Rotten Tomatoes
 Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Life of Brian

Play trailer2:47Poster for Life of BrianRReleased Aug 17, 19791h 33mComedyPlay Trailer Watchlist
WatchlistTomatometerPopcornmeter
96%Tomatometer 73 Reviews 93%Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Brian Cohen (Graham Chapman) 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 (Terry Jones), the hapless Brian has to contend with the pompous Pontius Pilate (Michael Palin) 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.
Watch on Peacock Stream Now

Where to Watch

Life of Brian

Life of Brian

What to Know

Critics Consensus

One of the more cutting-edge films of the 1970s, this religious farce from the classic comedy troupe is as poignant as it is funny and satirical.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View All (73) Critics Reviews
Tom Huddleston Time Out It’s still extremely funny, as quotable now as it ever was, and as searingly, eye-openingly intelligent. Rated: 5/5 Dec 12, 2024 Full Review Kevin Maher Times (UK) It’s a relentless onslaught of consummate comedy that’s so flawlessly crafted, it’s easy to overlook how impeccably the scenes are played. Rated: 5/5 Apr 7, 2023 Full Review Robbie Collin Kermode & Mayo's Film Review I'm desperate for another piece of comedy to do what [Life of Brian] did. Apr 26, 2019 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins A considerably effective parody, particularly as it sends up the arbitrary interpretation of signs and symbols, the follies of blind faith, and the atrocities conducted in the name of religion. Rated: 8/10 Nov 8, 2024 Full Review John Ferguson Radio Times This inspired send-up of religious epics was surrounded by controversy on its release, but it is, nevertheless, the Monty Python team's most assured and satisfying cinematic work. Rated: 5/5 Aug 17, 2024 Full Review Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) With forgiveness from all condemnations, I laughed from start to finish with Life of Brian. [Full review in Spanish] Jan 18, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (1000+) audience reviews
Ellie S Watched this again recently and yes, it's just as good now as it was when it first got released. Rated 5 out of 5 stars04/05/25 Full Review Caysen A the "biggus dickus" scene make me laugh every time! Rated 5 out of 5 stars03/27/25 Full Review Eileen S This and the Holy Grail are 2 of my favourite films. Hard to fault it in any way. Surely one of the best films ever made, and it's still funny when you've seen it dozens of times. Rated 5 out of 5 stars03/20/25 Full Review Audience Member Just re-watched after 40 years and still brilliant and if anything more relevant now with all of today's insanity going on! Rated 5 out of 5 stars03/19/25 Full Review Neil M The Gold Standard of Satirical Comedy Few films manage to be as endlessly quotable, brilliantly irreverent, and intellectually sharp as Life of Brian. It’s hilarious, scathing, and utterly ridiculous in all the right ways, skewering politics, religion, and blind fanaticism with a wit that still holds up decades later. At its core, the film is about Brian Cohen, an ordinary man mistaken for the Messiah, but it’s really a sharp critique of human nature—how people desperately seek meaning, blindly follow authority, and twist words to fit their own narratives. Monty Python’s humor here is pitch-perfect—absurd yet deeply insightful, clever yet playfully dumb (“He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!”). The film escalates its comedy beautifully, throwing in surreal set pieces (the spaceship scene!), razor-sharp political satire (the People’s Front of Judea vs. the Judean People’s Front), and some of the greatest comedic timing in cinema history. It’s a film that stays with you, growing funnier on every rewatch, and for those who love dry, satirical British humour, it’s as close to perfect as you can get. ✔️ Verdict: Life of Brian is Monty Python at their absolute peak, a film that manages to be both intelligent and delightfully idiotic in equal measure. If you don’t find yourself quoting it for years after watching, you probably weren’t paying attention. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars02/01/25 Full Review Kevin P A very funny and sharp satire of religion and the human mob psychology behind it with a great what-if scenario where the messiah is just some guy who accidentally stumbled into it. The ending song is hilarious and bittersweet with its realist yet uplifting tone about keeping your chin up even in the face of certain doom and our inevitable death. It’s so absurd it becomes inspiring. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars01/26/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Life of Brian

My Rating

Read MoreRead Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

View All Cast and Crew

Terry Jones

Director

Graham Chapman

Wise Man #2

John Cleese

Wise Man #1

Terry Gilliam

Man Even Further Forward

Terry Jones

Mandy Cohen

Michael Palin

Wise Man 3

More Like This

View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life 86% 83% Monty Python's The Meaning of Life WatchlistHow to Get Ahead in Advertising 63% 77% How to Get Ahead in Advertising WatchlistThe End 56% 51% The End WatchlistUp in Smoke 47% 82% Up in Smoke WatchlistHistory of the World: Part I 61% 81% History of the World: Part I WatchlistDiscover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All videos

Life of Brian

Life of Brian: Trailer 1Life of Brian: Trailer 1 2:47 View more videos
View All Life of Brian photos

Life of Brian

View more photos

Movie Info

SynopsisBrian Cohen (Graham Chapman) 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 (Terry Jones), the hapless Brian has to contend with the pompous Pontius Pilate (Michael Palin) 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.
Director
Terry Jones
Producer
John Goldstone
Screenwriter
Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
Distributor
Warner Bros., Criterion Collection, Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Handmade Films, Python (Monty) Pictures Limited
Rating
R
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 17, 1979, Original
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Apr 18, 2019
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 25, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$150.2K
Runtime
1h 33m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby Stereo
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
Most Popular at Home Now
close