Best Movies like Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)

Synecdoche, New York explores the struggles of a theater director as he pours his personal crisis into an ambitious stage production, paralleling Birdman’s focus on an artist’s attempt to reinvent himself through staging a play. Both films center on creative self-doubt and the interplay between life and the performing arts.

A theater director struggles with his work, and the women in his life, as he attempts to create a life-size replica of New York inside a warehouse as part of his new play. Synecdoche, New York is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 4m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 7.5 by 1,637 people. The movie made an estimated total of $4,383,538 in the box office.

Black Swan delves into the psychological unraveling of a performer under immense pressure right before opening night, echoing Birdman’s examination of an artist’s fragile state of mind while preparing for a major stage production. Both films revolve around characters consumed by their demanding roles.

A committed dancer struggles to maintain her sanity after winning the lead role in a production of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake." Black Swan is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 48m runtime, released in 2010 with an average rating of 7.7 by 15,711 people. The movie made an estimated total of $329,398,046 in the box office.

All That Jazz follows a director and choreographer obsessed with mounting a stage musical, facing both personal and professional crises. Like Birdman, it charts the impact of creative ambition on personal relationships during the run-up to a theatrical premiere.

Joe Gideon is at the top of the heap, one of the most successful directors and choreographers in musical theater. But he can feel his world slowly collapsing around him - his obsession with work has almost destroyed his personal life, and only his bottles of pills keep him going. All That Jazz is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 3m runtime, released in 1979 with an average rating of 7.5 by 613 people. The movie made an estimated total of $37,823,676 in the box office.

The Wrestler centers on a former star seeking redemption and reconnecting with estranged loved ones when his glory days have faded, paralleling Birdman’s story of a washed-up figure seeking personal and career revival.

Aging wrestler Randy "The Ram" Robinson is long past his prime but still ready and rarin' to go on the pro-wrestling circuit. After a particularly brutal beating, however, Randy hangs up his tights, pursues a serious relationship with a long-in-the-tooth stripper, and tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. But he can't resist the lure of the ring and readies himself for a comeback. The Wrestler is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 49m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 7.5 by 4,082 people. The movie made an estimated total of $44,734,660 in the box office.

Adaptation. is about a screenwriter grappling with insecurity and identity while working on a major script, similar to Birdman’s introspective focus on a creative professional in crisis, blending reality and performance.

Charlie Kaufman is a confused L.A. screenwriter overwhelmed by feelings of inadequacy, sexual frustration, self-loathing, and by the screenwriting ambitions of his freeloading twin brother Donald. While struggling to adapt "The Orchid Thief," by Susan Orlean, Kaufman's life spins from pathetic to bizarre. The lives of Kaufman and Orlean's book become strangely intertwined as each one's search for passion collides with the other's. Adaptation. is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 55m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 7.3 by 2,820 people. The movie made an estimated total of $32,800,000 in the box office.

The Player offers a behind-the-scenes view of the film industry, examining the pressures, egos, and career anxieties faced by those seeking validation, much like Birdman’s examination of the theater world and personal reinvention.

A Hollywood studio executive is being sent death threats by a writer whose script he rejected - but which one? The Player is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 4m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 7.2 by 964 people. The movie made an estimated total of $21,706,101 in the box office.

Barton Fink follows a playwright struggling with writer’s block and personal turmoil in a claustrophobic setting, drawing clear connections to the anxiety and existential conflict found in Birdman’s depiction of theater work and personal breakdown.

A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood. Barton Fink is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 57m runtime, released in 1991 with an average rating of 7.5 by 1,909 people. The movie made an estimated total of $6,153,939 in the box office.

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind depicts a television host wrestling with his public persona and secret life, reflecting Birdman’s exploration of identity crisis and the complexities of fame within show business.

Television made him famous, but his biggest hits happened off screen. Television producer by day, CIA assassin by night, Chuck Barris was recruited by the CIA at the height of his TV career and trained to become a covert operative. Or so Barris said. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 2002 with an average rating of 6.7 by 1,286 people. The movie made an estimated total of $33,013,805 in the box office.

