Directed by Cathy Yan and led by Margot Robbie, Birds of Prey is a 2020 American action-adventure that runs 105 minutes and blends its action with elements of drama and thriller. Its complete original title, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn), puts the character of Harley Quinn directly in the name of the film.
What is Birds of Prey about?
The film is built around Harley Quinn, the figure named in its extended title, and around the group identity announced by its shorter one. The word "emancipation" in the official title frames the story as one of a character setting out on her own terms, while the Birds of Prey name points to an ensemble of women whose paths come together over the course of the narrative. The story moves between action set pieces and confrontations, in keeping with the action, adventure and thriller labels the production carries, with a dramatic thread running beneath the spectacle.
About the cast
Margot Robbie heads the credits. She is joined by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Rosie Perez, who follow her at the top of the cast list. Ewan McGregor and Chris Messina appear next in the credits, which are completed by Ella Jay Basco and Ali Wong. Cathy Yan is the sole credited director
Context & significance
Birds of Prey is a United States production from 2020. It centres an ensemble of female characters and builds its identity around Harley Quinn rather than around a single traditional hero, a choice made plain by the way the original title is constructed. Genre-wise the film sits across four categories at once: action, adventure, drama and thriller, and its structure alternates physical set pieces with quieter character moments. At a little under two hours, it is a recent American feature suited to a fast-paced evening watch
Watching Birds of Prey on Ktime
Birds of Prey is available on K-Time with both Persian dubbing and Persian subtitles, so viewers can choose whichever way of watching suits them. Reading this page is free; streaming the film requires signing in to a K-Time account. K-Time is a Persian-focused streaming service built for the Iranian diaspora, with a Farsi interface throughout.