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Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones ... see more see more... , Michael Palin , Connie Booth , Carol Cleveland , Rita Davies , Bee Duffell , Sandy Johnson , Sally Kinghorn , Monty Python , John Young , Neil Innes , Patsy Kensit , Mary Allen , Sandy Rose , Eddie Izzard , Robert Klein

From its opening multi-language titles (that sure looks like Swedish) to the closing arrest of the entire Dark Ages cast by modern-day bobbies, Monty Python and the Holy Grail helped to define "irreve... read more read more...rence" and became an instant cult classic. This time the Pythonites savage the legend of King Arthur, juxtaposing some excellently selected exterior locations with an unending stream of anachronistic one-liners, non sequiturs, and slapstick set pieces. The Knights of the Round Table set off in search of the Holy Grail on foot, as their lackeys make clippety-clop sounds with coconut shells. A plague-ridden community, ringing with the cry of "bring out your dead," offers its hale and hearty citizens to the body piles. A wedding of convenience is attacked by Arthur's minions while the pasty-faced groom continually attempts to burst into song. The good guys are nearly thwarted by the dreaded, tree-shaped "Knights Who Say Ni!" A feisty enemy warrior, bloodily shorn of his arms and legs in the thick of battle, threatens to bite off his opponent's kneecap. A French military officer shouts such taunts as "I fart in your general direction" and "I wave my private parts at your aunties." Rabbits are a particular obsession of the writers this time around, ranging from the huge Trojan Rabbit to the "killer bunny" that decapitates one of the knights. Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin collaborated on the script and assumed most of the onscreen roles, while Gilliam and Jones served as co-directors. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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94% liked it

565,795 ratings

Critics

95% liked it

63 critics

PG, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Terry Gilliam, Ian MacNaughton, Terry Jones, Paul Miller, Terry Hughes

Release Date: January 1, 1975

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DVD Release Date: September 7, 1999

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Stats: 46,330 reviews

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Monty Python and the Holy Grail Monty Python and the Holy Grail "We'll Call It A Draw" Fart Monty Python and the Holy Grail Monty Python and the Holy Grail Monty Python and the Holy Grail Just a flesh wound Monty Python and the Holy Grail Arthur and His Knights the killer rabbit! Monty Python and the Holy Grail The Black Beast of Aaarrrghhh Monty Python and the Holy Grail Terry Gilliam The Black Beast of AAAAAAGGGHHHHH Monty Python and the Holy Grail French
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Flixster Reviews (46,330)

  • fb100001493964409
    May 20, 2012
    fb100001493964409
    It's a shame I can't give a film 7 stars out of 5, because this film is almost worthy of that. One of my favorite reviewers online (Movie Bob for The Escapist) once pointed out that its extremely difficult to review a good comedy because it's impossible to accurately review it wi... read morethout giving away the good parts. And I'm now faced with this problem times a million. This is one of the funniest (if not the funniest) films of all time. Just take my word for it, this is a great film.
  • fb100002359227440
    April 21, 2012
    fb100002359227440
    A charming and hilarious cult, The Holy Grail is certally one of the most funniest films that I ever saw. This first full length by the british group Monty Python, it's a unique odyssey by the medieval time with surrealist humor and remarkable characters, scenes and lines. In the... read more edge from absurd and silliness, Monty Python and The Holy Grail gonna make the audience laugh from the opening titles until the last scene.
  • fb733768972
    April 2, 2012
    fb733768972
    The comedy in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is just as fresh as it is in the original film, but the fact that they strayed away from the random short-story storytelling, kind of made this very different from what they were trying to do in the first place. Still, that being sa... read moreid, they do a wonderful job in creating an atmosphere surrounding the events of a King's life. They still have random cuts to animation and slapstick humour that is gut-splittingly funny, but I do believe they were a little full of themselves in knowing that their first film was a hilarious film. Overall, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is an epic of hilarious proportions! I definitely recommend giving this a look, but personally, I could watch the original over and over again!
  • imrealgod
    February 10, 2012
    imrealgod
    Slept a bit through it. However, boredom wasn't the cause for my falling asleep. In fact, I'd say that I found the movie recommendable. Well, more or less. Weighs more on the latter. Check it out specifically for its historical accuracy!!! Check yourself out to have no doubt. Hav... read moree fun.
  • spielberg00
    February 4, 2012
    spielberg00
    A Pythoneering comedy that just never stops!
  • fb100002384654145
    January 5, 2012
    fb100002384654145
    One of the greatest comedies ever made. Every scene is hilarious and memorable. The dialogue is also quotable as hell.
  • garyX
    December 9, 2011
    garyX
    The Monty Python team prick the bubble of pomposity that surrounds Arthurian legend and exposes the inherent absurdities of religious myth, as well as parodying swashbucklers and po-faced historical stories with their usual mix of satire and silliness. Of course, comedy is one of... read more the most subjective of genres so if you're not a fan of Python this won't really be your cup of tea, but I have seen this film at least a dozen times and it still makes me howl with alarming regularity. So many classic scenes and quotable lines, Grail may not have Life Of Brian's narrative momentum (it's really just a series of skits and one liners) but it more than matches it for laugh out loud moments. A British comedy classic and alongside their own Life Of Brian, Blazing Saddles and Airplane!, one of the best cinematic spoofs ever made.
  • fb729949618
    October 26, 2011
    fb729949618
    Probably one of the bigger cult classic films i've seen and it was exactly what I thought it would be. It was very funny, clever, and witty.....as only this type of film could do. Would I watch it again? Maybe. Not really my cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it and would recommend... read more it to anyone.
  • FilmFanatik
    September 24, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a film that I NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER tire of. Not only is it one of the funniest movies ever made, it's also one of the most enjoyable and well-made comedy films of all time. You can really get into a quoting war with your friends with lines fr... read moreom this movie. While I firmly believe that Life of Brian is Monty Python's finest film technically, I believe Holy Grail is their finest film comedically. A lot of people would disagree with me on that, but oh well. This film is still pretty much a sketch film with an overlying storyline, but it all works just perfectly. Amazing work from one of the great comedy troupes of all time.
  • DreamExtractor
    August 15, 2011
    DreamExtractor
    Hilarious, a all time classic, I loved it.

