One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest 4K Ultra HD

In "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest," a feisty convict misfit (Jack Nicholson) sent to a psychiatric hospital inspires his fellow patients to assert themselves, much to the chagrin of the strong-willed tyrannical head nurse (Louise Fletcher), who turns out to be more dangerous than any of the inmates. Based on the novel by Ken Kesey and the play by Dale Wasserman. (Gary Reber).

Special features include the featurettes "Conversation On Cuckoo: Group Therapy" (HD 13:07), "Conversations On Cuckoo: Moviemaking Memories" (HD 10:34), and "Completely Cuckoo" (HD 01:26:17), five deleted scenes (SD 09:25) and a Movies Anywhere digital copy.

The 1.85:1 HEVC/H.265 Ultra HD Dolby Vision/HDR10 picture, reviewed on a VIZIO Quantum X P85QX-JI UHD/HDR display, was photographed on 35 mm Eastman film using the Panavision Panaflex camera system and sourced from a 4K master Digital Intermediate. For its 50th anniversary, the film was restored in 2025 by the Academy Film Archive from the 35 mm original picture negative approved by Director Milos Forman. Grain structure is very fine and never objectionable. The setting is 1963 Oregon in a mental hospital in which everything appears perfectly realistic. The color palette exhibits naturalness throughout with nicely saturated hues. No colors really pop due to the generally dull and bland atmospherics of the institution. Flesh tones appear perfectly natural. HDR contrast is well balanced with natural black levels, revealing shadows and realistic white levels. Resolution is revealing with fine detail exhibited in facial features, clothing and building attributes and object textures. This is a realistic, though bland, picture that is well crafted throughout, both sterile interiors and exterior environments. This is the best this classic has ever looked. (Gary Reber)

This 50th Anniversary 4K release provides two main audio options: a DTS-HD Master Audio version of the 5.1 remix from earlier home video releases, and a secondary track that's labelled "Original Theatrical" and "2.0 Mono". The audio restoration was performed by Audio Mechanics with a 2001 5.1 theatrical mix. This is a strongly dialogue-focused presentation. Sound effects are reserved with scenes within the hospital. Atmospherics sound perfectly realistic. Surround energy is generally reserved and provided by the music and sound effects, such as during the fishing trip on a boat with the engine noise roaring in the surrounds and the sound field. Foley sound effects sync perfectly with picture. Dialogue is intelligible but a bit harsh at times during instances of raised voices, Otherwise dialogue is presented with excellent spatial integration. This is the best this classic has sounded. The dialogue is absolutely compelling.(Gary Reber)