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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Watchlist

Watchlist

92%

140 Reviews

Tomatometer

96%

250,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

140 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.

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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Martin Knelman

Globe and Mail

Mar 5, 2026

As soon as he comes on the screen, Nicholson removes all doubts about the wisdom of his taking the part. This is a lovely, remarkably restrained performance.

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Will Jones

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Mar 5, 2026

What "Cuckoo's Nest" does for the Nicholson mystique is just shine it up brighter than ever. Because, even if familiar mannerisms now announce themselves, they've never been more gloriously used.

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Adam Kempenaar

Filmspotting

Aug 3, 2025

5/5

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

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Patrick Taggart

Austin American-Statesman

Mar 6, 2026

The rebellion of the late 60s wasn't all that wonderful, but it opened some minds and eyes, and the book, the play, and now this glorious film, lay it in our laps. It's a tribute to filmmaking at its finest.

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Frances Taylor

Newark Star-Ledger

Mar 5, 2026

For the last few months... There have been very few movies one could greet with joy. So it was especially fine to see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Jack Nicholson's virtuoso performance that can hold just about any audience.

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Ronald E. Butler

Tulsa World

Mar 5, 2026

How ironic that Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, a potent allegory about the individual battling a repressive "system," should fall victim to another repressive kind of system, the California hack movie factory.

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Han L

Mar 24, 2019

Of course for 1975 it is brilliant,it is 10 of 10 but for 2019 it is just really good-it is 8 of 10

George S

Mar 4, 2019

A truly unique film. And it's a very interesting all-time classic for sure. It has an unforgettable and outstanding performance by Jack Nicholson, which I think might just be the best of his whole career. This film mixes intensity, with a touch of humor, and also has heart to it. I can see some provoking themes of anti-conformitism, which was a good reflection on the different countercultures of the time. And it has a shocking ending. Overall, this masterpiece is really a great piece of cinema, and it's a must-see for anyone, at least once in their lifetime. Recommended!!

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George W

Feb 5, 2019

Another Milos Forman classic - featuring my favorite performance by Jack Nicholson.

Hagrid S

Feb 2, 2019

I love this movie so much. Jack Nicholson never disappoints

Albus W

Dec 21, 2018

The perfect use of many metaphors is unprecedented. Milos Forman interpretation/adaption of the novel shows that the movie can be better than the book, maybe by a lot.

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Hagrid W

Dec 10, 2018

Powered by excellent writing and a fantastic performance from Jack Nicholson, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is an incredibly enjoyable and emotional ride for audiences everywhere.

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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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