Screenplay data
Riggan Thomson, a washed-up actor known for playing Birdman, attempts to revive his career by staging a Broadway play, but the production is plagued by the erratic behavior of his replacement actor, Mike Shiner, and Riggan's own inner demons. His relationships with his daughter and ex-wife are strained as the play's opening approaches, and a powerful critic, Tabitha Dickinson, vows to destroy his career. In a desperate act for authenticity, Riggan shoots himself on stage during the play's climax, surviving the attempt and earning critical acclaim for his "super-realism." After hallucinating Birdman in his hospital room, Riggan climbs out a window and appears to fly away, leaving his daughter Sam to gaze skyward in wonder.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Fading star Riggan prepares his comeback on Broadway while battling self-doubt, critical reviews, and his own alter ego.
Open full beat sheetRiggan Thomson is listed as Lead Actor/Director. 55-year-old actor, former superhero star, struggling to mount a Broadway play. In the parsed data, Riggan Thomson is connected to 49 scenes, 85 dialogue lines, 86 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
49 scenes / 85 dialogue linesMike Shiner is listed as Actor. Method actor brought in to replace Ralph. In the parsed data, Mike Shiner is connected to 28 scenes, 69 dialogue lines, 70 text mentions, first appearing around scene 7.
28 scenes / 69 dialogue linesSam Thomson is listed as Assistant/Daughter. 21-year-old daughter of Riggan, recovering from rehab. In the parsed data, Sam Thomson is connected to 14 scenes, 59 dialogue lines, 59 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
14 scenes / 59 dialogue linesLesley is listed as Actress. 35-year-old actress in Riggan's play. In the parsed data, Lesley is connected to 14 scenes, 34 dialogue lines, 34 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
14 scenes / 34 dialogue linesLaura is listed as Actress. 35-year-old actress in Riggan's play, romantically involved with Riggan. In the parsed data, Laura is connected to 12 scenes, 25 dialogue lines, 25 text mentions, first appearing around scene 21.
12 scenes / 25 dialogue linesJake is listed as Producer/Lawyer. Riggan's producer and oldest friend. In the parsed data, Jake is connected to 10 scenes, 9 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 35.
10 scenes / 9 dialogue linesAnnie is listed as Stage Manager. Theater stage manager. In the parsed data, Annie is connected to 9 scenes, first appearing around scene 1.
9 scenes / 0 dialogue linesTabitha Dickinson is listed as Critic. Influential New York Times theater critic. In the parsed data, Tabitha Dickinson is connected to 4 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 18.
4 scenes / 6 dialogue linesSylvia is listed as Ex-wife. Riggan's ex-wife. In the parsed data, Sylvia is connected to 3 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 14.
3 scenes / 1 dialogue linesRalph is listed as Actor. Original actor in the play, injured by a falling light. In the parsed data, Ralph is connected to 2 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 3.
2 scenes / 1 dialogue linesLarry is listed as Costume Designer. Theater costume designer. In the parsed data, Larry is connected to 1 scene, first appearing around scene 11.
1 scenes / 0 dialogue linesRiggan meditates while levitating, receives a Skype call from his daughter Sam, and is interrupted by the stage manager.
Riggan Thomson, Sam Thomson, AnnieRiggan walks through the theater hallways to the stage, encountering a stage hand and his producer Jake.
Riggan Thomson, JakeDuring a rehearsal, a light falls and injures Ralph, causing chaos.
Riggan Thomson, Jake, Lesley, Laura, Ralph, AnnieRiggan and Jake discuss the accident and the need for a new actor.
Riggan Thomson, JakeRiggan deals with the aftermath of the accident and Laura's visit.
Riggan Thomson, Jake, LauraRiggan gives an interview to journalists.
Riggan Thomson, JakeLesley suggests Mike Shiner as a replacement actor.
Riggan Thomson, Jake, LesleyJake instructs Annie to prepare for a rehearsal.
Jake, AnnieRiggan meets Mike Shiner and they rehearse a scene.
