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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)

Updated: 12/10/2025, 4:11:17 PM Wikipedia source

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a 1975 American psychological comedy-drama film directed by Miloš Forman, based on the 1962 novel of the same name by Ken Kesey. The film stars Jack Nicholson as a new patient at a mental institution and Louise Fletcher as the abusive head nurse. Will Sampson, Danny DeVito, Sydney Lassick, William Redfield, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Dourif play supporting roles, with the latter two making their feature film debuts. Originally announced in 1962 with Kirk Douglas starring, the film took 13 years to develop. Filming finally began in January 1975 and lasted three months, on location in Salem, Oregon and the surrounding area, and in Depoe Bay on the north Oregon coast. The producers shot the film in the Oregon State Hospital, an actual psychiatric hospital, which is also the novel's setting. The hospital is still in operation, though the original buildings in the film have been demolished. The film was released on November 19, 1975. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest received critical acclaim, and is considered by critics and audiences to be one of the greatest films ever made. It is the second of three films to win all five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Director, and Screenplay) following It Happened One Night (1934), and preceding 1991's The Silence of the Lambs. It won numerous Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards. In 1993, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress, and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. Additionally, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was ranked No. 33 on the American Film Institute's updated 100 Years... 100 Movies list in 2007.

Infobox

Directed by
Miloš Forman
Screenplay by
mw- Lawrence Hauben Bo Goldman
Based on
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nestby Ken Kesey
Produced by
Saul Zaentz Michael Douglas
Starring
Jack Nicholson Louise Fletcher William Redfield
Cinematography
Haskell WexlerAdditional photography:Bill ButlerWilliam Fraker
Edited by
Richard Chew Lynzee Klingman Sheldon Kahn
Music by
Jack Nitzsche
Productioncompany
Fantasy Films
Distributed by
United Artists
Release date
November 19, 1975 (1975-11-19)
Running time
135 minutes
Country
United States
Language
English
Budget
$3–4.4 million
Box office
$163.3 million

