One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

R

Released Nov 19, 1975

2h 13m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

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120 Reviews

96%

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250,000+ Ratings

When Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) gets transferred for evaluation from a prison farm to a mental institution, he assumes it will be a less restrictive environment. But the martinet Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) runs the psychiatric ward with an iron fist, keeping her patients cowed through abuse, medication and sessions of electroconvulsive therapy. The battle of wills between the rebellious McMurphy and the inflexible Ratched soon affects all the ward's patients.

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Critics Consensus

Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher are worthy adversaries in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, with Miloš Forman's more grounded and morally ambiguous approach to Ken Kesey's surrealistic novel yielding a film of outsized power.

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Alexander Walker

London Evening Standard

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a film I admire as much as I mistrust. And I mistrust it very much indeed.

Mar 8, 2022

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Derek Malcolm

Guardian

When it matters the strength is there, together with the feeling that our judgment of who is mad and who is sane, is at best faulty and uncertain and at worst downright disastrous.

Mar 8, 2022

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John Cashman

Newsday

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest ultimately fails as black humor because it is too real for anyone who wants to think about it not to realize what is causing the laughter. Sick persons are not funny. And McMurphy may be the sickest of them all.

Mar 7, 2022

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Martin Carr

CBR

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest can be compared to All the President's Men or the conspiracy film Capricorn One in how it challenges the system. Low-key and understated, this film is powerful in ways that cut to the core of the human condition.

Rated: 10/10

Sep 28, 2024

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

A rare screen adaptation of a beloved novel that maintains the emotional and dramatic power of the original while establishing its own distinctive approach to the story...

Aug 19, 2023

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Mark Johnson

Awards Daily

Adapted from Ken Kesey’s novel of the same name, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is an electrifying observation of the need for reform in our mental institutions.

Jun 8, 2023

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Jordy M

Wow, I didn't expect this at all. I was pleasantly surprised by the great talent of the entire cast in this production, especially each of the patients, though I must highlight Danny DeVito, who was so young at the time that I almost didn't recognize him. Not only that, but the plot kept surprising me constantly, as I didn’t anticipate anything that happened—I had something more like Patch Adams in mind; because of that, I didn't see that ending coming. However, the most valuable aspect of it is that it made me question many things, from electroconvulsive therapy to frontal lobotomy, which I researched and found as fascinating as it is disturbing. Additionally, I liked the dialogue, the development of each character, the cinematography, and even the background melody. In short, a cinematic masterpiece and one of the few gems that transcend time.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/18/24

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Audience Member

It warms my heart that the critics that actually reviewed this movie are fucking dead. This movie was really, really bad. It was excruciating to watch. Hearing Jack Nicholson talk about 15 year old pussy make me want to fucking barf. More proof that movie critics are fucking idiots. I can't believe some of these jerkoffs get paid.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

10/13/24

Full Review

julie b

At times endearing, at times disturbing, underpinned by great characters and the simultaneously eerie and childlike score. Danny as Martini is perfect - he does so much while saying so little - the joy on his face when he steals the cigarette is everything, Jack Nicholson is effortlessly convincing and still charming even as a criminal, and Brad Dourif’s Billy is heartbreaking. It’s solid but not mind blowing, has some things that have not aged well, but bonus points for a strong finish!!!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/23/24

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Daddy T

A truly great movie that everyone should watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/26/24

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KB B

This was such an awesome movie with great acting and storyline. It's in my top 5 all time favorite movies. It's definitely worth the watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/25/24

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Howard H

Excitable, enjoyable film. Characters are loveable throughout.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/15/24

Full Review

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Milos Forman

Director

Jack Nicholson

Randle Patrick McMurphy

Louise Fletcher

Nurse Mildred Ratched

Brad Dourif

Billy Bibbit

William Redfield

Harding

Michael Berryman

Ellis, tall bald patient

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Synopsis

When Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) gets transferred for evaluation from a prison farm to a mental institution, he assumes it will be a less restrictive environment. But the martinet Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) runs the psychiatric ward with an iron fist, keeping her patients cowed through abuse, medication and sessions of electroconvulsive therapy. The battle of wills between the rebellious McMurphy and the inflexible Ratched soon affects all the ward's patients.

Director: Milos Forman
Producer: Michael Douglas, Saul Zaentz
Screenwriter: Lawrence Hauben, Bo Goldman
Distributor: Pioneer Entertainment, Warner Home Vídeo, Republic Pictures, United Artists
Production Co: Fantasy Films
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 1975, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 2h 13m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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