One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

R

1975

2h 13m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

93%

Tomatometer

135 Reviews

96%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When Randle Patrick McMurphy 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 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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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Aug 3

5/5

[Ratched's] the one in a position of power, and she wields it to hurt, not to heal.

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Frank Rich

New York Post

Feb 25

While Milos Forman has made a frightfully mindless film, he's made it damn well -- cloaking Kesey's irresponsible pap in trappings of immediacy and legitimacy that aren't easily stripped away.

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Jack Kroll

Newsweek

Feb 25

Most of the characters are thinned out... But Forman directs his players superbly, and Louise Fletcher as the nurse turns impassive coolness into a destructive force.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 16

4/4

Equally superb as a comedy, a drama, and a social critique.

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Jeff Beck

The Blu Spot

Nov 11

3.5/5

Even after 50 years, Milos Forman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest remains an amusing & fascinating film, one that may be held back a little by its rather episodic nature, but which rises on the strength of its brilliant ensemble.

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Nov 11

... between Forman’s direction, Nicholson’s performance (as well as that of Will Sampson as “Chief”), and the script, one finds themselves emotionally drained, profoundly moved, and questioning what rehabilitation actually looks like.

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Jim Haegele

Aug 11

Spectacular acting by all the cast. Definately deservd al the nominations it received. My wife and my first time seeing it on the big screen. Absolutely worth it.

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Karen K

Aug 3

A great movie. Loved Jack Nicholson.

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Sandy

Jul 19

just an amazing and sad look into how mental institutions were run in many places. Great acting. many layers of society's dysfunction and realities. this book was even part of an English class I took in college back in the early 70's.

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Steven

Jul 18

Jack Nicolson at his best. Many other actors in early career roles. From back when movies were an artform.

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Google

Jul 17

Awesome to be able to see this again on the big screen.

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Teresa C

Jul 17

Powerful. Back when movies were made well.

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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 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 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: United Artists
Production Co: Fantasy Films
Rating: R
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 1975, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Jul 13, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Runtime: 2h 13m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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