--- title: "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest" critics_score: 83 critics_reviews: 13 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975): what the critics said Critics' score 83 from 13 reviews: 11 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics rate it highly, and the praise clusters almost entirely around Jack Nicholson’s McMurphy, described across the reviews as charismatic, electric and among the strongest work of his career. Forman’s direction, the casting and the feel of the ward come next, and Louise Fletcher’s Nurse Ratched is repeatedly picked out as frighteningly convincing. Several reviews note the shape of the film: a loose, funny first half that slides into tragedy. The reservations come from two directions. Writing at the time, Pauline Kael in The New Yorker finds it effective pop mythology rather than great art, and Roger Ebert thinks it weakens whenever it reaches for symbolism over character observation. More recent critics, Time Out and The Playlist among them, complain of a simplistic picture of mental illness, a streak of misogyny and a final triumph that rings hollow. The spread is narrow; nobody dismisses it, but the dissenters are not fringe voices. ## Little White Lies — Sophie Wyatt Rating 5/5/5. 13 April 2017. The critic calls it a great tragicomic classic whose story descends from comedy into tragedy. Nicholson’s charismatic turn as McMurphy is singled out as unsurpassable. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest) ## Radio Times — Tom Hutchinson Rating 5/5. The critic hails the film as a 1970s classic propelled by Forman’s direction to a poignant finale. Nicholson’s rebellious McMurphy is singled out as one of his greatest roles. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-p2ihrc/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest/) ## The Times — Kate Muir Rating ★★★★★. 14 April 2017. Jack Nicholson’s raw, electric, charismatic performance as McMurphy remains thrilling after more than 40 years, with the film’s setting in a mental hospital retaining a timeless quality. The exuberant first half gives way to tragedy in the second, and the story carries wider implications about conformity and revolution. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/article/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-1975-hxm96swhw) ## Empire — Colin Kennedy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The film is an unlikely and inspiring triumph and a masterpiece of dramatic naturalism. It singles out Jack Nicholson's electrifying performance as the live-wire misfit McMurphy for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/one-flew-cuckoo-nest-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Glenn Heath Jr. Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 7 November 2025. The review praises the film's depiction of the conflict between conformity and individuality through strong Method performances and fluid camerawork. It highlights the new 4K transfer as definitive while noting some missing extras on the disc. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/dvd/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-4k-uhd-blu-ray-review-milos-forman/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Arthur Knight Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 November 2018. The critic praises Jack Nicholson's tough, resilient, multi-layered performance as McMurphy and Milos Forman's assured direction, inspired casting, and sense of milieu. Louise Fletcher's Nurse Ratched is highlighted as a frighteningly real creation. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/one-flew-cuckoos-nest-review-1975-movie-1162586/) ## The New York Times — Vincent Canby Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 23 November 1975. The film is a humane, loose-limbed comedy with fine performances that bring it to explosive life. It avoids sentimental nonsense about mental institutions while presenting an unsentimental view of disconnected minds. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/23/archives/film-view-cuckoos-nest-a-sane-comedy-about-psychotics-film-view.html) ## Variety — A.D. Murphy Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 November 1975. The film is brilliant cinema theatre with an outstanding characterization by Jack Nicholson and equally meritorious direction by Milos Forman. Louise Fletcher is excellent as the arch-nemesis ward nurse. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1975/film/reviews/one-flew-over-the-cuckoo-s-nest-2-1200423518/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 26 February 1976. The critic praises the film's ability to bring a challenging subject to a wide audience through strong performances, particularly Jack Nicholson's riveting McMurphy and Louise Fletcher's icy Nurse Ratched, while noting it makes powerful points about authority and heroism despite some compromises from the book. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/feb/26/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-reviewed-1976) ## The New Yorker — Pauline Kael Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 24 November 1975. It is a powerful, effective movie that stirs emotions and works as pop mythology, though not great art. Forman loosens the novel's schematic elements for a more realistic, ambiguous take on the patients and Nurse Ratched, with strong acting from Nicholson and Fletcher. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1975/12/01/the-bull-goose-loony) ## Time Out — Tom Huddleston Rating 3/5. 10 April 2017. The critic finds the multi-Oscar winner has not aged well despite strong performances. Its simplistic view of mental illness and streak of misogyny are singled out for complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 1975. The film is strong in parts but weakens when it pushes larger symbolic points over character observation. It excels in realistic moments of patient interactions and McMurphy's rebellious energy, especially via Nicholson's performance. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-1975) ## The Playlist — Jason Bailey Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 November 2020. The critic calls the film an excellent, well-acted and precisely crafted work that is emotionally involving, but notes it feels lodged in its 1970s moment of counterculture struggle against authority. They single out Jack Nicholson's quintessential performance and the charged central conflict with Nurse Ratched for praise, while observing a misogynist tinge and that the final triumph rings hollow. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest-45th-anniversary-20201120/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/one-flew-over-the-cuckoos-nest.md