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Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel
March 29, 2011
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

Grail is as funny as a movie can get, but it is also a tough-minded picture -- as outraged about the human propensity for violence as it is outrageous in its attack on that propensity. Full Review

Dave Kehr
March 29, 2011
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

Silly, sophomoric, and slapped together -- but would you want it any other way? Full Review

Variety Staff
September 4, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Monty Python's Flying Circus, the British comedy group which gained fame via BBC-TV, send-up Arthurian legend, performed in whimsical fashion with Graham Chapman an effective straight man as King Arthur. Full Review

May 9, 2005
New York Times

A marvelously particular kind of lunatic endeavor. Full Review

Bruce Newman
July 19, 2003
Bruce Newman, San Jose Mercury News

Holy Grail suffers from the same syndrome that afflicts many of these restored classics: It is better remembered than actually seen.

Kevin Thomas
August 15, 2002
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

For all its shenanigans, Monty Python and the Holy Grail has a sense of humor that is intellectual, even academic, at heart. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
November 16, 2001
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Ah, bless the Pythons, back after 26 years to get medieval all over again on the legend of King Arthur and his knights of the round table.

Roger Moore
October 12, 2001
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

The funniest movie of 1975 and probably the silliest movie ever made.

Stephen Hunter
September 21, 2001
Stephen Hunter, Washington Post

Really smart people improvising really silly gags and bits, most of which work, some of which don't.

Liam Lacey
September 21, 2001
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Has been so quoted and requoted that the scenes and words feel tattooed onto the psychic membrane.

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Facts

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    • Zoot/Dingo: And after the spanking, the oral sex!
    • Sir Galahad: Well, I suppose I could stay a bit longer.
    • Sir Lancelot: [charges into room, killing hicoughing guard]
    • Guard: [turns] Now, you're not allowed to- [gets cut off as Lancelot kills him]
    • French: I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hampster, and your father smelt of eldeberries!
    • King Arthur: Is there anyone else up there we can talk to?
    • French: No! now go away away or I shall taunt you a second time!
    • Sir Lancelot: I thought your son was a girl.
    • King: That's understandable.
    • Minstrel + minor role: [singing] Bravely bold Sir Robin rode forth from Camelot He was not afraid to die, o' brave Sir Robin! He was not at all afraid to be killed in nasty ways, Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin! He was not at not in the least bit scared to be mashed into a pulp Or to have his eyes gouged out, Or his elbows broken; To have his kneecaps split And his body burned away, Or his limbs all hacked and mangled, Brave Sir Robin! His head smashed in, his heart cut out, His liver removed, and his bowels unplugged, His nostrils raped, and his bottom burned off, And his penis split--
    • Sir Robin: Stop! That's enough singing for now.
    • King Arthur: [after literally 'disarming' the Black Knight] Now stand aside, worthy adversary!
    • Black Knight: 'Tis but a scratch.
    • King Arthur: A scratch?! You're arm's off!
    • Black Knight: No it isn't!
    • King Arthur: [points to BK's arm on the ground] Well, what's that?
    • Black Knight: I've had worse.
    • King Arthur: You liar!
    • Black Knight: Oh, come on, you pansy!
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Monty Python and the Holy Grail Trivia

  • Graham Chapman searching for the holy vessel?  Answer »
  • Which classic Monty Python film is this clip from?  Answer »
  • Which Monty Python movie had Tim the Enchanter?  Answer »
  • "I don't want to talk to you no more, you empty headed animal food trough wiper. I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" From which Monty Python movie is this from?  Answer »
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