The film premiered at the Sutton and Paramount Theatres in New York City on November 19, 1975.[27] It was the second-highest-grossing film released in 1975 in the United States and Canada at $109 million,[1] one of the seventh-highest-grossing films of all time at the time.[27] As it was released toward the end of the year, most of its gross was in 1976 and was the highest-grosser for calendar year 1976 with rentals of $56.5 million.[28]
Worldwide, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest grossed $163,250,000. It was the highest-grossing film released by UA up to that time.[3][27]