Riggan Thomson, Sam Thomson, Mike ShinerMike and Sam walk to the costume department.
Sam Thomson, Mike ShinerMike gets fitted for a costume while naked.
Sam Thomson, Lesley, Mike Shiner, LarryRiggan joins the scene on stage, interrupting Mike's drinking and delivering a monologue about a car accident, leading to a confrontation.
Riggan Thomson, Lesley, Laura, Mike ShinerRiggan and Jake argue about Mike's behavior; Mike confronts Riggan in the hallway.
Riggan Thomson, Jake, Mike ShinerRiggan talks with his ex-wife Sylvia about his life, his daughter, and his past.
Riggan Thomson, SylviaRiggan walks through the hallway and learns about a sun bed delivery.
Riggan Thomson, AnnieRiggan and Mike walk toward a restaurant, debating their careers and reputations.
Riggan Thomson, Mike ShinerRiggan and Mike drink at the bar; they are interrupted by fans and discuss the critic Tabitha Dickinson.
Riggan Thomson, Mike Shiner, Tabitha DickinsonMike and Tabitha have a tense, flirtatious, and confrontational conversation about the play and their respective roles as artist and critic.
Mike Shiner, Tabitha Dickinson, Riggan ThomsonRiggan walks through the theater hallway toward the Green Room.
Riggan ThomsonRiggan confronts Sam about finding a joint in the Green Room, leading to a heated argument about his career and relevance.
Riggan Thomson, Sam ThomsonRiggan walks through the dark corridor toward the stage.
Riggan ThomsonDuring the play, Mike and Lesley have a sexual encounter in a prop bed while Laura performs on stage.
Laura, Mike Shiner, LesleyRiggan enters the scene as the character Ed, interrupting Mike and Lesley, and eventually shoots himself on stage.
Mike Shiner, Lesley, Riggan ThomsonRiggan exits the stage and is helped by Annie.
Riggan Thomson, Annie, LauraMike and Lesley argue backstage before taking their bows.
Mike Shiner, Lesley, Riggan Thomson, LauraLesley and Laura discuss Mike's behavior.
Lesley, LauraLesley and Laura share an intimate moment, interrupted by Mike.
Lesley, Laura, Riggan Thomson, Mike ShinerMike confronts Riggan about the prop gun.
Mike Shiner, Riggan ThomsonMike climbs the stairs to the roof.
Mike ShinerMike and Sam have a deep, flirtatious conversation about life and truth.
Mike Shiner, Sam ThomsonRiggan reads a negative review of his play in the New York Times.
Riggan Thomson, LauraRiggan confronts Mike about the interview.
Riggan Thomson, Mike ShinerRiggan continues to berate Mike, revealing a dark story about his father.
Riggan Thomson, Mike ShinerRiggan retreats to his dressing room in a rage, hallucinating conversations with Birdman while destroying his room.
Riggan ThomsonJake observes Riggan's erratic behavior and attempts to calm him down before the preview.
Riggan Thomson, JakeMike and Sam share a moment on the rooftop.
Sam Thomson, Mike ShinerSam leads Mike through the theater hallways.
Sam Thomson, Mike ShinerSam and Mike are in the grid above the stage while the play is performed below.
Riggan Thomson, Sam Thomson, Lesley, Laura, Mike ShinerRiggan gets locked out of the theater in his underwear.
Riggan ThomsonRiggan runs through the street in his underwear and is mobbed by fans.
Riggan ThomsonRiggan enters the lobby and encounters Ralph.
Riggan Thomson, RalphRiggan enters the auditorium during the play.
Riggan Thomson, Lesley, Mike Shiner, AnnieJake deals with the aftermath of the play.
JakeRiggan and Sam talk in the dressing room.
Riggan Thomson, Sam ThomsonRiggan walks through the hallway.
Riggan ThomsonRiggan walks through the hallway, hears Sam and Mike flirting, and receives a text from Jake with the viral video.
