Network

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Network

R,

1976,

2h 1m,

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

90%

89 Reviews

Tomatometer

93%

25,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

89 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

In this lauded satire, veteran news anchorman Howard Beale (Peter Finch) discovers that he's being put out to pasture, and he's none too happy about it. After threatening to shoot himself on live television, instead he launches into an angry televised rant, which turns out to be a huge ratings boost for the UBS network. This stunt allows ambitious producer Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) to develop even more outrageous programming, a concept that she takes to unsettling extremes.

Critics Consensus

Driven by populist fury and elevated by strong direction, powerful acting, and an intelligent script, Network's searing satire of ratings-driven news remains sadly relevant more than four decades later.

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Derek Smith

Slant Magazine

Feb 13, 2026

Half a century later, Sidney Lumet’s Network remains a darkly humorous and relevant treatise on capitalism’s erosion of morality.

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David Thomson

Sight & Sound

Dec 22, 2025

The film is as vicious and feeble as a wasp trapped in the jam it craves, and if Network is essential viewing it is because of this chronic confusion.

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John Hindle

The Age (Australia)

Sep 27, 2025

Network is good, strong stuff. Fine performances enhance a meaningful script.

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Joshua Tyler

Giant Freakin Robot

Jun 23, 2026

Whether Network meant to or not, it prepared audiences for a new kind of journalism. One where the anchor isn’t pretending to be neutral anymore. One where outrage replaces reporting.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 31, 2026

3.5/4

One generation’s satire is another’s reality, meaning that the outrageous antics on view in Network would hardly be out of place in a TV landscape that in the modern era has housed Bill Reilly, Howard Stern, and Fear Factor.

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Michael Clark

Epoch Times

Mar 26, 2026

5/5

Presenting this kind of absurdity with even a whiff of knowing, tongue-in-cheek self-awareness would have neutered its desired sting, so it’s all played with straight faces for the duration.

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Anakin M

Apr 15, 2019

"She learned life from Bugs Bunny": and now, after more than forty years, we all learned life from that or other bunnies. And now after more than forty years, "Network" has never been more timely. Funny and brilliant: recommended.

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Theodore G

Mar 31, 2019

With a great cast and smartly written, thought provoking script, Network still proves to be very just as relevant today. Im not sure I really bought the ending but maybe thats just me.

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Theodore W

Mar 4, 2019

It's hard to take this as satire, when the utterly fantastical and preposterous plotline plays it straight, without a hint of subtlety. Poorly conceived and executed, and beyond ridiculous. An embarrassment to the film industry. Again, one of those movies that make you feel worse having watched it.

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Abraham P

Feb 5, 2019

Classic Sidney Lumet film featuring a knock-out performance by Faye Dunaway. Peter Finch & Robert Duvall are outstanding as well. The satirical message of the clever script by Paddy Chayefsy feels timely and relevant today.

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Hermione S

Jan 21, 2019

A prophetic masterpiece. Appropriately Oscar laden. Could never get away with this now.

Finn S

Nov 26, 2018

" I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore" these are the words uttered by Howard Beale in Network. A saitire of the television industry that is masterly writen, well.acted and bolstered by Sidney lumets sure handed direction.

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Sidney Lumet

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Faye Dunaway

Diana Christensen

Peter Finch

Howard Beale

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Frank Hackett

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Synopsis

In this lauded satire, veteran news anchorman Howard Beale (Peter Finch) discovers that he's being put out to pasture, and he's none too happy about it. After threatening to shoot himself on live television, instead he launches into an angry televised rant, which turns out to be a huge ratings boost for the UBS network. This stunt allows ambitious producer Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway) to develop even more outrageous programming, a concept that she takes to unsettling extremes.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Howard Gottfried
Screenwriter: Paddy Chayefsky
Distributor: United Artists, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: United Artists, Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 27, 1976, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2008
Runtime: 2h 1m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

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