear of disappearing from the public eye.
Released in France on February 25, 2015, Birdman made a splash during awards season. The film bagged four Oscars in 2015, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. It also took home the César for Best Foreign Film in 2016.
Alejandro G. Iñárritu builds his film around the illusion of a single long take, with sweeping camera moves through the backstage of a Broadway theater. The St. James Theatre in New York sits at the heart of this setup, bringing cinema closer to the rhythm of a stage performance and tracking Riggan's arc even through his moments of crisis.
With Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts, Zach Galifianakis, Andrea Riseborough and Amy Ryan, Birdman speaks to fans of dramedies about Hollywood, films about theater, and stories where fame becomes a battleground for inner conflict.
Trailer for Birdman:
To go further, also check out our pick of Prime Video’s June 2026 new releases—the films and series to watch this month, our guide to new streaming releases across all platforms, and today’s pick What to watch today on streaming.
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