Riggan Thomson, Sam Thomson, Mike ShinerRiggan sits at a bar watching his viral video.
Riggan ThomsonRiggan drinks at a bar, confronts Tabitha Dickinson, and they exchange words about his play and her criticism.
Riggan Thomson, Annie, Tabitha DickinsonRiggan walks through the theater district, sits on a bench, and falls asleep.
Riggan ThomsonRiggan wakes up and hallucinates Birdman encouraging him to make a comeback.
Riggan ThomsonRiggan returns to the theater before the second act.
Riggan Thomson, AnnieRiggan and Sylvia talk in his dressing room before the second act.
Riggan Thomson, SylviaRiggan walks to the stage with the gun.
Riggan ThomsonRiggan prepares to go on stage.
Riggan Thomson, AnnieRiggan performs the final scene of his play and shoots himself.
Riggan Thomson, Lesley, Mike Shiner, Tabitha DickinsonSam visits Riggan in the hospital, brings flowers, and sets up his Twitter account while they share a tender moment.
Riggan Thomson, Sam Thomson, SylviaRiggan removes his bandages to reveal his reconstructed nose and hallucinates Birdman.
Riggan ThomsonRiggan climbs onto the window sill and disappears; Sam returns to find him gone and looks up at the sky.
Riggan Thomson, Sam ThomsonMeans something to who? You had a career before the third comic book movie, before people began to forget who was inside the bird costume. You're doing a play based on a book that was written 60 years ago, for a thousand rich, old white people whose only real concern is gonna be where they go to have their cake and coffee when it's over. Nobody gives a shit but you. And let's face it, Dad, it's not for the sake of art. It's because you just want to feel relevant again. Well, there's a whole world out there where people fight to be relevant every day. And you act like it doesn't even exist! Things are happening in a place that you willfully ignore, a place that has already forgotten you. I mean who are you? You hate bloggers. You make fun of twitter. You don't even have a Facebook page. You're the one who doesn't exist. You're doing this because you're scared to death, like the rest of us, that you don't matter. And you know what? You're right. You don't. It's not important. You're not important. Get used to it.
Because my father was. My father was a mean fucking drunk. Beat the shit out of us. But we were okay with the beatings. You know why? Because at least when he was beating us, he wasn't thinking about taking us out to his tool shed... That sonofabitch would smile and say, "Do you want to kneel down and unbuckle my belt? Or do you want me to take it off and use it?" I learned how to make myself numb. But my sister-- My little sister...
...Not because I didn't love Nick. And not because I didn't love the-- The idea of it. But because I just wasn't ready to love myself. There's a certain distance to it all now. A wistful distance. Underscored by a gentle breeze and the sound of the birds... laughing at the whimsy of it all.
Your gun is ridiculous. It looks like a plastic toy. And it still has the red plug in the barrel. You look like a seven year old when you're holding it. I'm not threatened by it at all. Have some self respect and get a new one. That was a fun crowd, huh?
Yes. And the French embassador is coming. And the prince of Saudi Arabia, with one of his wives. And... I wasn't going to tell you this, but-- Martin Scorsese. He's casting for his new film. But don't tell anyone, okay? This is between you and me.
In the days before Nick's depression really started to eat away at him, he had no idea I was pregnant. And I never intended on telling him. I guess we make choices in life, and we choose to live with them. Or not. I didn't want that baby...
I'm pathetic. You know, I've dreamt of being a Broadway actress since I was a little kid. And now I'm here. And I'm not a Broadway actress. I'm still just a little kid. And I keep waiting for someone to tell me I made it.
You said the first-- Fuck the Arts section. The first thing that came to mind? Right. Cause that's you. Mr. Natural. Mr. Fuck the scene, just stare at my massive hard-on. Because that's the truth of the moment.
SlugDB turns parsed screenplays into scene, character, dialogue, trivia, semantic search, Save the Cat, and API-ready analysis.
Use SlugDB when you need screenplay API data, movie dialogue search, character evidence, scene context, or MCP tools without building a scraper first.