Netflix viewers are still emotional days after rewatching The Starling, the 2021 comedy-drama starring Melissa McCarthy that quietly became one of the platform’s most heartbreaking hidden gems.
The film follows Lilly (Melissa McCarthy) as she struggles to hold her life together after a devastating family tragedy while her husband Jack (Chris O’Dowd) is recovering in a mental health facility. What begins as a story about grief quickly turns into an intense and hilarious “war” with an aggressive starling bird that has taken over her garden.
With powerful support from Kevin Kline as her quirky therapist, the movie masterfully balances raw pain, dark humor, and hope in a way that feels incredibly real. McCarthy delivers one of her most vulnerable and layered performances yet, proving she’s far more than just a comedy queen.
Four years after its release, The Starling continues to spark conversations about mental health, loss, and healing. Many viewers admit they didn’t expect to cry so hard during what they thought was a light comedy.