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Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, John Cleese, Eric Idle ... see more see more... , Terry Gilliam , Kenneth Colley , Spike Milligan , George Harrison , Gwen Taylor , Terence Bayler , Carol Cleveland , Susan Jones , Chris Langham , Andrew MacLachlan , Bernard McKenna , John Young , Neil Innes , Charles Knode , Charles McKeown , Peter Brett

On a midnight clear 2,000 years ago, three wise men enter a manger where a babe is wrapped in swaddling clothes. It is an infant called Brian...and the three wise men are in the wrong manger. For the ... read more read more...rest of his life, Brian (Graham Chapman) finds himself regarded as something of a messiah -- yet he's always in the shadow of this other guy from Galilee. Brian is witness to the Sermon of the Mount, but his seat is in such a bad location that he can't hear any of it ("Blessed are the cheesemakers?"). Ultimately, he is brought before Pontius Pilate and sentenced to crucifixion, which takes place at that crowded, nonexclusive execution site a few blocks shy of Calvary. Rather than utter the Last Six Words, Brian leads his fellow crucifixees in a spirited rendition of a British music-hall cheer-up song "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." The whole Monty Python gang (Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, and Terry Gilliam) are on hand in multiple roles, playing such sacred characters as Stan Called Loretta, Biggus Dickus, Deadly Dirk, Casts the First Stone, and Intensely Dull Youth; also showing up are Goon Show veteran Spike Milligan and a Liverpool musician named George Harrison. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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91% liked it

235,277 ratings

Critics

96% liked it

56 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Terry Jones

Release Date: August 1, 1979

Keywords: funniest

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DVD Release Date: April 30, 1999

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Stats: 13,594 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (13,594)

  • fb100002359227440
    April 21, 2012
    fb100002359227440
    It's not just a incredible satire to the fanatic religious people, but a masterpiece of the british cinema and comedy. Life of Brian is poignant, contoversial and entertaining "biblical" comedy and, of course an obligatory film to Monty Pyhton fans and English humor.
  • fb733768972
    April 2, 2012
    fb733768972
    The Life of Brian is interesting for the first half, but it falls apart as the film progressively becomes annoying to watch. It just feels so much different than the first two films, even though they try for the same type of comedy. I easily admire the attempt at great comedy, bu... read moret it's just not that at all. Yes it made me laugh quite a bit, and the random scenes of animation definitely added to the atmosphere as great comedy, but I feel that there is something missing. It is the first of the series that I kind of disliked, but it's not for me, so don't go by that. I think it's because I expected more out of it, that I was kind of taken out of the atmosphere most of the time. I liked it for it's stupid characters and dialogue, but the scenes where the same joke goes on for 10 minutes just got boring. The first and second were very clever in accomplishing that, but this sort of fell flat. I wish I could say many more positive things about it, but this is exactly how I feel. I don't think I would ever take the the time to watch it again!
  • FrizzDrop
    February 13, 2012
    FrizzDrop
    From the Monty Python comedy troupe comes their second film venture, and their second narrative film. Many people blatantly compare this film to Holy Grail because it was another film with a similar style, and starred Graham Chapman as the titular character. Much like Holy Grail,... read more Life of Brian follows the path of a hero in popular lore with a twist. Both are period pieces and both emphasis the distinctions between the gender roles, maternal instincts, and of course the complexities of religion. Though both fall into the realm of absurdist humor, Grail gets so much right mostly because of its structure. While Grail is an epic journey or quest to find a holy relic, Brian is an actual plot lined story about a man with the same characteristics as Jesus in many ways and none of the same story. Many of the cast are taking on anywhere between three and ten roles, and the fact that this is a character heavy film makes that many people's presences awkward and confusing. I still found a lot of great humor within this film, and it was still absurd, loopy, and immature, just without the same grandiose feel to it that Grail cultivated with interesting character development and scenes that were irregular compared to the affluent films it was parodying. I love that Monty Python never culps to pop culture gaffs or ruins itself by being petty or nihilistic with gross out humor or downplaying to the likes of today's simpleton comedians and their disgusting films of entitlement. No matter how self indulgent these films can be, they are always classic, hilarious, and never take themselves serious enough to care what other people think. With a comedy ensemble that lasted nearly twenty some years, that's pretty special.
  • spielberg00
    February 4, 2012
    spielberg00
    A reading from the Book of Python. Sacrilege at its tragically best.
  • imrealgod
    January 25, 2012
    imrealgod
    Wasn't really interested, but watched it anyways. Couldn't ignore it for long owing to the fact that it has secured a place in IMDb Top 250. The movie was good enough, but Brian's mother being played by Terry Jones irritated me to no bounds.
  • fb100002384654145
    January 5, 2012
    fb100002384654145
    Not quite as mature as Holy Grail, but still a great farce from Monty Python. The film contains too many funny skits to count. If you are not easily offended, considering this is a religious satire, then this film will be an enjoyably wacky ride from start to finish.
  • garyX
    December 13, 2011
    garyX
    A boy is born in the stable next door to Jesus and is dismayed when he unwittingly acquires a throng of followers who believe him to be the messiah. This parody of the swords and sandals epic from the Monty Python team came under a lot of fire from religious groups who saw it as ... read moreblasphemy at the time of its release, which is ironic because that is exactly the kind of narrow-mindedness that the film makes fun of. Despite the moments of random Python silliness that most remember about the film (and actually produces most of the laughs) Life Of Brian is really a smart social satire promoting tolerance and individuality. It has plenty of laugh out loud moments and one-liners but this disguises the kind of intelligent message that most comedies fail to include. I've perhaps seen it too many times now so Holy Grail still beats it hands down for sheer belly laughs for me, but its still one of the true comedy classics.
  • skeletonking101
    October 7, 2011
    skeletonking101
    Though considered one of the best Monty Python films, even gone as far as considered the best and funniest, its not as good as Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but its still an enjoyable film, and of course, very funny. Though being pretty immature with some of the comedy, it is ... read moreenjoyable, and though being raised a Christian, I find this film very funny, even if it is somewhat controversial to my religion. Though it is considered a parody on the life of Jesus it is anything but, its focused more on the followers than Jesus, who is in it for only several seconds, and I love how well the followers work off with Brian and how blindly they're following someone who has done nothing spectacular at all, which is a very funny premise.
  • FilmFanatik
    September 15, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    I've spent way too much time trying to decide for myself which film in the Python trilogy (And Now for Something Completely Different does not count) is my favorite. While I will probably never settle on a sort of conrete confirmation, I do know this for sure: Monty Python's Life... read more of Brian is the finest film the team ever made. It never feels for one minute like a set of sketches or skits sewn together in the editing room. It feels like one whole complete story with the back-breaking comedy dropped in. For style, direction, story and social commentary, Life of Brian is the bee's knees of comedy films. On the other hand, I feel that Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the most accessible and funniest of the three films. I'm not putting down Life of Brian at all as it's hilarious in its own right, but Holy Grail to me is the diamond of their comedy routine while Life of Brian is the diamond of their filmmaking abilities. To be succinct, everyone definitely needs to check this one out at least once.
  • murphmann93
    June 24, 2011
    murphmann93
    Really funny!

