Network

Forced into retirement after a quarter century at the anchor desk, veteran newsman Howard Beale tells his viewers that he plans to end his life on air. The shocking statement ignites a storm of attention, and the network sees a chance to boost ratings with his next broadcast. Beale’s raw on-screen tirades become a magnet for ratings, drawing a new kind of audience and irresistible profits for the executives who run the channel. As the newsroom debates how to package his crisis for viewers, the line between journalistic duty and entertainment blurs in unsettling ways. The film follows the friction among producers, executives, and on-air talent as crisis is monetized, raising questions of power, responsibility, and the price of ratings today.

Directed by Sidney Lumet, Network derives from Paddy Chayefsky's original screenplay. Released in 1976, the film pairs Lumet's tense storytelling with Chayefsky's piercing critique of television as a profit machine, featuring Faye Dunaway, Peter Finch, and William Holden.

It swept the Oscars, winning four prizes. Paddy Chayefsky earned Best Original Screenplay, while Beatrice Straight won Best Supporting Actress, Faye Dunaway took Best Actress, and Peter Finch earned Best Actor posthumously for his performance. Its win reinforced Chayefsky's satire.

Network helped redefine what prime-time television could be, turning a serious news anchor into a provocateur and exposing the industry's appetite for sensationalism. Its line "I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore" became a cultural touchstone and a shorthand for media revolt.

Critics praised the film's sharp satire and the performances, framing the work as a fearless indictment of media ethics and corporate power. Its brisk, provocative tone and keen inquiry into profit over truth have kept Network central in debates about modern news culture in today's media climate.