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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 1975

To avoid prison labor, the rebellious Randle McMurphy feigns insanity and is transferred to a mental institution. There, he clashes with the cold and controlling Nurse Ratched, disrupting the ward's rigid routine and inspiring the other patients to question their circumstances. McMurphy's arrival sparks a power struggle that challenges the hospital’s oppressive atmosphere and exposes the vulnerability of those under Nurse Ratched’s care, ultimately leading to a tense and dramatic confrontation.

To avoid prison labor, the rebellious Randle McMurphy feigns insanity and is transferred to a mental institution. There, he clashes with the cold and controlling Nurse Ratched, disrupting the ward's rigid routine and inspiring the other patients to question their circumstances. McMurphy's arrival sparks a power struggle that challenges the hospital’s oppressive atmosphere and exposes the vulnerability of those under Nurse Ratched’s care, ultimately leading to a tense and dramatic confrontation.

Does One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest have end credit scenes?

No!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest does not have end credit scenes. You can leave when the credits roll.

Meet the Full Cast and Actors of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Explore the complete cast of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, including both lead and supporting actors. Learn who plays each character, discover their past roles and achievements, and find out what makes this ensemble cast stand out in the world of film and television.


Ratings and Reviews for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

See how One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is rated across major platforms like IMDb, Metacritic, and TMDb. Compare audience scores and critic reviews to understand where One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest stands among top-rated movies in its genre.


Metacritic

84

Metascore

8.8

User Score

Rotten Tomatoes
review

93%

TOMATOMETER

review

96%

User Score

TMDB

84

%

User Score

Take the Ultimate One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Movie Quiz

Challenge your knowledge of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with this fun and interactive movie quiz. Test yourself on key plot points, iconic characters, hidden details, and memorable moments to see how well you really know the film.


Cuckoo's Nest Quiz Challenge: Test your knowledge on the themes, characters, and events of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'.

What crime does Randle McMurphy commit that leads to his confinement?

Awards & Nominations for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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Discover all the awards and nominations received by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, from Oscars to film festival honors. Learn how One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and its cast and crew have been recognized by critics and the industry alike.


The 53rd Academy Awards 1981

Nomination

Foreign Language Film

Douglas Spain

30th British Academy Film Awards 1977

Milos Forman
Win

Best Film

Milos Forman
Milos Forman
Win

Best Direction

Milos Forman
Jack Nicholson
Win

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Jack Nicholson
Louise Fletcher
Win

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Louise Fletcher
Brad Dourif
Win

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Brad Dourif
Nomination

Best Screenplay

Nomination

Best Cinematography

Win

Best Editing

Nomination

Best Original Music

Nomination

Best Soundtrack

48th Academy Awards 1976

Jack Nicholson
Win

Actor in a Leading Role

Jack Nicholson
Louise Fletcher
Win

Actress in a Leading Role

Louise Fletcher
Shelley Duvall
Nomination

Actress in a Leading Role

Shelley Duvall
Brad Dourif
Win

Actor in a Supporting Role

Brad Dourif
Dianne Wiest
Nomination

Actress in a Supporting Role

Dianne Wiest
Nomination

Art Direction

Nomination

Cinematography

Nomination

Costume Design

Milos Forman
Win

Directing

Milos Forman
Win

Film Editing

Nomination

Music (Original Score)

Nomination

Music (Original Song)

Win

Best Picture

Nomination

Sound

Win

Writing (Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen—based on factual material or on story material not previously published or produced)

Nomination

Writing (Screenplay—based on material from another medium)

28th Directors Guild of America Awards 1976

Milos Forman
Win

Feature Film

Milos Forman

33rd Golden Globe Awards 1976

Win

Best Motion Picture – Drama

Jack Nicholson
Win

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actor)

Jack Nicholson
Louise Fletcher
Win

Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama (Actress)

Louise Fletcher
Milos Forman
Win

Best Director

Milos Forman
Win

Best Screenplay

Brad Dourif
Win

New Star of the Year – Actor

Brad Dourif

Full Plot Summary and Ending Explained for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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Read the complete plot summary of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, including all major events, twists, and the full ending explained in detail. Explore key characters, themes, hidden meanings, and everything you need to understand the story from beginning to end.


In 1963 Oregon, Randle McMurphy, a man with a troubling history of legal issues, including statutory rape, feigns mental illness to evade hard labor and ends up in a mental institution. Here, he confronts the cold and manipulative Nurse Ratched, who wields her authority with an iron fist, instilling fear among her patients to maintain control.

