10 Movies & Shows Like The Birdcage (1996)

Description: This cult classic shares with The Birdcage a celebration of sexual liberation and non-traditional gender expression. Both films feature flamboyant characters and musical numbers, though Rocky Horror leans more into science fiction and horror parody.

Fact: The film initially flopped but became a midnight movie phenomenon. Audience participation traditions include throwing rice during the wedding scene. It has the longest-running theatrical release in film history.

Description: La Cage aux Folles is the original French film that inspired The Birdcage. Both films share the same premise of a gay couple running a drag nightclub and the comedic chaos that ensues when they attempt to appear more 'traditional' for conservative in-laws. The themes of acceptance, family, and the performative nature of identity are central to both films.

Fact: La Cage aux Folles was a massive success in France and became the highest-grossing French film in the United States at the time. The film spawned a successful Broadway musical adaptation in 1983, which won multiple Tony Awards. The title refers to the name of the nightclub in the film, which translates to 'The Cage of Madwomen'.

Description: Like The Birdcage, Tootsie explores themes of identity and performance through the lens of gender disguise. Both films use comedy to examine societal expectations around gender, though Tootsie focuses more on heterosexual relationships.

Fact: Dustin Hoffman spent a year developing his female persona before filming. The film was originally conceived as a drama about an unemployed actor. It was the second highest-grossing film of 1982, behind E.T.

Description: This Blake Edwards musical comedy shares with The Birdcage themes of gender performance and sexual identity, wrapped in sophisticated humor. Both films feature characters pretending to be something they're not, leading to comedic situations and ultimately a message of acceptance.

Fact: Julie Andrews plays a woman pretending to be a man pretending to be a woman. The film is a remake of a 1933 German film. It was adapted into a Broadway musical in 1995, with Julie Andrews reprising her role.

Description: While more family-oriented than The Birdcage, Mrs. Doubtfire shares its premise of a man disguising himself to be near his family. Both films use drag as a comedic device while also exploring deeper themes of family, divorce, and personal transformation.

Fact: Robin Williams improvised many of his lines in character. The makeup process took about

Description: This Australian cult classic shares with The Birdcage a celebration of drag culture and the theme of self-discovery through performance. Both films feature extravagant costumes and musical numbers, while also dealing with the characters' personal relationships and societal acceptance.

Fact: The film's iconic bus, Priscilla, was actually a real bus purchased for the production. Hugo Weaving, known for his role as Agent Smith in The Matrix, plays one of the lead drag queens. The film won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design.

Description: Like The Birdcage, this film explores themes of drag performance and the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in conservative environments. Both films use humor and heart to address serious issues of acceptance and identity, featuring flamboyant characters who must navigate a world that doesn't always understand them.

Fact: The film features an all-star cast including Patrick Swayze, Wesley Snipes, and John Leguizamo in drag roles. The title refers to an autographed photo of Julie Newmar that the characters carry as a good luck charm. This was one of Patrick Swayze's first major roles after Dirty Dancing.

Description: While darker in tone than The Birdcage, Hedwig shares its exploration of gender identity and performance. Both works use music and humor to address serious themes of love, identity, and acceptance, featuring protagonists who challenge traditional gender norms.

Fact: The film is an adaptation of the off-Broadway rock musical of the same name. Writer/star John Cameron Mitchell based the character partly on a German army babysitter he had as a child. The 'angry inch' refers to the result of Hedwig's botched gender confirmation surgery.

Description: The musical Hairspray shares with The Birdcage a combination of social commentary and campy humor. Both films address issues of discrimination (racial in Hairspray, sexual in Birdcage) through vibrant musical numbers and colorful characters.

Fact: John Travolta plays Edna Turnblad in a fat suit and drag. The film is based on the Broadway musical, which was based on John Waters' 1988 film. Zac Efron's singing was digitally altered to sound more like 1960s pop.

Description: Kinky Boots shares with The Birdcage themes of acceptance and the breaking down of stereotypes, particularly around gender expression. Both films feature flamboyant characters who help more conservative individuals see beyond surface appearances, all wrapped in a comedic package with musical elements.

Fact: The film is based on a true story about a struggling shoe factory that reinvented itself by making boots for drag queens. It was later adapted into a Broadway musical with songs by Cyndi Lauper. The real-life factory that inspired the film is located in Northamptonshire, England.