One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

133 minutes ‧ R ‧ 1975
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Louise Fletcher, Michael Berryman
Director: Miloš Forman
Genres: Comedy, Drama

Directed by Miloš Forman and adapted from Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is one of the most enduring films in American cinema. Fifty years on, it holds up remarkably well — a credit to its direction, its performances, and the staying power of its themes.

The story follows Randle Patrick McMurphy, a convicted felon who fakes mental illness to be moved from a prison work farm to a psychiatric ward. What he finds there is a facility run by the composed and controlling Nurse Ratched. The film is, at its heart, a clash between institutional power and personal freedom.

Jack Nicholson plays McMurphy with raw energy and charm — it’s one of the best performances of his career. Opposite him, Louise Fletcher gives what may be the more demanding turn of the two. Her Nurse Ratched never raises her voice, yet she’s one of the most compelling villains in film history. The American Film Institute placed the character fifth on its list of greatest screen villains.

The supporting cast is strong throughout. Brad Dourif, in his film debut, gives a moving performance as Billy Bibbit, a vulnerable patient whose story becomes one of the film’s most affecting threads. Will Sampson, also making his acting debut, brings quiet strength to Chief Bromden — a character whose inner life gradually reveals itself over the course of the film. Early appearances from Christopher Lloyd and Danny DeVito round out a ward full of characters who feel real rather than symbolic.

Nathan George, Louise Fletcher, and Mimi Sarkisian / IMDb

The film was a major commercial and critical success. Made on a budget of around $4.4 million, it earned $163 million worldwide and was the second-highest-grossing film of 1975 in North America. At the 48th Academy Awards, it won all five major categories — Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay — only the second film ever to do so, after It Happened One Night (1934). It was also recognized by the Golden Globes, BAFTA, and in 1993 was inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a film that earns its reputation. The performances are outstanding, the direction is assured, and its themes of power and freedom still resonate today. It is, simply put, one of the finest films ever made — and essential viewing for anyone who loves cinema.