Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Yash Wade Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

Gary The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

HotToastyRag In my house, The Thornbirds is a go-to classic. I don't know if it is in yours, but if it isn't, rent it during a long weekend and it soon will be.This sprawling epic takes place in Australia, focusing on one family's generational journey, the Clearys. Headed by Richard Kiley and Jean Simmons, the Clearys struggle with their sons and daughter as they run the family ranch with Barbara Stanwyck. As a little girl, the daughter Meggie develops a crush on Father Ralph, who is kind to her and her family. While the main storyline of the epic miniseries is the relationship between Father Ralph and Meggie when she grows up, there's so much more to this wonderful drama than a forbidden romance. Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward play the starcrossed lovers, and after watching The Thorn Birds, it'll be hard to see either of them in anything else. They are Meggie and Father Ralph.This was an enormously successful miniseries, and for good reason. With a huge cast, including Bryan Brown, Piper Laurie, Christopher Plummer, Ken Howard, Mare Winningham, and Earl Holliman, a memorable theme, and a story full of romance, heartbreaking family relationships, religious conflicts, and the drama of finding and forgiving yourself, it's no wonder it won four Golden Globes (with four additional nominations) and six Emmys (with ten additional nominations). I could praise each actor's individual performance, but this review would turn into an essay. But if you're a Jean Simmons fan, she gives the best performance of her career in this miniseries. And if you loved Barbara Stanwyck in her youth, you'll be very touched to see her still feisty at 76 years old, reaching out to the audience and reminding them that there's still a young woman inside of her. Christopher Plummer makes for a very believable Archbishop, and Bryan Brown was so charming, he married his costar Rachel Ward! The Thorn Birds gets its title from the legend of the particular bird. The birds pursue a beautiful rose, knowing there is a deadly thorn attached. They love the rose so much, they can't stand to be apart from it, and they end up impaled upon the thorn. Every character in this decades-long miniseries has a compelling love, one that isn't healthy and practically kills them just by loving it. The love can be a partner, a child, or even God. I won't spoil the plot, but it's a very emotional, tragic story. You'll fall in love, and you'll shake with sobs. If you don't go through an entire box of Kleenex, you need to take some time to find your heart. Then watch it again.

padraigjoseph1979 I have watched 'The Thorn Birds' several times and it is a well made show and deserves all the praise it has received. However I can't help wondering if there should be a remake like there was with 'Roots' made in Australia with Australian actors and with Australian accents. Just an idea. Well Australian actors are everywhere at the moment so a dramatization of one of their most popular novels wouldn't be that big. Look no disrespect to the original but I think an Aussie version of an Aussie novel which 'The Thorn Birds' happens to be. I think that Colleen McCullough never liked the mini series. Would she have liked it if it had been made in Australia with Australian actors. Who Knows?

gkeith_1 This is approximately my 202nd IMDb review since May, 2002:Dear Rachel Ward,You are loved and appreciated very much. I just saw your interview in "Pioneers of Television: Miniseries". I just loved, loved, loved your performance as "Meggie" in "The Thorn Birds". I feel now, and totally felt then, that you were the absolutely perfect embodiment of Meggie about whom I had read in the novel. Abysmal comments that were made by media reviewers and the author make me totally appalled. All these people were wrong. You were the best Meggie there could have been. You are whom I think of when I think about Meggie from the novel and TV miniseries. You did an excellent, wonderful job. I particularly loved how lovely you looked when you wore the "Ashes of Roses" dress. I also very much liked your scenes with Richard Chamberlain, plus also your scenes with Bryan Brown(e?), who of course became your loving husband in real life.Dear Richard Chamberlain:Happy Birthday!! I loved you very much as Father Ralph de Bricassart (sp.) in "The Thorn Birds". After viewing "Pioneers of Television: Miniseries", I was happy to have heard and seen your interview. I also "loved you very much" in "Shogun". I had previously read both novels before the TV productions. I liked you very, very much as Dr. Kildare. You looked good in those doctor whites. A scene from "Thorn Birds" with Ms. Stanwyck brought back the memory of when you disrobed on the porch after the rain.A current daytime drama is airing a type of "Thorn Birds" story, of a priest questioning his love for the church vs. his love for a woman. I am following this story, and thinking of all of you."The Thorn Birds": wonderful series. Followed generations of a family. Great drama. Happy and sad times. Perfect casting. Beautiful interiors and exteriors.15/10.

louedwards1984 This is a classic series that's worth a watch at least once a year; it starts off a bit slowly, but by the second episode you'll be glued to it. The lead characters are played well (if not a bit melodramatically in places) and the plot flows well and is perfectly tragic yet oddly enough, believable. However, though most of the actors (especially Jean Simmons as Fee Cleary) are good, Bryan Brown (who plays Luke O'Neill) is the sole Australian in the series, so you'll have a laugh when his broad accent emerges from the American dominated cast, most of whom didn't attempt an Australian accent at all. Overall though definitely worth a watch for those who have and haven't read the book.