‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’: 50th Anniversary, Still Powerful

“Cuckoo’s Nest” showcases the apex of Nicholson’s star power in a film classic that criticizes authoritarianism.
‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’: 50th Anniversary, Still Powerful
Randle McMurphy (Jack Nicholson, L) and Martine Danny DeVito in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." (United Artists
Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
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R | 2h 13m | Drama | 1975

It’s the 50th Anniversary of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” Starring Jack Nicholson at the top of his acting game, this multi-Oscar-winning, anti-authoritarian tale remains as exhilarating and depressing as when it was released. Its conspicuous success marked the zenith of Hollywood’s counterculture infatuation, which had begun in the late 1960s with “Easy Rider.”

Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson
Film Critic
Mark Jackson is the chief film critic for The Epoch Times, and a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Williams College, followed by a classical theater conservatory training, and has 20 years' experience as a New York professional actor. He narrated The Epoch Times audiobook "How the Specter of Communism is Ruling Our World," available on iTunes, Audible, and YouTube. Mark is cited in the book "How to be a Film Critic in Five Easy Lessons" by Christopher K. Brooks. In addition to film, he enjoys Harley-Davidsons, martial arts, rock-climbing, qigong, and human rights activism.