The Birdcage

Armand Goldman runs a chic gay cabaret and shares a home with his partner Albert, a dazzling performer. When their son Val announces he plans to marry Barbara Keeley, the family faces a collision of worlds: a flashy romance colliding with conservative expectations. To win over Barbara's parents, Armand and Albert pretend to be a conventional couple with a quiet home and straight sensibilities. They invite the Keeleys to stay at their apartment, improvise a tasteful normal routine, and hide the truth behind a carefully cultivated facade. As the ruse unfolds, the household ignites with color, gossip, and misread signals, testing loyalty, love, and the limits of what a family can accept.

Directed by Mike Nichols, the movie is an American remake of La Cage aux Folles, the 1973 French hit created by Edouard Molinaro. Elaine May adapted the story for English language audiences with Francis Veber credited for the original concept, and the cast delivers breezy, precise timing.

It grossed about 185.3 million worldwide on a 31 million budget, making it a notable box office success and demonstrating that a sharp, inclusive comedy could attract a wide audience, debuting strong during the holiday season and continuing to perform well overseas.

Because it pairs flamboyance with mainstream values, The Birdcage helped normalize LGBTQ characters in big screen comedies. Robin Williams and Nathan Lane deliver high energy without caricature, while the film's mix of humor and heart spurred conversations about family, tolerance, and political pretensions. Its brisk tone helped gay stories flourish.

Critics praised the performances and Nichols's balance of wit and warmth. The film tackles identity, performance, and how lives collide with public faces, using farce to lampoon prejudice without becoming cruel. It presents a family as a counterweight to rigid social norms and keeps humor sharp while never losing heart.