Back to Explore
The Birthday Party poster

The Birthday Party

1968 · 2h 3m · Drama, Mystery, Thriller · United Kingdom · Rated PG-13 (US)

Based on Harold Pinter's enigmatic play about a boarder in a British seaside dwelling who is visited by two strangers. They torment him verbally, ask him idiotic unanswerable questions, force him to sit down and stand up, and give him a "party". Then, eventually, they take him away, a tongue-tied idiot. The trivial becomes the terrible, and with it a certain wonder, a certain pity.

Directed by
William Friedkin
Written by
Harold Pinter
Starring
Robert Shaw, Patrick Magee, Dandy Nichols, Sydney Tafler
Trailer
6.1Smart score

The TMDB rating, pulled toward the movie average (6.03) as if it had 82 extra average votes. Few votes means more pull.

TMDB6.5

22 TMDB votes · IMDb page

Trailer

Rate what worked

0 of 5 rated
Story
Writing
Acting
Pacing
Rewatch
Rate 10 titles to unlock picks matched to your taste0 / 10
Saved in this browser only.

Where to watch

Not available to stream, rent or buy in United States.

Streaming data by JustWatch, via TMDB. Links open the JustWatch listing for United States.

Style & content

absurdist
RatingPG-13 (US)

Keywords from TMDB.

Connected through the crew

The Exorcist1973 · Director William FriedkinThe French Connection1971 · Director William FriedkinKiller Joe2012 · Director William FriedkinThe Hunted2003 · Director William FriedkinTo Live and Die in L.A.1985 · Writer William Friedkin, Director William FriedkinRules of Engagement2000 · Director William FriedkinSorcerer1977 · Writer William Friedkin, Director William FriedkinCruising1980 · Director William Friedkin, Writer William FriedkinBug2007 · Director William FriedkinSleuth2007 · Writer Harold Pinter12 Angry Men1997 · Director William FriedkinThe Servant1963 · Writer Harold Pinter

Browse lists

Best Drama Movies of the 1960sBest Thriller Movies of the 1960sBest Mystery Movies of the 1960sBest Drama Movies of All TimeBest Thriller Movies of All TimeBest Mystery Movies of All Time