Stardust Memories portrays an artist reflecting on his past successes, personal problems, and the struggle for meaning, inviting comparison to Birdman’s examination of an actor confronting his legacy, ambitions, and relationships.

While attending a retrospect of his work, a filmmaker recalls his life and his loves: the inspirations for his films. Stardust Memories is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 29m runtime, released in 1980 with an average rating of 6.9 by 468 people. The movie made an estimated total of $10,389,003 in the box office.

Noises Off... is set entirely backstage and onstage during a disastrous stage production, capturing the chaos, tension, and comedic mishaps that accompany preparations for a live play, echoing Birdman’s focus on the tumultuous process behind mounting a Broadway show.

Hired to helm an Americanized take on a British play, director Lloyd Fellowes does his best to control an eccentric group of stage actors. With a star actress quickly passing her prime, a male lead with no confidence, and a bit actor that's rarely sober, chaos ensues in the lead up to a Broadway premiere. Noises Off... is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 1992 with an average rating of 7.2 by 222 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,280,148 in the box office.

Opening Night centers around actors coping with pressure and emotional turmoil on the eve of a new play, paralleling Birdman’s examination of the personal cost of creative ambition amid the high stakes of theater.

Actress Myrtle Gordon is a functioning alcoholic who is a few days from the opening night of her latest play, concerning a woman distraught about aging. One night a car kills one of Myrtle's fans who is chasing her limousine in an attempt to get the star's attention. Myrtle internalizes the accident and goes on a spiritual quest, but fails to finds the answers she is after. As opening night inches closer and closer, fragile Myrtle must find a way to make the show go on. Opening Night is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 24m runtime, released in 1977 with an average rating of 7.6 by 261 people.

Birds of Passage does not share direct narrative or thematic links to Birdman, as it focuses on different subject matter, lacking the show business or performing arts backdrop central to the comparison pool.

During the marijuana bonanza, a violent decade that saw the origins of drug trafficking in Colombia, Rapayet and his indigenous family get involved in a war to control the business that ends up destroying their lives and their culture. Birds of Passage is a movie from Colombia in Spanish, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.3 by 326 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,517,405 in the box office.

JCVD stars a fading celebrity playing himself, dealing with personal struggles and public perception, akin to Birdman’s narrative about a former star attempting to reclaim fame and forge new connections.

Between his tax problems and his legal battle with his wife for the custody of his daughter, these are hard times for the action movie star who finds that even Steven Seagal has pinched a role from him! This fictionalized version of Jean-Claude Van Damme returns to the country of his birth to seek the peace and tranquility he can no longer enjoy in the United States, but inadvertently gets involved in a bank robbery with hostages. JCVD is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 36m runtime, released in 2008 with an average rating of 6.6 by 576 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,342,211 in the box office.

A Star Is Born deals with a celebrated performer facing decline while mentoring a rising star, drawing parallels to Birdman’s themes of professional reinvention, the burdens of fame, and the search for meaning under intense public scrutiny.

Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers — and falls in love with — struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer — until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. A Star Is Born is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 16m runtime, released in 2018 with an average rating of 7.5 by 12,306 people. The movie made an estimated total of $436,388,866 in the box office.

Living in Oblivion exposes the behind-the-scenes chaos and egos on a low-budget film set, mirroring Birdman’s depiction of the unpredictable dynamics and insecurities inherent to producing a stage performance.

Low-budget independent filmmaker Nick Reve tries to keep everything together as his production is plagued with an insecure actress, a megalomaniac star, a pretentious beret-wearing director of photography, and lousy catering. Living in Oblivion is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 7.2 by 333 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,148,752 in the box office.

Marguerite centers on an aspiring artist struggling for artistic acceptance and battling personal delusion, themes that complement Birdman’s portrait of an actor seeking to reclaim his self-worth through a demanding theatrical undertaking.

Paris in the 1920s. Marguerite Dumont is a wealthy woman with a passion for music and the opera. For years, she has performed regularly for a circle of guests. But Marguerite sings tragically out of tune and no one has ever told her. Her husband and her close friends have always encouraged her in her illusions. Things become very complicated the day she gets it into her head to perform in front of a genuine public, at the Opera. Marguerite is a movie from France in French, with a total 2h 7m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.3 by 292 people. The movie made an estimated total of $497,323 in the box office.

