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Master Rank #54

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

1975

GCML Total9.3040% Greatness · 40% Engagement · 20% Ease

Directed by Miloš Forman

CastJack Nicholson · Louise Fletcher · Will Sampson

USAEnglishDrama133 minR
IMDb Top 250; AFI 100Narrative FeatureModerate pace
Find Where to Watch
Original poster artwork · Great Cinema Master List
Oscar · 5Globe · 6BAFTA · 6

Spoiler-free premise

A rebellious new patient challenges the rigid authority of a psychiatric ward.

Read expanded premiseLonger, still spoiler-free

Repeat offender Randle McMurphy enters an Oregon psychiatric hospital and challenges Nurse Ratched's tightly controlled ward. His humor and defiance energize the other patients while turning daily routines, group meetings, and privileges into a struggle over autonomy.

Why it belongs

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest's ward becomes a charged arena for competing ideas of care, freedom, masculinity, and control, held together by a remarkable ensemble.

Read expanded why it belongsThe fuller editorial case

Nicholson's volatile charisma and Louise Fletcher's measured control make institutional power visible without reducing either performance to a slogan. Forman observes the ward as an ensemble space of routines, glances, group sessions, and shifting alliances.

Major award record

Metadata only · zero points in 40/40/20
Academy Awards5 wins1976 · official ceremony record ↗
Best Picture1976 · Saul Zaentz and Michael Douglas, Producersofficial ceremony record ↗Directing1976 · Miloš Formanofficial ceremony record ↗Actor1976 · Jack Nicholsonofficial ceremony record ↗Actress1976 · Louise Fletcherofficial ceremony record ↗Writing (Screenplay Adapted from Other Material)1976 · Lawrence Hauben, Bo Goldmanofficial ceremony record ↗
Golden Globes6 wins1976 · official film record ↗
Best Motion Picture - Drama1976 · One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nestofficial film record ↗Best Director - Motion Picture1976 · Miloš Formanofficial film record ↗Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama1976 · Jack Nicholsonofficial film record ↗Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama1976 · Louise Fletcherofficial film record ↗Best Screenplay - Motion Picture1976 · Bo Goldmanofficial film record ↗

Plus 1 additional win

BAFTA6 wins1977 · official BAFTA 1977 Film Awards results ↗
Best Film1977 · Miloš Formanofficial BAFTA 1977 Film Awards results ↗Best Direction1977 · Miloš Formanofficial BAFTA 1977 Film Awards results ↗Best Actor1977 · Jack Nicholsonofficial BAFTA 1977 Film Awards results ↗Best Actress1977 · Louise Fletcherofficial BAFTA 1977 Film Awards results ↗Supporting Actor1977 · Brad Dourifofficial BAFTA 1977 Film Awards results ↗

Plus 1 additional win

Totals include every recorded competitive win. Only Picture or top-film honors, Direction, Screenplay, and lead or supporting performances are named.

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Date NightFilm Club
Descriptive guidance derived from rating, genre, runtime, mood, and GCML scores.

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