How to watch

Ugo Tognazzi and Michel Serrault star as Renato and Albin, a couple who run a drag nightclub in Saint-Tropez. When Renato's son announces his engagement to the daughter of an ultra-conservative politician, chaos ensues as the family tries to appear "respectable". The film became one of the most successful foreign-language releases in the United States, leading to two sequels and the 1996 American remake starring Robin Williams and Nathan Lane.

🕐 Release Order

Here's every film in the franchise in release order.

1. La Cage aux Folles (1978)
2. La Cage aux Folles II (1980)
3. La Cage aux Folles III: The Wedding (1985)
4. The Birdcage (1996)

The Birdcage is a remake rather than a sequel, so it sits outside the original trilogy's storyline.

📖 Story Chronology

The three French-Italian films follow Renato and Albin in order, while The Birdcage retells the first film's story in Miami's South Beach.

1. La Cage aux Folles (1978)
2. La Cage aux Folles II (1980)
3. La Cage aux Folles III: The Wedding (1985)
4. The Birdcage – American remake (1996)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Watch the original trilogy in release order to follow Renato and Albin's story, then enjoy The Birdcage as a fresh take on the same premise. If you've already seen The Birdcage, going back to the 1978 original is a treat; Serrault's performance is one of the great comic turns of European cinema.

🔗 Related Guides

• The Pink Panther Watch OrderGuide
• OSS 117 Watch OrderGuide
• Mamma Mia Watch OrderGuide

Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!