SummaryMonty Python delivers the group's sharpest and smartest satire of both religion and Hollywood's epic films. Set in 33 A.D. Judea where the exasperated Romans try to impose order, it is a time of chaos and change with no shortage of messiahs and followers willing to believe them. At it's center is Brian Cohen, born in Bethlehem in a stable next do... Read More
Directed By:Terry Jones
Written By:Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Monty Python's Life of Brian
Metascore
Generally Favorable
77
User score
Universal Acclaim
8.1
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Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
93% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
100
But what a triumph this film was for Chapman, who gave a convincing, touching performance as the bewildered everyman who decides to make a stand, and in his battle with the evil empire makes a Luke Skywalker-style discovery about his lineage. Life of Brian is an unexpectedly earnest, sweet-natured hymn to the idea of tolerance.
100
It has been said that a Monty Python movie is only successful if it offends everyone in the audience at least once. By that measuring stick as well as nearly any other, The Life of Brian is an unqualified triumph. It makes us confront our foibles and laugh at them.
User score
Universal Acclaim
86% Positive
216 Ratings
216 Ratings
10% Mixed
25 Ratings
25 Ratings
4% Negative
9 Ratings
9 Ratings
Jun 24, 2024
10
This is a masterpiece. One of the best 30 movies alltime. The humor is 50 times funnier than anything today.
Oct 21, 2022
10
Probably the most famous and also controversial Monty Python movie. It is a blasphemy for some Christians even if there is no hitting on Jesus or Christianity. It is just the story of Brian not Jesus. For itself it is a comedy with satire of dogmatism, society, culture and black humor in Monty Python style. An achievement is that it is still relevant today over 40 years of release and still on top movies list. You can call this a cult classic or legacy. Like the title suggest it is the story of Brian who is born next door to Jesus but is just an ordinary human. Later as adult he struggles in life with the Roman occupation of Judea, the legendary inner quarreling in Judea and being confused with being the Messiah while just wanting to life his life in peace. As expected the Monty Python team does it best to entertain. It is hilariously funny even if my conscience as Christian made me feel bad (Again it is no mocking of Jesus or Judeism or Christianity). The movie has a lot of all time staples of Monty Python like Biggus ****, the suicide commando of the Judean Peoples Front, the stoning and the “Always Look on the bright side of Life” final. It is extremly funny from start to finish and me and my friends re-watched it a few times over the years. The Monty Python team consisting of Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Eric Idle, John Cleese and Michael Palin is just amazing. I should warn you that their style is not for everyone but it is for a large audience and their work entered pop culture history. Their style of humor was and is unique. Overall I think this is a must see movie even if you dislike it just to be able to talk about. In my age group people will be shocked if you have not seen it. A cult classic and 10/10 for me. Bonus knowledge: The extras in the “Biggus ****” scene were told they did not get paid if they laugh which is extra hilarious.
88
"No God and no religion can survive ridicule," wrote Mark Twain, but for once the sage of Hannibal was wrong.
80
Brian's brilliant, saved itself by benefactor George Harrison, who ponied up the budget of 2 million pounds...simply because he loved the script when industry bigwigs turned characteristically chicken. Its overall irreverence proves a lasting balm for the ages. Thank you, Pythons, for setting such a high and enduring standard.
80
While it may lack the sheer comic anarchy of their other work, Life of Brian may be probably the funniest collective efforts concocted by the British comedy troupe "Monty Python's Flying Circus," is their most sustained effort. (Review of Original Release)
70
Monty Python's Life of Brian, re-released on its 25th anniversary as an antidote to "The Passion of the Christ," is a single-joke satire of organized religion, including Hollywood's.
30
Sluggish, repetitive, and strangely timorous, with little of the zap and imagination of the Pythons' television work.
Mar 28, 2022
10
Life of Brian may have caused controversy on release, but this has always been my personal favourite of the Monty Python movies. Why? Because it is hilarious! True, the story isn't the best component of the film, but everything else works wonders. It is essentially an irreverent and inspired send up of religious epics, and is helped brilliantly by gags and a script that is so joyfully juvenile, if extremely rude, and quotable. Quotes such as "He's not the Messiah. He is a very naughty boy" and "Welease Wodewick" had me literally peeing my pants. The sets are realistic and all of the Pythons who here take several pot shots at their favourite targets, especially Terry Jones, Graham Chapman and Michael Palin are on top form. Overall, irreverent and hilarious, a must see! 10/10 Bethany Cox
Jun 28, 2018
6
is flat out hilarious and goofy.. Monty Python's Life Of Brian It is far better than its predecessor, as it has some sensibility on the plot track and appropriate arc and structure in it, an essential ingredient that makes the feature what it is, and not merely a series of sketchy comic skits or jokes. Having said that, it doesn't suggest that it is one of the finest comic genre feature, in fact it never comes close to its due to its lack of an appropriate three dimensional character. It is short on technical aspects like sound department, costume design and editing. There isn't any specific vision for the director to execute on screen but still the work by Terry Jones is appreciative in here and shows a lot of potential to carry off a logical comic feature. The actors too improvise and blends in as the writer, and is probably the reason why the conversations are mind-numbing but hilarious on its own set terms and the bubble they all reside in. It works like a charm and sweep away its runtime swiftly through its various jokes that is stretched and depicted elaborately in here. Monty Python's Life Of Brian is flat out hilarious and goofy and is an improvement as it has a definite track to cover through the allotted time.
Jun 9, 2012
6
My first film with the entire crew from Monty Python (their third feature-length film), whilst I count out Terry Gilliamâ
Jul 11, 2014
3
I can sense why this Movie is what it is but i couldn´t watch it to the End. Nothing against old Movies but after the modern day standards i got used to it´s just horrific to watch
Dec 2, 2013
3
Maybe this stuff was funny decades ago, maybe it's because I think tv is funnier than cinema, but either way, this is a poor excuse for a comedy. There are far better ways to kill the length of time that this film runs.
Production Company:
- HandMade Films
- Python (Monty) Pictures
Release Date:Aug 17, 1979
Duration:1 h 34 m
Rating:R
Tagline:A motion picture destined to offend nearly two thirds of the civilized world. And severely annoy the other third.
