One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
Kernel Score: 93% · 11,254 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama
Released: 1975-11-19
Runtime: 133 minutes
Is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest worth watching?
Must-watch. A rebel fakes madness to dodge prison and ends up in a ward run by a cold, controlling nurse. It's funny, sad and angry, with career-defining performances, and it remains one of the best dramas.
Watch it if you
- like character-driven drama with big performances
- enjoy stories about rebelling against authority
- want a classic that still hits hard
Skip it if you
- find institutional settings upsetting
- dislike bleak endings
Best for: Classic movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
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.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is an R-rated drama depicting institutional cruelty, shock treatment, and mental illness.
- Violence & scariness: Moderate — Includes shock treatment, institutional cruelty, and psychological distress within a mental asylum setting.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
If you liked One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- The Green Mile (1999) — 92%: A prison story where decency fights a cruel system.
- Girl, Interrupted (1999) — 86%: Another look at life inside a psychiatric ward.
- Shutter Island (2010) — 91%: Mystery set inside a mental hospital with a dark twist.
- The Shawshank Redemption (1994) — 100%: Great drama about surviving a harsh institution.
- Amadeus (1984) — 90%: Classic about a rebel and an institution, with stellar acting.
- Awakenings (1990) — 88%: Warm and moving hospital drama with a great lead.
Director
Cast
- Jack Nicholson as Randle Patrick McMurphy
- Brad Dourif as Billy Bibbit
- Louise Fletcher as Nurse Mildred Ratched
- Danny DeVito as Martini
- William Redfield as Dale Harding
- Scatman Crothers as Orderly Turkle
- Christopher Lloyd as Max Taber
- Will Sampson as Chief Bromden
- Dean R. Brooks as Dr. John Spivey
- Michael Berryman as Ellis
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest FAQ
Is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest worth watching?
Must-watch. A rebel fakes madness to dodge prison and ends up in a ward run by a cold, controlling nurse. It's funny, sad and angry, with career-defining performances, and it remains one of the best dramas.
Where can I watch One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?
In the US you can rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest OK for kids?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is an R-rated drama depicting institutional cruelty, shock treatment, and mental illness.
What movies are like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest?
If you liked One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, try The Green Mile, Girl, Interrupted, Shutter Island and The Shawshank Redemption.