Birdman (film)

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), commonly referred to as Birdman, is a 2014 American black comedy-drama film co-written, produced, and directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. It stars Michael Keaton with a supporting cast of Zach Galifianakis, Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Amy Ryan, Emma Stone and Naomi Watts. The story follows Riggan Thomson (Keaton), a faded Hollywood actor famous for his role as superhero Birdman, as he struggles to mount a Broadway adaptation of a short story by Raymond Carver.

Most of Birdman appears filmed in a single shot, an idea the director had from the film's conception. Such a technique required an atypical production approach, with many elements of post-production requiring consideration before principal photography; the script took two years to write, the cast went through several weeks of meticulous rehearsals, and during shooting takes were cut for the slightest mishaps. The film was shot in New York City during the spring of 2013 with a budget of $16.5 million jointly financed by New Regency and Fox Searchlight Pictures. It premiered the following year in August where it opened the 71st Venice International Film Festival.

Birdman had a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 17, 2014, followed by a wide release on November 14. It has grossed more than $99 million worldwide. The film garnered wide acclaim from critics, with praise particularly directed to its direction, acting, and screenplay. Many publications ranked it the best film of 2014.

Birdman won multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Picture, along with Best Director for Iñárritu, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. It also received five additional nominations, tying it with The Grand Budapest Hotel for being the most nominated of that year's ceremony. It also won the Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture at the21st Screen Actors Guild Awards,^[4] as well as Best Screenplay and Best Actor at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards.