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Life of Brian

Play trailer 2:47 Poster for Life of Brian R Released Aug 17, 1979 1h 33m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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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.
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Life of Brian

Life of Brian

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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.

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Critics Reviews

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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

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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 stars 02/01/25 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 stars 01/26/25 Full Review thiago s Filme bacaninha, o roteiro é mais ou menos, o filme tem um começo bacana com o cara dando um soco na mulher em vez do cara, depois o Brian tentou fugir do soldados do coluseum ele sobe em uma torre e cai e do nada um nave espacial de ets salva ele sem querer e ele sobreviveu, uma nave na época do coliseum antigo e foda-se, depois Brian está na sua casa e mostra sem querer o pau para toda a população da babilônia, agora já no final Calígula manda Brian e seus aliados serem crucificados, com tudo isso o filme deveria ser bem melhor, e eu só recomendo por causas de algumas cenas, e o dialogo do filme foi fraco. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/13/25 Full Review KerryWhite's S Rating: 5/10. 58/100 Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/01/25 Full Review Dionisis T Funny but truly iconic! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 11/28/24 Full Review ERIK Samuel R Uma genial paródia, da história de Jesus Cristo. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/05/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis 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.
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)
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