Life of Brian (1979) movie poster

Life of Brian (1979)

"He's not the messiah...he's just a naughty boy."
ThumbScore
👍 88%Google users liked it ⓘ
Critics Score
🎬 86%
Comedy

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Where to Watch

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Director
Runtime
1h 34m
Rated
R
Country
United Kingdom
Language
English
TMDB Rating
7.8/10 (4,844 votes)
Rotten Tomatoes
96%
Metacritic
77

Cast

Graham Chapman as Wise Man #2 / Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus · 80% avg
John Cleese as Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur · 73% avg
Terry Gilliam as Man Even Further Forward / Revolutionary / Jailer / Blood and Thunder Prophet / Frank / Audience Member / Crucifee · 76% avg
Eric Idle as Mr. Cheeky / Stan 'Loretta' / Harry the Haggler / Culprit Woman / Warris / Intensely Dull Youth / Jailer's Assistant / Otto / Lead Singer Crucifee · 76% avg
Terry Jones as Mandy Cohen / Colin / Simon the Holy Man / Bob Hoskins / Saintly Passer-by / Alarmed Crucifixion Assistant · 76% avg
Michael Palin as Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus · 80% avg
Terence Bayler as Gregory
Carol Cleveland as Mrs. Gregory · 82% avg

Is Life of Brian good?

Yes. 88% of real audiences liked it, by Google's archived audience score. Critics agree, scoring it 86%.

Where it ranks on ThumbScore

Rank in its genre
#223 / 2672 · Comedy
Rank in its year
#5 / 32 · 1979

By audience score, among films with 500 or more votes.

Overview

Brian Cohen is an average young Jewish man, but through a series of ridiculous events, he gains a reputation as the Messiah. When he's not dodging his followers or being scolded by his shrill mother, the hapless Brian has to contend with the pompous Pontius Pilate and acronym-obsessed members of a separatist movement. Rife with Monty Python's signature absurdity, the tale finds Brian's life paralleling Biblical lore, albeit with many more laughs. Wikipedia ↗

About the Film

Life of Brian is a 1979 British comedy film directed by Terry Jones, written and performed by the Monty Python comedy troupe. The film follows Brian Cohen, played by Graham Chapman, a young Jewish man in Roman-occupied Judea who is born in the stable next door to Jesus Christ and is repeatedly mistaken for the Messiah throughout his life, eventually becoming the reluctant leader of a revolutionary movement despite his insistence that he is not divine. Life of Brian was one of the most controversial comedies ever released — religious groups organized protests, it was banned in several countries including Norway and Ireland, and the Pythons were accused of blasphemy.

The troupe maintained, correctly, that the film was not about Jesus Christ but about the human tendency to blindly follow anyone who offers simple answers. The film's comedy ranged from sophisticated theological satire to schoolboy Latin puns, and its final scene — Brian and his fellow crucifixion victims singing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" — became one of the most beloved and incongruously cheerful moments in cinema. Life of Brian earned $20 million on a $4 million budget.

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What Reddit Thinks

r/movies
⬆ 28,484💬 1,038 comments
It's been 40 years since LIFE OF BRIAN's British debut—and since two Pythons faced off against two critics in a legendary TV debate.
Top comment: "Wasn’t it for Life of Brian as well that they got in trouble with the Actors Union because they..."
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