Context

This famous line is spoken by Howard Beale, played by Peter Finch in Network (directed by Sidney Lumet, 1976).

Howard (who really shouldn't be allowed within 50 feet of a television camera) has proven to be a massive ratings superstar, so the network is allowing him to go on these nightly tirades where he addresses the nation honestly.

This one in particular sticks with us because he appeals to his audience on a gut level. Who hasn't been mad as hell at some point in their lives? Politicians, bad drivers, the old woman counting out pennies in front of us at the grocery store register: a hundred things make us frustrated or angry on a daily basis.

In this totally catchy catch phrase, Howard is encouraging everyone to stop keeping that frustration and anger inside.

Where you've heard it

You mean other than inside your own head every time someone's phone rings in the movie theater?

This is one of "those quotes." It's one of the ones most people know, even if they've never seen the movie and don't even know where it comes from. It comes in handy in nearly every situation in life where you want to wring someone's neck. Or multiple necks.

In 2014, a documentary entitled Mad as Hell was released, detailing the popularity of an online news program that prides itself on being blatantly honest and telling it like it is.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

Howard Beale is all about letting go of pretension. He's not masking or disguising his feelings, or trying to make them sound more high falutin than they really are. He's just 100% letting loose.