One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest Celebrates 50th Anniversary With 4K Steelbook Edition

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is based on Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel of the same name. Kesey’s novel is regularly included in lists of the best works of fictions of the 20th century, so it’s fairly remarkable the adaptation became one of the best movies of its era. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was nominated for nine and won five Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Nicholson and Best Picture.

Nicholson’s portrayal of Randle McMurphy remains one of his most memorable roles. McMurphy, a career criminal, avoids being sent to a labor farm and is instead imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital. He soon finds himself at odds with Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), a manipulative healthcare worker who controls patients with fear, abuse, and intimidation. Nicholson’s character is a quick-witted foil to the cold and clinical Ratched, and his rebellious nature gradually has a positive impact on his fellow inmates. In addition to Nicholson and Fletcher, the film also featured an ensemble cast of actors like Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd, Will Sampson, and Sydney Lassick, and William Redfield.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey

As mentioned above, On Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is adapted from the book of the same name. Kesey’s novel is mostly adapted faithfully for the big screen. Still, one of the major differences here is that the story is told from the viewpoint of Chief Bromden, giving readers more insight into his life and making him the main character.

At the same time, he witnesses the battle of wills between McMurphy and Ratched. The film also made several other changes to the source material–like having a completely different ending–but it does keep the gist of the novel intact.