One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
A petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering nurse who runs the ward.
Critics Sentiment
Chief smothers lobotomized McMurphy and escapes through window
Billy Bibbit kills himself after Ratched threatens him
The film plunges from the joyous Christmas party celebration to Billy's devastating suicide, dropping 2.3 points in the span of one beat.
The film maintains consistently high sentiment throughout most of its runtime, with particular peaks during McMurphy's most inspiring moments like the baseball commentary and fishing trip. The only significant dip occurs during Billy's tragic suicide, but the film recovers powerfully with Chief's cathartic escape that provides both closure and hope.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 34
Jack Nicholson
Randle Patrick McMurphy
Brad Dourif
Billy Bibbit
Louise Fletcher
Nurse Mildred Ratched
Danny DeVito
Martini
William Redfield
Dale Harding
Scatman Crothers
Orderly Turkle
Christopher Lloyd
Max Taber
Will Sampson
Chief Bromden
Dean R. Brooks
Dr. John Spivey
Michael Berryman
Ellis
Sydney Lassick
Charlie Cheswick
William Duell
Jim Sefelt
Vincent Schiavelli
Bruce Fredrickson
Peter Brocco
Col. Matterson
Alonzo Brown
Miller
Mwako Cumbuka
Warren
Josip Elic
Bancini
Ken Kenny
Beans Garfield
Nathan George
Washington
Ted Markland
Hap Arlich
Crew
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