Alonzo Brown, Brad Dourif, Christopher Lloyd

A new and rebellious patient is brought to a small mental institution where his antics endear the other patients to him and incur the wrath of the stern and repressive nurse who runs their ward.

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95% liked it

229,520 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

46 critics

R, 2 hrs. 14 min.

Directed by: Milos Forman

Release Date: November 19, 1975

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DVD Release Date: December 9, 1997

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Stats: 16,121 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (16,121)


  • September 18, 2009
    Everything in this film is perfect. The performances are brilliant and it?s got one of my favourite actors, Scatman Crothers in it! Classic!
  • March 25, 2009
    "What do you think you are, for Chrissake, crazy or somethin'? Well you're not! You're not! You're no crazier than the average asshole out walkin' around on the streets and that's it."

    Ranked 33 on AFI top 100, was as high as 20 in 1998.

    One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nes...( read more)t is about a con looking to escape jail time by getting himself checked into a mental hospital. His rebellious demeanor and crazy antics win over the respect and admiration of his fellow patients but stirs up the wrath of the oppressive nurse who runs the ward.

    Cuckoos Nest took home 5 Oscars in 1976 including Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. All absolutely deserving....

    None more so than Jack Nicholson for his portrayal as R.P. McMurphy. It was quite possibly his greatest role of all time, even better than his performance as The Joker.

    This film will make you laugh and smile, but yet it is also heart-wrenching and tragic. It's an eye-opening film into the inhumane treatment of those deemed "mentally ill." This film shows us that a lot of these people don't have "problems," they're just different from the norm and they have difficulty fitting in with the rest of society. That doesn't make them "ill" nor does it justify them being locked up in a ward being fed happy pills all day. Condemning people because they're different is the essence of fascism.

    One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a brilliant eye-opening masterpiece with some truly inspiring performances. Everyone should see this film...
  • February 7, 2009
    This is an old film but has certainly lasted the test of time and should be a must see for any new generation, i had the pleasure of watching this film at school as subject material. Jack Nicholson is a sane man brought into a mental institution for irratic behaviour, as his pass...( read more)es on he makes friends with many of the strange and colourful characters in the asylam, things start to take a turn for the worse as he is subjected to many of the shocks and tortures which are custom to many asylums of that time. An absolute masterpiece, with heart wrenching drama and lots of laughs
  • January 15, 2009
    "If he's crazy, what does that make you?"

    With an insane asylum standing in for everyday society, Milos Forman's 1975 film adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel is a comically sharp indictment of the Establishment urge to conform. Playing crazy to avoid prison work detail, mani...( read more)c free spirit Randle P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) is sent to the state mental hospital for evaluation. There he encounters a motley crew of mostly voluntary inmates, including cowed mama's boy Billy (Brad Dourif) and silent Native American Chief Bromden (Will Sampson), presided over by the icy Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher). Ratched and McMurphy recognize that each is the other's worst enemy: an authority figure who equates sanity with correct behavior, and a misfit who is charismatic enough to dismantle the system simply by living as he pleases. McMurphy proceeds to instigate group insurrections large and small, ranging from a restorative basketball game to an unfettered afternoon boat trip and a tragic after-hours party with hookers and booze. Nurse Ratched, however, has the machinery of power on her side to ensure that McMurphy will not defeat her. Still, McMurphy's message to live free or die is ultimately not lost on one inmate, revealing that escape is still possible even from the most oppressive conditions.

    Review
    What can I say that hasn't already been said? Jack Nicholson's performance is a searing tour de force that I consider to be the finest movie performance of all time. Every supporting role is superb, most notably Louise Fletcher and a small but solid performance from Brad Dourif.

    Milos Forman's direction has a sort of gritty, documentary-style texture to it that gives the film just that little extra effectiveness. The writing and dialog are perhaps the greatest in any film, with Nicholson delivering the film's most memorable lines (and there are many). Every single scene is incredible in its own right, from McMurphy's re-enactment of the World Series to a joy ride on a fishing boat. The final 30 minutes or so are absolutely staggering in their emotional intensity. If you have not yet seen this film, stop reading now and literally run to your local video store to rent it. It is the most powerful, emotional, and involving movie ever put on film. See it, for it is without exception the finest motion picture ever made.
  • January 6, 2009
    The pinnacle of Jack Nicholson's films, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is about work camp convict R.P. McMurphy (Nicholson) who ends up being evaluated for mental illness at an Oregon institution. The story follows how the individual personalities interact with each other. and t...( read more)he staff led by the understated bitchiness of Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher).

    The thing that makes Cuckoo's Nest stick out are the characters. You of course have Nicholson's McMurphy and Flecthers Nurse Ratched, but you also have the other patients. Danny DeVito's laidback childlike Martini and his polar opposite Cheswick (Sydney Lassick). Christopher Lloyd's neurotic Taber. And of course, Will Sampson as the "mute" Chief. It's all these characters thrown together in this situation that makes the film interesting. Everything is ritual. Until McMurphy arrives and the real drama begins.

    Milos Foreman brings the life on the mental ward to life. It's not all mad babbling and catatonics. Some people are there because they want to be with their little quirks and such. A comedy and a drama all wrapped up in one.

