Part of Weekend Classics
Newscaster Howard Beale has a message for those who package reports of cute puppies, movie premieres and fender benders as hard news: “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!” Sidney Lumet directs Paddy Chayefsky’s Academy Award-winning screenplay about the things people do for love…and ratings. This hard-hitting takedown of news media proves the rule that great satire remains relevant long after the specific circumstances have changed.
“So the movie's flawed. So it leaves us with loose ends and questions. That finally doesn't bother me, because what it does accomplish is done so well, is seen so sharply, is presented so unforgivingly, that NETWORK will outlive a lot of tidier movies.” —Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times (Jan 1, 1976)
“This tale of a failing network that feeds on the mental breakdown of one of its anchors, cannibalising itself for ratings, feels as savagely relevant now as it did when it was released.” —Wendy Ide, Times (UK)
“An outstanding satire that has become more rather than less relevant with each passing year. It is bitingly funny, whip smart and as mad as hell.” —John Bleasdale, CineVue