Film · TMDB
7.8When veteran anchorman Howard Beale is forced to retire his 25-year post because of his age, he announces to viewers that he will kill himself during his farewell broadcast. Network executives rethink their decision when his fanatical tirade results in a spike in ratings.
Released: 1976-11-27122 minDir: Sidney LumetDrama
Cast
- Faye Dunaway as Diana Christensen
- William Holden as Max Schumacher
- Peter Finch as Howard Beale
- Robert Duvall as Frank Hackett
- Ned Beatty as Arthur Jensen
- Beatrice Straight as Louise Schumacher
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Ratings · OMDb
IMDb
8.1/10
184,935 votes
Rotten Tomatoes
91%
Metacritic
83/100
- Rated
- R
- Awards
- Won 4 Oscars. 20 wins & 27 nominations total
via OMDb · IMDb
Key facts
- Directed by
- Sidney Lumet
- Written by
- Paddy Chayefsky
- Produced by
- Howard Gottfried , Fred C. Caruso
- Starring
- Faye Dunaway William Holden Peter Finch Robert Duvall
- Narrated by
- Lee Richardson
- Cinematography
- Owen Roizman
- Edited by
- Alan Heim
- Music by
- Elliot Lawrence
- Production company
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- Distributed by
- United Artists
- Release date
- November 27, 1976 ( 1976-11-27 )
- Running time
- 121 minutes
- Country
- United States
Key dates
- Published
- 1976
via Wikidata · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- film
- Part of
- National Film Registry
- Named after
- television network
- Country of origin
- United States
- Original language
- English language
- Movement
- New Hollywood
- Director
- Sidney Lumet
- Screenwriter
- Paddy Chayefsky
- Composer
Article
Network is a 1976 American satirical black comedy drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and written by Paddy Chayefsky. It depicts a television network struggling with poor ratings until the nightly live broadcast of its longtime news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch) inadvertently showcases his breakdown into increasingly psychotic behavior, which makes his show a surprise hit. Alongside Finch (in his final role), the film stars Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall, Wesley Addy, Ned Beatty, and Beatrice Straight.
Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and released by United Artists on November 27, 1976, Network was a commercial success, earning $23.7 million on a $3.8 million production budget. Network received widespread critical acclaim, with particular praise for its screenplay and performances. At the 49th Academy Awards, it received ten nominations, including Best Picture, and won four: Best Actor for Finch (posthumously), Best Actress for Dunaway, Best Supporting Actress for Straight, and Best Original Screenplay for Chayefsky.