Tootsie follows an actor whose attempt to revive his stalled career leads him to take audacious steps for a stage role, reflecting Birdman’s exploration of reinvention, performance anxiety, and personal development within the performing arts.

When struggling, out of work actor Michael Dorsey secretly adopts a female alter ego—Dorothy Michaels—in order to land a part in a daytime drama, he unwittingly becomes a feminist icon and ends up in a romantic pickle. Tootsie is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 56m runtime, released in 1982 with an average rating of 7.2 by 1,950 people. The movie made an estimated total of $177,200,000 in the box office.

Anomalisa is focused on the internal journey of a man in crisis, wrestling with isolation and self-perception, a perspective resonant with Birdman’s introspective, character-driven approach to midlife reevaluation.

An inspirational speaker becomes reinvigorated after meeting a lively woman who shakes up his mundane existence. Anomalisa is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 31m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 7.1 by 1,851 people. The movie made an estimated total of $5,700,000 in the box office.

Paris, Texas tells the story of a man struggling to rebuild relationships after a long absence, sharing Birdman’s themes of redemption, personal growth, and reconnection with loved ones.

A man wanders out of the desert not knowing who he is. His brother finds him, and helps to pull his memory back of the life he led before he walked out on his family and disappeared four years earlier. Paris, Texas is a movie from Germany in English, with a total 2h 25m runtime, released in 1984 with an average rating of 8.1 by 2,262 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,181,987 in the box office.

The Disaster Artist depicts the creation of an infamous stage-bound creative venture, highlighting the behind-the-scenes drama, ego, and aspiration that also shape Birdman’s look at the staging of a play and its impact on relationships.

An aspiring actor in Hollywood meets an enigmatic stranger by the name of Tommy Wiseau, the meeting leads the actor down a path nobody could have predicted; creating the worst movie ever made. The Disaster Artist is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 44m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 7.1 by 3,795 people. The movie made an estimated total of $29,820,616 in the box office.

Smoke is a character-driven tale about rebuilding fractured relationships and finding one’s place in the world, akin to Birdman’s exploration of camaraderie, personal healing, and the search for connection in adulthood.

Writer Paul Benjamin is nearly hit by a bus when he leaves Auggie Wren's smoke shop. Stranger Rashid Cole saves his life, and soon middle-aged Paul tells homeless Rashid that he wouldn't mind a short-term housemate. Still grieving over his wife's murder, Paul is moved by both Rashid's quest to reconnect with his father and Auggie's discovery that a woman who might be his daughter is about to give birth. Smoke is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 1995 with an average rating of 7.2 by 539 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,349,430 in the box office.

Being John Malkovich weaves surreal elements into the life of an actor questioning his identity, paralleling Birdman’s exploration of self-doubt and blurred reality within the professional world of performance.

One day at work, unsuccessful puppeteer Craig finds a portal into the head of actor John Malkovich. The portal soon becomes a passion for anybody who enters its mad and controlling world of overtaking another human body. Being John Malkovich is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 53m runtime, released in 1999 with an average rating of 7.4 by 4,864 people. The movie made an estimated total of $22,863,596 in the box office.

Dogville investigates the complexities of morality and individual transformation within an isolated, stage-like setting, aligning with Birdman’s focus on self-examination and the consequences of seeking personal redemption.

A woman on the run from the mob is reluctantly accepted in a small Colorado community in exchange for labor, but when a search visits the town, she learns that their support has a price. Dogville is a movie from Denmark in English, with a total 2h 58m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.8 by 2,728 people. The movie made an estimated total of $16,690,617 in the box office.

Youth explores aging and creative reflection among artists contemplating their legacies and relationships, echoing Birdman’s portrayal of a performer wrestling with the demands of art, fame, and personal connections as he ages.

Two lifelong friends bond whilst vacationing in a luxury Swiss Alps lodge as they ponder retirement. While Fred has no plans to resume his musical career despite the urging of his loving daughter Lena, Mick is intent on finishing the screenplay for what may be his last important film for his muse Brenda. And where will inspiration lead their younger friend Jimmy, an actor grasping to make sense of his next performance? Youth is a movie from Italy in Italian, with a total 2h 5m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.9 by 2,235 people. The movie made an estimated total of $2,000,000 in the box office.