    Cuckoo's Nest is one of those lightening movies. Most of the cast were unknown at the time of the films release and they proved their talent in making one of THE great films. It's a movie you remember for its amazing characters and its great script adapted from Ken Kesey's novel. A real cinema gem.
  • November 20, 2009
    One of Jack's best movies!
  • November 16, 2009
    Excellent- of course psychology related movies are my very favorite, nevertheless, excellent cast and plot. Jack Nicholson played a deviant perfectly- as per usual.
  • November 15, 2009
    Extremely powerful performance by Jack Nicholson. Wonderful in many ways.
  • November 14, 2009
    This film portrays a never-before-seen side of a mental institution. It makes you feel sympathetic with this group of sensitive human beings who are imprisoned for the mere reason of not fitting into society. I have always been interested in psychology, having considered pursuing...( read more) a career in it, but also feeling a strong identification with the so-called mental patients at the same time. Whoever is completely sane, after all? Quite an extraordinary and epic film, with stellar performances by the leading actors, with of course Nicholson standing out.
  • November 12, 2009
    Movies on this sort of subject are very rarely good films. They usually focus on the patient's episodes themselves, viewing them as a sort of fairground attraction rather than actual people. In this film, however, the very fact that the main character is a normal, albeit extremel...( read more)y aggressive, man means that the focus of the film is immediately taken off the patients. And even though there are some great comedy moments (check the pure genius of the basketball game: absolute gold) the film portrays these patients as they actually would be to behold, really quite scary. The scariest thing is the unknown is so true in this film, with the fact that there is no rhyme or reason to the way the patients behave in some instances is really frightening. In there daily discussion groups there are many times when Jack Nicholson perfectly embodies what the audience is feeling; bewilderment, shock and fear.

    Speaking of Nicholson, he is absolutely brilliant. The Oscar he won was surely deserved. With that incredible script and the perfect character for him to play it was obvious that it was going to be a winning combination. The great thing about the film is the huge variety of charaters. Even without a great plot it would still be an above average movie, with characters like Mr Martini played by Danny DeVito or Mr Taber played by Christopher Lloyd. Nurse Ratched is scarier than the lot of them, however, with her icy calm and complete control over 18 grown men. The tagline says a lot about the actual message of the movie: "If he's crazy, what does that make you?" The fact is the McMurphy is no crazier than the rest of us, yet by the end of the film, it didn't make any difference. The hospital itself is more than just a mental institution, it is a metaphor for everyday life, that it is slowly driving us insane and that if we don't do anything about it, no matter how much we talk or mouth off, we'll end up just the same as McMurphy. Brilliant film.

    Defining Scene:
    "I want MY cigarettes!" A deep insight into the lives of some very messed up people and the revelation of just how crazy these men really are. This is closely follwed by the fishing adventure.

Critic Reviews


March 25, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest not a great film because it is manipulative, or is it great because it is so superbly manipulative? I can see it through either filter. full review

View more One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • MorpheusOne
    June 28, 2009
    A very good movie with superb acting but, I found the ending to be trite and pointless.
  • mariefiorantina2000
    June 4, 2009
    i absolutely lov this film, been a Nicholson film since I was 5. This film craked me up sooo funny, had it for my 16th birthday. However I do not like the ending wasnt fair, anyone agree?

    watch the shining if u havent seen that he is just as good in that also
  • leandrooutsider
    March 8, 2009
    Koufax... Koufax kicks. He delivers. It's up the middle! It's a base hit! Richardson is rounding first. He's going for second. The ball's into deep right center. Davis cuts the ball off! Here comes the throw. He throws it to second! He slides! He's in there! He's safe! It's a double.! Richardson's on second base! ...

    Koufax is in big fucking trouble! Big trouble, baby! All right. Tresh is the next batter. Tresh looks in. Koufax... Koufax gets a sign from Roseboro. He kicks once. He pumps. He fires. It's a strike! Koufax's curve ball is snapping off like a fucking firecracker! All right, here he comes with the next pitch. Tresh swings. It's a long fly ball to deep left center!
    It's going! It's gone! Let's hear it! One way!
  • TheMightyCelestial
    June 16, 2008
    I recently watched this movie again, & for me, this is about as good as it gets ( ...sorry). Randall McMurphy is a mischievious criminal who ends up becoming a leader of rebellion & eventually, a friend to Billy & the rest the Cuckoo's Nest. Jack's performance is not of a man overly or angelically transformed, but as someone who's ability to care is gradually bought up to the surface by the only type of people who could cause such a subtle & internal catalyst: a group of guys who are crazier than he is.

  • nicksic1
    April 2, 2008
    Even after reading the book i still have a great appreciation for this film. They were able to put the majority of information from the book into the movie without loosing it's esence. And no one could have done a better job at playing R. P. McMurphy than Jack Nicholson.
  • nmwrules
    January 24, 2008
    Not only do I love this movie, but I work on the set! Yes, its true - I work in the actual hospital where they filmed the Cuckoo's Nest - they are talking about tearing it down and building a new hospital, but for now its still standing!
  • crimsondiamond
    September 9, 2007
    Love this film so real and hard-hitting. Perfect casting too the whole film is absolutely faultless.. plus the chief is great!
  • VilaVila
    August 16, 2007
    Perfect, why should I say more?
  • phantom1106
    August 5, 2007
    i loved this, amazingly beautiful, i love jack nicholson so much. this movie and this role proves his talent further. mostly he's known for the shining, but here he is my favorite character. cheif is cool too.
  • bluespider83
    July 19, 2007
    if you call yourself a Jack Nicolson fan and havnt seen this one RUN!! and get a copy NOW

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One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest Trivia


  • In the film "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest", what was Chief's primary past-time?  Answer »
  • This film involves patients of a psychic ward. It won Best Picture. As well Director Milos Forman,Jack Nicholson and Louise Fletcher won Oscars. Name the movie.  Answer »
  • What 2 films swept the top 5 major oscars: best picture, director, actor, actress and screenplay?  Answer »
  • In 1975, this movie swept all major Academy Awards. Louise Fletcher was the dominating nurse in a mental institution. Christopher Lloyd, Danny Devito, and Will Sampson played supporting actors. Movie is_  Answer »

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