The Criterion Collection have graced movie lovers this month of February 2026 with the release of an all round classic movie. The movie, Network, is a satirical movie written by acclaimed screenwriter Paddy Chayefsky. Released in 1976, the Sidney Lumet directed movie was well received when released. Now five decades after the movie’s release, Network is still regarded as a great movie and a now eeirley prophetic tale.
Movie Review
Network tells the story of UBS, a fictional television channel that is struggling in the ratings. One night, evening news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch) announces on the air that he will kill himself during his final newscast. While things aren’t looking good for UBS, it does garner the channel publicity and ratings. This catches the attention of programming director Diana Christensen (Faye Dunaway), who decides that a new show should be created revolving around Beale and other questionable people.
Peter Finch as Howard Beale
The acting in Network is amazing. Finch and Dunaway are both great in their roles. Finch is especially believable in his role as Howard Beale, a mentally unstable man having new found fame for his ramblings. Beale is neither the hero or the villain in this story: he’s a victim. Finch gives an amazing performance, which won him the Oscar for Best Actor (posthumously). Dunaway is a also stunning as the villainous Diana Christensen. While not an outright villain, she speaks and thinks only in TV ratings. Even if it means going against what’s morally right, she’ll stop at nothing for viewership and/or ratings. The rest of the cast in Network is also strong, with Max Schumacher (William Holden) serving as the voice-of-reason for Beale’s condition while Peter Hackett (Robert Duvall) is a shrewd TV executive that takes Christensen under his wing.
Aside from the acting, Network is a great looking movie. The set designs for the TV studios and the newsroom are all very realistic while there’s also time for good exterior shots in New York City. It’s a movie that has a great color palette, fitting in with the other mid to late 1970s movies. The best scenes in the movie are ones that take place in the evening or in darker locations. This includes the iconic “I’m as mad as hell” scene, which is wonderfully filmed. From its start in the TV studio to it being received in homes, it’s a chilling scene to watch.
While written as a satire, Network can also be seen as a cautionary tale: it shows what happens when people in power take advantage of powerless people. When first released, it was written as a “what if” scenario about television. Many have seen this as Chayefsky predicting what would become reality television, which was only in its infancy prior to Network (just look at An American Family from 1973). More than anything, Chayefsky was probably showing how dependent people were on technology like television. Five decades later, people are heavily reliant on their computers and phones 24/7.
Bonus Features
Faye Dunaway as Diana Christensen
Along with the movie, Criterion’s release of Network includes a few extras:
– commentary from director Sidney Lumet (2006)
– The Making of Network (2006)- a six part 83 minute documentary on the making of the movie.
– Paddy Chayefsky: Collector of Words (2025)- a new 90 minute documentary on Paddy Chayefsky.
– essay from New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie
– Trailer
The 2006 documentary is a fine feature despite being repetitive. It’s split into six parts and interviews a good number of people who worked on the movie. It’s done on the cheap side but it’s a solid feature. The new Paddy Chayefsky documentary, however, is great. It boasts a star studded cast, all talking fondly about Chayefsky’s work. Some of the people interviewed are people who worked with him while others are simply fans.
Conclusion
Criterion’s release of Network is another great entry to their catalog. If any downsides, it’s lacking in bonus features. Even then, Criterion picked two documentaries that should leave movie buffs happy. If you’re a diehard fan of this movie, you’ll probably like this release.
Movie Rating: 8/10
Release Rating: 7/10
I'm a writer/journalist with a passion for music and pop culture. Having graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 2014, I've been looking for a platform in which I can share my passions. Since 2009, I've been posting to my own blog- The Walrus' Music Blog- via Blogger. I'm also the author of two self-published books, "The Camp: Stories from the Summer" and "The College: Stories from King's." Together, the two books cover the story of my life from 2004 to 2014. I've been lucky enough to interview several of my favorite musicians over the years and go to concerts from time to time. I'm also very devoted to the CBS reality TV show Survivor, which I started watching in 2002 when its fourth season started. I currently live in New Jersey.