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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Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

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

Full Review

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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bob c

Jack nails it and the nasty nurse is really nasty. A sort of post-modern Foucault critique of institutionalised power before it became commonplace. But greatly entertaining for all that. Plenty of later famous actors playing supporting roles.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/25

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William B

A wonderful classic. Recommended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/18/25

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Abdirahman B

Although the storyline itself is not particularly outstanding, the way it is executed makes it remarkably engaging and compelling to the audience.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/25

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Mia S

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a powerful blend of strong performances, thoughtful direction, and evocative design. The clash between McMurphy’s rebellious charm and Nurse Ratched’s icy control is captivating, making the audience question sanity, individuality, and power. The cast excels, with McMurphy’s humor and vulnerability shining against Ratched’s chilling restraint. Chief Bromden’s emotional journey and the oppressive yet vivid staging bring the story’s themes to life. The electroshock therapy scene, with its jarring sound design, was unforgettable. Balancing moments of humor and heartbreak, this play delivers a compelling and thought-provoking experience that’s a must-see for fans of the story.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/22/25

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Audience Member

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest is the movie that leaves viewer with absolutly reconstructed view of happiness, the final conclusion that throught the watch couldn't be quesitoned by my even one time. I personaly find this movie as the most perfect of all stor's, wich I want to belive, is coused by feeling that this story was just real for every single person expeiriencing it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/25

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Aaron M

One of the best movies ever made, from story, to character development, it is a darn near flawless movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/19/24

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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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