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Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones
September 11, 2009
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

I've always considered it the group's nadir; it seems toothlessly silly. Full Review

Variety Staff
July 31, 2008
Variety Staff, Variety

Just as wacky and imaginative as their earlier film outings. Full Review

February 9, 2006
Time Out

Python successfully lampoon religious attitudes rather than religion itself. Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Bad taste of this order is rare but not yet dead.

Anthony Lane
August 1, 2004
Anthony Lane, New Yorker

The Pythons are enlightened jesters, whose scorn is reserved for those who persist in walking in darkness.

Roger Ebert
June 18, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Funny, in that peculiar British way where jokes are told sideways, with the obvious point and then the delayed zinger. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
May 28, 2004
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Still holds up beautifully, as both pointed satire and silly, stakes-free comedy. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
May 27, 2004
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

I can't say Life of Brian stands as a comic masterpiece, but it's an indelible part of impolite cinema history, and some of its asides remain priceless.

Chris Vognar
May 22, 2004
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

A king-size cult comedy hit. Full Review

Terry Lawson
May 21, 2004
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Still has its rude, rowdy sting -- and it still speaks more truth about religion than nearly all serious movies on the subject.

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Facts

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    • Pontius Pilate: Wait until Biggus Dickus hears of this!
    • Mrs. Gregory: Oh! It's blessed are the meek! I'm glad they're getting something, they had a hell of a time...
    • Brian Called Brian: Hello, Mother.
    • Mandy: Don't you 'hello mother' me! What're all those people doing out there? C'mon, what've you been up to, my lad?
    • Brian Called Brian: I think they must've popped by, or something.
    • Mandy: Popped by? Swarmed by, more like! There's a multitude out there!
    • Person: I think it was 'Blessed are the cheesemakers.'
    • Mrs. Gregory: What's so special about the cheesemakers?
    • Man: Well, obviously it's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products.
    • Centurion: Well, it's a joke sir, like Sillius Soddus or Biggus Dickus, Sir.
    • Pontius Pilate: What's so funny about Biggus Dickus?
    • Centurion: Well, it's a joke name, Sir.
    • Brian Called Brian: Alright, I AM the messiah! Now, FUCK OFF!
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Monty Python's Life of Brian Trivia

  • "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" originally featured in what movie?  Answer »
  • What happened to Brian after he walked off a tower in Monty Python's Life of Brian?  Answer »
  • In which Monty Python film did Terry Jones say: "He's not the messiah he's a very naughty boy"?  Answer »
  • What film made by the famous British comedic troupe Monty Python was banned in several countries as it was considered blasphemous?  Answer »
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