The Thorn Birds
Seen it?1983 | 1 seasons | 121 min | Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It won 6 Emmys and it's still drawing plenty of interest, though it had a lukewarm 7.2 out of 10 from audiences and a small audience. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who loves a strong character drama.
- The mood
- Thoughtful and character-driven.
- The pace
- One season: easy to finish in a weekend or two, hour-long episodes, about 8 hours in all.
- What might put you off
- Rated TV-PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
Follows the Cleary family over several decades, focusing on the central, tragic romance between Meggie and Father Ralph, who is torn between his vows and his love for her.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesBelow par
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 6 Emmys: Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special, Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special, Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special, Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special and 2 more. Won 4 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, Golden Globe Awards: Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television. Also nominated for 6 more Emmys, 1 more Golden Globe and 1 DGA Award. Plus 4 other awards.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Limited series that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 168K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Created by Lee Stanley, Carmen Culver
- Richard ChamberlainRalph de Bricassart
- Rachel WardMeggie Cleary
- Christopher PlummerArchbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese
- Bryan BrownLuke O'Neill
- Brett CullenBob Cleary
- Stephanie FaracyJudy
- Barry CorbinPete
- John de LancieAlastair MacQueen
- Barbara StanwyckMary Carson
- Jean SimmonsFiona Fee Cleary