Among the patients are a colorful array of characters: young, stuttering Billy Bibbit, fiery Charlie Cheswick, delusional Martini, the articulate yet repressed Dale Harding, and the rebellious Max Taber, along with several others, including the silent but observant Chief Bromden. Their interactions reveal not just their struggles but also the oppressive environment created by Ratched.

McMurphy’s vibrant spirit becomes a direct challenge to Ratched’s dominance, prompting her to retaliate by confiscating cigarettes and restricting card-playing, which escalates the tension between them. Eager to break free from his confines, McMurphy makes a bold bet with his fellow inmates that he can escape the institution, even attempting to uproot a hydrotherapy fountain—an ambitious yet futile endeavor.

Seizing an opportunity, he manages to steal a charter bus and takes several patients, including his girlfriend Candy, on a fishing trip. This adventure introduces them to the outside world, helping them rediscover their self-worth and potential.

Faced with the harsh reality that his stay could become indefinite, McMurphy rallies his fellow patients. After a confrontation with the orderlies, he, Chief, and Cheswick find themselves in the disturbed ward, where Chief reveals he has been pretending to be deaf and mute to avoid interaction. United in their desire to escape, they concoct a plan.

After enduring electroconvulsive therapy, McMurphy adopts a facade of being brain-damaged while secretly plotting against Ratched. They decide to host a Christmas party after hours, inviting Candy and her friend Rose, both smuggling in alcohol. As chaos ensues during the party, McMurphy attempts to help Billy navigate a date with Candy, only for events to spiral out of control.

One morning, Ratched discovers the aftermath of the wild party and seeks to humiliate Billy by leveraging his panic. When he momentarily stands up to her, he ultimately folds under the pressure, leading to a tragic outcome. Moved by this tragedy, McMurphy reacts violently, igniting a fierce struggle with the orderlies.

As the narrative unfolds, Ratched is left shaken, while whispers of McMurphy’s fate circulate. Chief, caught in a whirlwind of admiration and despair, ultimately finds McMurphy returned, but tragically lobotomized. In a heart-wrenching moment, Chief decides to end McMurphy’s suffering and escapes, fulfilling the promise of freedom they once shared. With a defiant act reminiscent of McMurphy’s earlier attempts, he tears away the hydrotherapy fountain, symbolizing both the escape from oppression and the complex bond formed in an unforgiving environment.

Uncover the Details: Timeline, Characters, Themes, and Beyond!

Watch Trailers, Clips & Behind-the-Scenes for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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Watch official trailers, exclusive clips, cast interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Dive deeper into the making of the film, its standout moments, and key production insights.


Original Theatrical Trailer

BFI Trailer

45th Anniversary Event

50th Anniversary Spot

Working on Best Picture "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"

What it's like to be nominated for an Oscar®

Jack Nicholson Wins Best Actor: 1976 Oscars

Jack Nicholson on ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

Louise Fletcher (AKA Nurse Ratched) Salutes Jack Nicholson

How Michael Douglas Produced ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST

Cars Featured in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

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Explore all cars featured in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, including their makes, models, scenes they appear in, and their significance to the plot. A must-read for car enthusiasts and movie buffs alike.


Buick

1940

Super

Chevrolet

1947

Advance-Design 6700

Chevrolet

1960

Biscayne

Chevrolet

1962

Biscayne

Chevrolet

1956

Two-Ten Townsman

De

1960

Soto Fireflite

Lincoln

1961

Continental

Plymouth

1963

Savoy

Movie Themes and Keywords

Discover the central themes, ideas, and keywords that define the movie’s story, tone, and message. Analyze the film’s deeper meanings, genre influences, and recurring concepts.


nursemental illnessnative americanelectroshock therapyanti herosmall townpsychiatric examinationgroup therapylobotomybased on novelambiguous titlepsychiatric nursehuman rightsboat theftfishingrestraintelectroconvulsive therapy1960sstutteringfemale nuditysexualityindependent filmabuse of powerpsychological dramanational film registryboard gamemutekorean war veteraneuthanasiadepressionemotional abusepillowdeafnesscard playingpsychiatric commitmentworld seriessmotheringanti authoritytelevision sethumiliationneck bracebreaking a windowhydrotherapyvoluntary commitmentorderlywagerinsanitypsychiatric hospitaloregonconvict

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