One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
A rebellious convict is sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation in 1963 Oregon, and encourages his docile companions to take more control of their lives and defy the tyrannical head nurse.
Directed by Miloš Forman · Drama · 133 min · 1975
Trailer
Director
Miloš Forman
Studio
Fantasy Films
Release
21 Nov 1975
Runtime
133 min
Genres
Drama
Full Plot
McMurphy has a criminal past and has once again gotten himself into trouble and is sentenced by the court. To escape labor duties in prison, McMurphy pleads insanity and is sent to a ward for the mentally unstable. Once here, McMurphy both endures and stands witness to the abuse and degradation of the oppressive Nurse Ratched, who gains superiority and power through the flaws of the other inmates. McMurphy and the other inmates band together to make a rebellious stance against the atrocious Nurse.
Cast & Characters
Randle Patrick "R.P." McMurphy
Jack Nicholson
Nurse Mildred Ratched
Louise Fletcher
Ellis
Michael Berryman
"Chief" Bromden
Will Sampson
Dale Harding
William Redfield
Billy Bibbit
Brad Dourif
Charlie Cheswick
Sydney Lassick
Max Taber
Christopher Lloyd
Martini
Danny DeVito
Dr. John Spivey
Dean Brooks
Jim Sefelt
William Duell
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $3.0M, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has grossed $109.0M worldwide — about 36.3x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Jack Nicholson appears in 4 films in our catalog, including The Shining, The Departed.
Source: theIReview.com catalog · verified 2026-08-02
Critics praised the film, sometimes with reservations.
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-03
Critical Assessment
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest holds 8.6/10 on IMDb (1,155,304 votes), 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84/100 on Metacritic.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of July 30, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
India
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.6/10 on IMDb (1,155,304 votes), 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84/100 on Metacritic), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest holds a 92% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest's IMDb rating?+
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has a 8.6/10 rating on IMDb from 1,155,304 votes.
What is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest's Metacritic score?+
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has a Metascore of 84/100 on Metacritic.
Is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest good? What are critics saying?+
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest holds 8.6/10 on IMDb (1,155,304 votes), 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, 84/100 on Metacritic.
How long is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?+
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest has a runtime of 133 min.
Who directed One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?+
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was directed by Miloš Forman.
Where can I watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?+
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Rakuten TV, Sky Store.
Fan & Critic Buzz
The public reaction to "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is largely critical, with some reviewers calling it the silliest internet theory and criticizing its plot holes. Others praise Jack Nicholson's performance, describing his character R.P. McMurphy as a hero who brings hope and joy to the patients. Some reviewers also appreciate the film's themes of freedom and individuality, while others see it as overly simplistic or melodramatic.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
**Subject to the silliest of internet theories** There are a lot of movie theories but the silliest of all is this nonsense that is all over the internet claiming that _the Chief killed the unresponsive McMurphy because he thought McMurphy was ignoring him._ These idiots claim th…
Charles Dance · 8/10***The spirit of freedom vs. the spirit of legal-ism*** Set in the early 60s, the story involves R.P. McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) and his arrival at a mental institution in Salem, Oregon (where the film was shot). He plays the "mental illness" card to get out of prison time, thinki…
Wuchak · 9/10_One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest_ tells the story of a criminal, Randle Patrick McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), who pleads insanity in the attempt to get a more lenient sentence. Sent to a mental hospital, he livens up the otherwise monotonous lives of the patients, much to the ire of…
wizzardss · 8/10“McMurphy” (Jack Nicholson) is a veteran with an attitude who has pled insanity to escape his latest court appearance on a charge of statutory rape. He is sent to an evaluation hospital where they are to decide just what, if anything, is wrong with him. His smart-assed confidence…
CinemaSerf · 8/10
From the trailer's comments
You fooled 'em chief, you fooled 'em all
@olegyefremov2583 · 1158 likesThis movie never gets old. The ending makes me cry every time.
@esmeraldao6789 · 3126 likesHe gave them hope. He taught them how to be alive again.
@shannamartinez9494 · 2556 likesJack Nicholson and Danny Devito escaping a Mental Institution? The Joker and Penguin escaping Arkham Asylum. Coincidence? I think not.
@BiscuitKilla02 · 1279 likesThe fishing scene is my all time favourite. He made them feel human again, capable of enjoying and doing things, not just patients with a disorder label.
@Books-and-coffee0 · 414 likesIs there anything ever scripted, acted, produced, directed as fine as this? In the history of cinema? No.
@mrh5474 · 1129 likesR.I.P. Louise Fletcher (July 22, 1934 – September 23, 2022), age 88 You will be remembered as a legend
@LPJack02 · 192 likesOne of the hardest movies i have ever watched. While watching it i wasn't realising how serious and deep this movie was until the final scene. I was even expecting a happy ending... Such a great acting! Deffinetely worth watching! Deserved all the awards!
@celiaargent8895 · 789 likes
