TV series
The Thorn Birds
1983, English, on ABC. Created by Lee Stanley & Carmen Culver.
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.
- Seasons
- 1
- Episodes
- 4
- Episode length
- 121 min
- Status
- Ended in 1983
Worth the Hype
Clear your evening for this.
7.2/10 from 137 TMDB viewer ratings.
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Where to watch The Thorn Birds
The Thorn Birds isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can buy it online.
Amazon Video
Google Play Movies
Fandango At HomeAvailability in India as of 9 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Latest episode
S1 E4: Part 4
Aired 30 March 1983
Seasons 1
Cast & crew
- Lee StanleyCreator
- Carmen CulverCreator
- Richard ChamberlainRalph de Bricassart · 4 ep
- Rachel WardMeggie Cleary · 4 ep
- Christopher PlummerArchbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese · 4 ep
- Bryan BrownLuke O'Neill · 4 ep
- Brett CullenBob Cleary · 4 ep
- Stephanie FaracyJudy · 4 ep
- Barry CorbinPete · 4 ep
- John de LancieAlastair MacQueen · 4 ep
- Barbara StanwyckMary Carson · 4 ep
- Jean SimmonsFiona Fee Cleary · 4 ep
- Richard KileyPaddy Cleary · 4 ep
- Piper LaurieAnne Mueller · 4 ep
Details
- First aired
- 27 March 1983
- Last aired
- 30 March 1983
- Network
- ABC
- Language
- English
- Country
- United States
- Type
- Miniseries
- Rated
- TV-PG
Check ratings elsewhere
News & fan talk
What The Thorn Birds is based on
The Thorn Birds is based on The Thorn Birds, a 1977 novel by Colleen McCullough.
Novel · 1977
The Thorn Birds
By Colleen McCullough
Source details from Wikidata and TMDB.
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The Thorn Birds: quick answers
Is The Thorn Birds worth watching?
Our verdict is Worth the Hype: Clear your evening for this. It scores 7.2/10 from 137 TMDB viewer ratings.
How many seasons of The Thorn Birds are there?
The Thorn Birds has 1 season and 4 episodes, about 121 minutes each.
Is The Thorn Birds finished?
Yes. The Thorn Birds ended in 1983, so you can watch the whole story.
Which OTT platform is The Thorn Birds on?
The Thorn Birds isn’t on a subscription OTT platform in India, but you can buy it online. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
The Thorn Birds parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
The Thorn Birds is rated TV-PG. That rating means it is generally fine for children.
What shows are like The Thorn Birds?
If you liked The Thorn Birds, try Flowers in the Attic: The Origin, Brothers and Sisters, Parenthood.
Who created The Thorn Birds?
The Thorn Birds was created by Lee Stanley and Carmen Culver and stars Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Christopher Plummer.
What is The Thorn Birds based on?
The Thorn Birds is based on The Thorn Birds, a 1977 novel by Colleen McCullough.