In an effort to be taken seriously, a washed up, ageing celeb—famous for portraying an iconic superhero—attempts to mount a Broadway play. But as he struggles with the production and the opening night approaches, he battles with his ego and his efforts to recover his family, his career, and himself.

Shot to look like it was filmed in one take à la Hitchcock’s Rope, Iñárritu’s Birdman is so much more than its stylistic pyrotechnics. This satirical look at artistic frustration and creativity in New York City also features a triumphant (and very meta) performance from Batman’s Michael Keaton.