The Great Beauty centers on an aging artist reflecting on his life, achievements, and relationships within a vibrant social world—mirroring Birdman’s themes of self-appraisal, the appetite for meaning, and navigating creative circles.

Jep Gambardella has seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades, but after his 65th birthday and a shock from the past, Jep looks past the nightclubs and parties to find a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty. The Great Beauty is a movie from Italy in Italian, with a total 2h 22m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.5 by 3,338 people. The movie made an estimated total of $24,930,592 in the box office.

The Square satirizes the art world’s pretensions and the public scrutiny artists face, which resonates with Birdman’s examination of the personal and professional repercussions of artistic risks in the public eye.

A prestigious Stockholm museum's chief art curator finds himself in times of both professional and personal crisis as he attempts to set up a controversial new exhibit. The Square is a movie from Sweden in Swedish, with a total 2h 31m runtime, released in 2017 with an average rating of 6.8 by 1,759 people. The movie made an estimated total of $9,494,535 in the box office.

Inside Llewyn Davis follows a struggling musician navigating failure and reconnecting with significant people, thematically linked to Birdman’s portrait of an artist’s quest for validation, artistic significance, and reparative relationships.

In Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, gifted but volatile folk musician Llewyn Davis struggles with money, relationships, and his uncertain future. Inside Llewyn Davis is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 45m runtime, released in 2013 with an average rating of 7.2 by 2,961 people. The movie made an estimated total of $32,935,319 in the box office.

Lost in Translation takes a contemplative look at self-discovery and existential doubt during a pivotal life period, themes which also define Birdman’s intimate story of a performer seeking purpose and belonging.

Two lost souls visiting Tokyo -- the young, neglected wife of a photographer and a washed-up movie star shooting a TV commercial -- find an odd solace and pensive freedom to be real in each other's company, away from their lives in America. Lost in Translation is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 7.4 by 8,210 people. The movie made an estimated total of $119,723,856 in the box office.

Hero focuses on the journey of reinvention after fame, capturing the challenges and inner turmoil of a former star seeking to reclaim his identity, similar to Birdman’s depiction of a faded celebrity’s comeback attempt.

Prosecutor Kohei Kuryu takes charge of a case with a foreign embassy possessing the key to solve the case. Due to the extraterritoriality involving the case, the investigation has not gone anywhere. A crisis then ensues. Kohei Kuryu and his office attempt to extract the truth behind the wall of the Neustrian Embassy. Hero is a movie from Japan in Japanese, with a total 2h 0m runtime, released in 2015 with an average rating of 6.1 by 36 people.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is led by a once-popular actor thrust into new circumstances and forced to confront personal shortcomings, paralleling Birdman’s narrative of a former icon seeking redemption through performance.

A petty thief posing as an actor is brought to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation along with his high school dream girl and a detective who's been training him for his upcoming role... Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 43m runtime, released in 2005 with an average rating of 7.2 by 3,061 people. The movie made an estimated total of $15,785,148 in the box office.

Caesar Must Die documents prisoners staging a classic play, exploring how performance enables transformation and self-examination—echoing Birdman’s emphasis on the power of theater to trigger internal change and emotional confrontation.

Inmates at a prison in Rome rehearse for a performance of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Caesar Must Die is a movie from Italy in Italian, with a total 1h 16m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 7.3 by 161 people. The movie made an estimated total of $52,632 in the box office.

Swimming Pool follows a writer facing creative and personal blockages while seeking inspiration, touching on elements of introspection, identity, and the creative process also present in Birdman.

A British crime novelist travels to her publisher's upmarket summer house in Southern France to seek solitude in order to work on her next book. However, the unexpected arrival of the publisher's daughter induces complications and a subsequent crime. Swimming Pool is a movie from United Kingdom in English, with a total 1h 42m runtime, released in 2003 with an average rating of 6.5 by 801 people. The movie made an estimated total of $22,441,323 in the box office.