Tables

· Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominees
Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz
Result
Won
Best Director
Best Director
Award
Best Director
Category
Miloš Forman
Nominees
Won
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Jack Nicholson
Nominees
Won
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Louise Fletcher
Nominees
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actor
Award
Best Supporting Actor
Category
Brad Dourif
Nominees
Nominated
Best Screenplay – Adapted from Other Material
Best Screenplay – Adapted from Other Material
Award
Best Screenplay – Adapted from Other Material
Category
Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman
Nominees
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Haskell Wexler and Bill Butler
Nominees
Nominated
Best Film Editing
Best Film Editing
Award
Best Film Editing
Category
Richard Chew, Lynzee Klingman and Sheldon Kahn
Nominees
Nominated
Best Original Score
Best Original Score
Award
Best Original Score
Category
Jack Nitzsche
Nominees
Nominated
American Cinema Editors Awards
American Cinema Editors Awards
Award
American Cinema Editors Awards
Category
Best Edited Feature Film
Nominees
Richard Chew, Lynzee Klingman and Sheldon Kahn
Result
Nominated
Bodil Awards
Bodil Awards
Award
Bodil Awards
Category
Best Non-European Film
Nominees
Miloš Forman
Result
Won
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominees
Won
Best Direction
Best Direction
Award
Best Direction
Category
Miloš Forman
Nominees
Won
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Award
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Category
Jack Nicholson
Nominees
Won
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Award
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Category
Louise Fletcher
Nominees
Won
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Award
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Category
Brad Dourif
Nominees
Won
Best Screenplay
Best Screenplay
Award
Best Screenplay
Category
Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman
Nominees
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Haskell Wexler and Bill Butler
Nominees
Nominated
Best Editing
Best Editing
Award
Best Editing
Category
Richard Chew, Lynzee Klingman and Sheldon Kahn
Nominees
Won
Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
Award
Chicago International Film Festival
Category
Best Feature
Nominees
Miloš Forman
Result
Nominated
César Awards
César Awards
Award
César Awards
Category
Best Foreign Film
Nominees
Nominated
David di Donatello Awards
David di Donatello Awards
Award
David di Donatello Awards
Category
Best Foreign Director
Nominees
Miloš Forman
Result
Won
Best Foreign Actor
Best Foreign Actor
Award
Best Foreign Actor
Category
Jack Nicholson
Nominees
Won
Directors Guild of America Awards
Directors Guild of America Awards
Award
Directors Guild of America Awards
Category
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Nominees
Miloš Forman
Result
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Nominees
Won
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Category
Jack Nicholson
Nominees
Won
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Award
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Category
Louise Fletcher
Nominees
Won
Best Director – Motion Picture
Best Director – Motion Picture
Award
Best Director – Motion Picture
Category
Miloš Forman
Nominees
Won
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Award
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Category
Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman
Nominees
Won
New Star of the Year – Actor
New Star of the Year – Actor
Award
New Star of the Year – Actor
Category
Brad Dourif
Nominees
Won
Golden Screen Awards
Golden Screen Awards
Award
Golden Screen Awards
Category
Won
Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards
Award
Grammy Awards
Category
Best Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special
Nominees
Jack Nitzsche
Result
Nominated
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Director
Nominees
Miloš Forman
Result
Won
Kinema Junpo Awards
Kinema Junpo Awards
Award
Kinema Junpo Awards
Category
Best Foreign Director
Nominees
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Award
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Category
Best Film
Nominees
Won
Nastro d'Argento
Nastro d'Argento
Award
Nastro d'Argento
Category
Best Foreign Director
Nominees
Miloš Forman
Result
Won
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Top Ten Films
Nominees
3rd Place
Best Actor
Best Actor
Award
Best Actor
Category
Jack Nicholson
Nominees
Won
National Film Preservation Board
National Film Preservation Board
Award
National Film Preservation Board
Category
National Film Registry
Nominees
Inducted
National Society of Film Critics Awards
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Award
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Category
Best Actor
Nominees
Jack Nicholson
Result
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Category
Best Actor
Nominees
Won
Best Supporting Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Award
Best Supporting Actress
Category
Louise Fletcher
Nominees
Runner-up
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Award
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Category
Hall of Fame – Motion Picture
Nominees
Won
People's Choice Awards
People's Choice Awards
Award
People's Choice Awards
Category
Favorite Motion Picture
Nominees
Won
Sant Jordi Awards
Sant Jordi Awards
Award
Sant Jordi Awards
Category
Best Foreign Actor
Nominees
Jack Nicholson (also for Carnal Knowledge and The Passenger)
Result
Won
Writers Guild of America Awards
Writers Guild of America Awards
Award
Writers Guild of America Awards
Category
Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium
Nominees
Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman
Result
Won
Award
Category
Nominees
Result
Academy Awards
Best Picture
Michael Douglas and Saul Zaentz
Won
Best Director
Miloš Forman
Won
Best Actor
Jack Nicholson
Won
Best Actress
Louise Fletcher
Won
Best Supporting Actor
Brad Dourif
Nominated
Best Screenplay – Adapted from Other Material
Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman
Won
Best Cinematography
Haskell Wexler and Bill Butler
Nominated
Best Film Editing
Richard Chew, Lynzee Klingman and Sheldon Kahn
Nominated
Best Original Score
Jack Nitzsche
Nominated
American Cinema Editors Awards
Best Edited Feature Film
Richard Chew, Lynzee Klingman and Sheldon Kahn
Nominated
Bodil Awards
Best Non-European Film
Miloš Forman
Won
British Academy Film Awards
Best Film
Won
Best Direction
Miloš Forman
Won
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Jack Nicholson
Won
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Louise Fletcher
Won
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Brad Dourif
Won
Best Screenplay
Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman
Nominated
Best Cinematography
Haskell Wexler and Bill Butler
Nominated
Best Editing
Richard Chew, Lynzee Klingman and Sheldon Kahn
Won
Chicago International Film Festival
Best Feature
Miloš Forman
Nominated
César Awards
Best Foreign Film
Nominated
David di Donatello Awards
Best Foreign Director
Miloš Forman
Won
Best Foreign Actor
Jack Nicholson
Won
Directors Guild of America Awards
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures
Miloš Forman
Won
Golden Globe Awards
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Won
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Jack Nicholson
Won
Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama
Louise Fletcher
Won
Best Director – Motion Picture
Miloš Forman
Won
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman
Won
New Star of the Year – Actor
Brad Dourif
Won
Golden Screen Awards
Won
Grammy Awards
Best Album of Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special
Jack Nitzsche
Nominated
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Director
Miloš Forman
Won
Kinema Junpo Awards
Best Foreign Director
Won
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
Best Film
Won
Nastro d'Argento
Best Foreign Director
Miloš Forman
Won
National Board of Review Awards
Top Ten Films
3rd Place
Best Actor
Jack Nicholson
Won
National Film Preservation Board
National Film Registry
Inducted
National Society of Film Critics Awards
Best Actor
Jack Nicholson
Won
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Actor
Won
Best Supporting Actress
Louise Fletcher
Runner-up
Online Film & Television Association Awards
Hall of Fame – Motion Picture
Won
People's Choice Awards
Favorite Motion Picture
Won
Sant Jordi Awards
Best Foreign Actor
Jack Nicholson (also for Carnal Knowledge and The Passenger)
Won
Writers Guild of America Awards
Best Drama Adapted from Another Medium
Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman
Won

