Network

Movie guide

Network (1976)

  • Drama
7.8/10 Drama4U Score · from 2,154 TMDB votes · How the score works

Network (1976) guide: Sidney Lumet's satire of TV news with Faye Dunaway and Peter Finch. Plot summary, cast, release dates and where to watch in the US.

Network (1976) plot summary

Howard Beale has read the evening news for a quarter of a century. Now the network has decided he is too old for the job and is pushing him out. Beale does not go quietly. On air, in front of a national audience, he says he will take his own life during his final broadcast.

The outburst should end his career. Instead, viewers tune in, and ratings climb. For the executives running the network, a scandal becomes an opportunity. They begin to wonder whether an angry, unpredictable anchor might be worth more to them than a dependable one.

Set in New York City, Network follows the people around Beale as news, entertainment and corporate profit start to blur together. Its themes include rage, ambition, workplace relationships and the pressure of the ratings race. The film is pitched as sharp satire rather than straight drama, and its tagline sums up the stakes: “Television will never be the same.”

Network — Mood illustration, not a still from the film
Mood illustration, not a still from the film

What makes Network notable

  • Director: Sidney Lumet directed the film for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
  • Writer: The screenplay is by Paddy Chayefsky.
  • Cast: Peter Finch plays Howard Beale. Faye Dunaway plays Diana Christensen, William Holden plays Max Schumacher and Robert Duvall plays Frank Hackett. The supporting cast includes Ned Beatty as Arthur Jensen, Wesley Addy as Nelson Chaney, Arthur Burghardt, Bill Burrows, John Carpenter and Jordan Charney.
  • Genre and tone: It is an American drama with a strong strain of political and corporate satire. Its targets are TV news, corporate power and the hunger for audience share.
  • Context: The film was released in 1976 and runs 122 minutes. It is in English and is rated R in the US.

If you are looking for a Network review, the Drama4U Score on this page gives a quick snapshot of how audiences rate the film.

Who will enjoy Network

  • Fans of sharp, dialogue-driven satire about media and power
  • Viewers interested in TV news, journalism and how ratings shape what gets broadcast
  • Anyone exploring classic 1970s American cinema or the work of Sidney Lumet
  • Admirers of Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch or Robert Duvall
  • Audiences who like corporate dramas with a dark, biting edge

Network release date & where to watch

US release history:

  • Premieres: New York City on 14 November 1976, then Los Angeles on 19 November 1976.
  • Theatrical release: 27 November 1976.
  • Home video: VHS in 1983.

The film is rated R in the US.

Where to watch in the US (as of 24 October 2026):

  • Free with ads: YouTube Free.
  • Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home and Spectrum On Demand.
  • Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home.

Availability can change, so check your preferred service before you press play. A trailer is also available.

Trailer

Cast

  • Faye DunawayFaye Dunawayas Diana Christensen
  • William HoldenWilliam Holdenas Max Schumacher
  • Peter FinchPeter Finchas Howard Beale
  • Robert DuvallRobert Duvallas Frank Hackett
  • Wesley AddyWesley Addyas Nelson Chaney
  • Ned BeattyNed Beattyas Arthur Jensen
  • Arthur BurghardtArthur Burghardtas Great Ahmed Kahn
  • Bill BurrowsBill Burrowsas TV Director

Photo: TMDB

FAQ

When was Network released?
Network premiered in New York City on 14 November 1976 and in Los Angeles on 19 November 1976. Its US theatrical release followed on 27 November 1976.
Where can I watch Network in the US?
As of 24 October 2026, Network is free with ads on YouTube Free. You can rent it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home and Spectrum On Demand. You can buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube and Fandango At Home.
Who is in the cast of Network?
The film stars Faye Dunaway as Diana Christensen, William Holden as Max Schumacher, Peter Finch as Howard Beale and Robert Duvall as Frank Hackett. Wesley Addy and Ned Beatty also appear.
What is Network about?
A veteran news anchor is forced out of his job and announces on air that he will kill himself during his last broadcast. When his outburst boosts ratings, the network's executives start to see him as an asset.
How long is Network and what is it rated?
Network runs 122 minutes and is rated R in the US.

Sources

  1. TMDB
  2. IMDb

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