Shakespeare in Love intertwines romance and the backstage pressures of mounting a play, mirroring Birdman’s exploration of the challenges, relationships, and ambitions involved in bringing live theater to life.

Young William Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, 'Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter', before it's even written. When lovely noblewoman Viola de Lesseps auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love — and Shakespeare's play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship intensifies, the comedy soon transforms into tragedy. Shakespeare in Love is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 4m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 6.8 by 3,251 people. The movie made an estimated total of $289,317,794 in the box office.

All About Eve focuses on backstage rivalries, career ambition, and the emotional toll of fame in the theatrical world, echoing many of the same backstage and performance-driven conflicts as Birdman.

From the moment she glimpses her idol at the stage door, Eve Harrington is determined to take the reins of power away from the great actress Margo Channing. Eve maneuvers her way into Margo's Broadway role, becomes a sensation and even causes turmoil in the lives of Margo's director boyfriend, her playwright and his wife. Only the cynical drama critic sees through Eve, admiring her audacity and perfect pattern of deceit. All About Eve is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 2h 19m runtime, released in 1950 with an average rating of 8.1 by 1,727 people. The movie made an estimated total of $8,402,553 in the box office.

My Dinner with Andre thrives on character-driven conversation as two men discuss meaning and self-awareness, in line with Birdman’s contemplative approach to ambition, purpose, and personal relationships.

Two old friends meet for dinner; as one tells anecdotes detailing his experiences, the other notices their differing worldviews. My Dinner with Andre is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 52m runtime, released in 1981 with an average rating of 7.5 by 468 people. The movie made an estimated total of $5,250,000 in the box office.

The Man Who Laughs is absent of shared subject matter or thematic overlap with Birdman given the lack of available details, so its inclusion is limited by insufficient supplied context.

During a winter storm, Ursus offers shelter to two orphans, Gwynplaine and Déa; some years later, they are still living together. Gwynplaine has become a famous star, but his success threatens his relationships with Déa and Ursus. The Man Who Laughs is a movie from France in French, with a total 1h 33m runtime, released in 2012 with an average rating of 6.1 by 88 people.

Father, Son & Holy Cow does not share substantive setting or conflict with Birdman as supplied; the films differ in subject.

Bogdan, an internationally acclaimed concert pianist, retires from the stage when his wife Iza dies, and he seeks solace on his mother's little farm. The little village on the Baltic coast is where he and his wife had sworn to love each other for all eternity when they were still children. Now that everything has changed, Bogdan succumbs to fate and begins to drink heavily. Thankfully his resolute mother has a formula to free the despairing Bogdan from his state of lethargy: renovating the run-down farmhouse and hard work in the stables. One day Bogdan makes a fateful discovery. A surprisingly musical cow, of all things, rekindles Bogdan's life spirits and gives him a crazy idea. His friends and family throw their hands up in horror, and when he tops things by organizing a village feast, things run completely out of control. Father, Son & Holy Cow is a movie from Poland in Polish, with a total 1h 30m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 5.3 by 3 people. The movie made an estimated total of $51,110 in the box office.

Carnage centers its entire conflict in a single location, using dialogue-driven scenes to peel back characters’ facades and insecurities, stylistically akin to Birdman’s contained theatrical setting and focus on personal tension within close quarters.

Two pairs of parents hold a cordial meeting after their sons are involved in a fight, though as their time together progresses, increasingly childish behavior throws the discussion into chaos. Carnage is a movie from Germany in English, with a total 1h 20m runtime, released in 2011 with an average rating of 7.2 by 3,183 people. The movie made an estimated total of $30,722,632 in the box office.

High Art examines characters dealing with stalled careers, relationship struggles, and the search for creative revival, paralleling the emotional and artistic crossroads faced by the protagonist in Birdman.

When Syd, a young editor at an influential art magazine, becomes involved with her neighbor, a drug-addicted lesbian photographer, both seek to exploit each other for their respective careers while slowly falling in love with each other. High Art is a movie from United States of America in English, with a total 1h 41m runtime, released in 1998 with an average rating of 6.2 by 150 people. The movie made an estimated total of $1,929,168 in the box office.