References

  1. Tied with Dog Day Afternoon.
  2. Box Office Mojo
    https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=oneflewoverthecuckoosnest.htm
  3. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/apr/11/michael-douglas-and-louise-fletcher-how-we-made-one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-interview
  4. Variety
  5. AllMovie
    https://www.allmovie.com/movie/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-v36363
  6. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
    https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/55189
  7. milosforman.com
    https://milosforman.com/en/movies/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest
  8. AFI Catalog
    https://catalog.afi.com/Film/56511-THE-STUNTMAN?sid=74aa6b2b-f9b7-455a-a0cd-a5a1f89b0eed&sr=7.835905&cp=1&pos=0
  9. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2020/02/kirk-douglas-one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-movie-michael-douglas-spat-1202852836/
  10. American National Biography
  11. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/opinion/obama-the-socialist-not-even-close.html
  12. Gainesville Sun
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  13. Showbiz Cheat Sheet
    https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kirk-douglas-thought-one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-flop-michael-douglas-cast-jack-nicholson.html/
  14. EW.com
    https://ew.com/michael-douglas-firing-dad-kirk-douglas-one-flew-over-cuckoos-nest-11767321
  15. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/26/movies/film-rebels-who-were-more-angry-than-mad.html
  16. Independent.ie
    https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/movies/movie-news/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-the-film-that-flew-away-with-the-big-five-top-oscars/30979418.html
  17. Contact Music
    https://www.contactmusic.com/james-caan/news/caan-rues-the-bad-choices-that-prompted-him-to-turn-down-movies
  18. Variety
    https://variety.com/2018/film/news/burt-reynolds-turned-down-roles-bond-solo-1202930436/
  19. Collider
    https://collider.com/burt-reynolds-one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest/
  20. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/one-flew-over-cuckoo-s-nest-40th-birthday-best-things-you-never-knew-about-oscar-winning-film-a6740596.html
  21. The Wall Street Journal
    https://archive.today/20250710232008/https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/film/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-michael-douglas-jack-nicholson-oscars-fedccc29
  22. The New York Times
    https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/packages/html/movies/bestpictures/cuckoo-ar2.html
  23. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/louise-fletcher-interview-the-actress-recalls-the-extraordinary-impact-of-landing-the-oscar-winning-a6826211.html
  24. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/jul/10/burt-cort-harold-and-maude-blessing-and-curse
  25. AMC
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  26. beachconnection.com
    http://www.beachconnection.net/news/hlly110106_80.htm
  27. oregonstatehospital.org
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180915002013/http://oregonstatehospital.org/
  28. The New York Times
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  29. worldcinemaparadise.com
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  30. Variety
  31. Variety
  32. Chicago Sun-Times
    https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-1975
  33. RogerEbert.com
    https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-1975
  34. Variety
    https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117487976
  35. The New York Times
    https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/packages/html/movies/bestpictures/cuckoo-re.html?scp=6&sq=sampson&st=cse
  36. AllMusic
    https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-original-soundtrack-mw0000265179
  37. Rotten Tomatoes
    https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/one_flew_over_the_cuckoos_nest/
  38. Foreword of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Copyright 2007 by Chuck Palahniuk. Available in the 2007 Edition published
  39. Library of Congress
    https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/
  40. Far Out Magazine
    https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/akira-kurosawa-100-favourite-films-list/
  41. WhatCulture.com
    https://whatculture.com/film/10-most-convincing-movie-psychopath-performances
  42. Housecore Records
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjfa1usaHbM
  43. Loudwire
    https://loudwire.com/philip-h-anselmo-illegals-honor-one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-video/
  44. oscars.org
    https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1976
  45. awards.bafta.org
    http://awards.bafta.org/award/1977/film
  46. dga.org
    https://www.dga.org/Awards/History/1970s/1975.aspx?value=1975
  47. Golden Globes
    https://goldenglobes.com/film/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest/
  48. lafca.net
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120401020228/http://www.lafca.net/years/1975.html
  49. National Board of Review
    https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1975/
  50. Los Angeles Times
    https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-12-15-ca-2182-story.html
  51. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/30/archives/film-critics-award-nashville-4-prizes.html
  52. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/1975/12/31/archives/nashville-and-nicholson-get-film-critics-awards.html
  53. Online Film & Television Association
    https://www.oftaawards.com/film-hall-of-fame/film-hall-of-fame-productions/
  54. peopleschoice.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160509202750/http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/?year=1977
  55. wga.org
    https://archive.today/20121205095022/http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1551
  56. BBC
    https://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20150720-the-100-greatest-american-films
  57. American Film Institute
    https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies/
  58. American Film Institute
    https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-heroes-villians/
  59. American Film Institute
    https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-cheers/
  60. American Film Institute
    https://www.afi.com/afis-100-years-100-movies-10th-anniversary-edition/
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