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Bye Bye Birdie

Play trailer Poster for Bye Bye Birdie G 1963 1h 52m Musical Comedy Music Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
87% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 66% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When the draft selects rock star Conrad Birdie, his fans are devastated, but none more than struggling songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke), whose song Birdie was just about to record. Albert's longtime girlfriend, Rosie (Janet Leigh), pushes Albert to write a new tune that Birdie will perform on television to a fan selected in a contest. The scheme works, with young Ohio teenager Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) declared the winner, but no one has counted on the jealous wrath of her boyfriend.
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Bye Bye Birdie

Bye Bye Birdie

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Critics Consensus

A poppy satire on pop music, Bye Bye Birdie is silly, light, and very, very pink.

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Critics Reviews

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Kim Newman Empire Magazine Aug 1, 2015
4/5
Underrated satirical musical that has contributed more to popular culture than many people are aware of. Go to Full Review TIME Magazine Aug 1, 2015
[Bye Bye Birdie] had an apple-cheekiness about it on the stage that seems slightly worm-eaten on film, and the result is more goof than spoof. Go to Full Review Keith Uhlich Time Out Nov 17, 2011
3/5
Why watch George Sidney's adaptation of the popular stage musical when you can slap yourself upside the head with a soggy, hot-pink slab of beef? Go to Full Review Danielle Solzman Solzy at the Movies Dec 12, 2025
4/5
Casting issues aside, Bye Bye Birdie genuinely captures the era and remains a lot of fun to watch. Go to Full Review Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) Apr 26, 2023
the whole long section with Albert creating a speed drug is so strange Go to Full Review Josh Larsen LarsenOnFilm Feb 16, 2019
2/4
Ann-Margret makes one thing clear every second she's on screen in Bye Bye Birdie: no matter how hokey, forcibly madcap, or just plain dumb the material gets, she's coming out of this thing a star. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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L S @lensign9 Apr 29, 2026 A bit too silly for me. Really the only too that could sing were Ann-Margaret and Bobby Rydell See more john r @RT63308967 Dec 2, 2025 This clumsily made musical is best remembered for the electric way Ann Margret burst on the national scene. A force of nature, she dominates every scene she is in. See more rex w @RT11010153 Nov 17, 2025 Ann-Margaret is smoking hot in this. See more Leslie T @RT22706110 Aug 15, 2025 Quite a bit better than I would have imagined. The " Kids!!" tune will always be one of my favorite items and is the only item w Paul Lynde that Ive ever enjoyed. Ann Margaret is a much better dancer than I would have imagined, also See more alan g @agenser Mar 26, 2024 Great musical. Best of the bunch. Much better than the remake See more Keith N @RT59532033 Dec 31, 2023 Watched this only because our school is doing a play, and I'm glad I watched it because it's a classic See more Read all reviews
Bye Bye Birdie

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Cast & Crew

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George Sidney

Director

Dick Van Dyke

Albert Peterson

Janet Leigh

Rosie DeLeon

Ann-Margret

Kim McAfee

Maureen Stapleton

Mama Peterson

Bobby Rydell

Hugo Peabody

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Bye Bye Birdie

Bye Bye Birdie (1963) Bye Bye Birdie (1963) Bye Bye Birdie (1963) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When the draft selects rock star Conrad Birdie, his fans are devastated, but none more than struggling songwriter Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke), whose song Birdie was just about to record. Albert's longtime girlfriend, Rosie (Janet Leigh), pushes Albert to write a new tune that Birdie will perform on television to a fan selected in a contest. The scheme works, with young Ohio teenager Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) declared the winner, but no one has counted on the jealous wrath of her boyfriend.
Director
George Sidney
Producer
Fred Kohlmar
Screenwriter
Irving Brecher
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
G
Genre
Musical, Comedy, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 4, 1963, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Stereo
Aspect Ratio
35mm, Scope (2.35:1)
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