Life of Brian

1979 • 1h 34m •

Comedy

MOVIEVIBE Rating

★ 7.8/10

5,091 reviews

Your Rating

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.

"He's not the messiah...he's just a naughty boy."

Top Billed Cast

Graham Chapman

Wise Man #2 / Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus

John Cleese

Wise Man #1 / Reg / Jewish Official / First Centurion / Deadly Dirk / Arthur

Terry Gilliam

Man Even Further Forward / Revolutionary / Jailer / Blood and Thunder Prophet / Frank / Audience Member / Crucifee

Eric Idle

Mr. Cheeky / Stan 'Loretta' / Harry the Haggler / Culprit Woman / Warris / Intensely Dull Youth / Jailer's Assistant / Otto / Lead Singer Crucifee

Terry Jones

Mandy Cohen / Colin / Simon the Holy Man / Bob Hoskins / Saintly Passer-by / Alarmed Crucifixion Assistant

Michael Palin

Wise Man #3 / Mr. Big Nose / Francis / Mrs. A / Ex-Leper / Announcer / Ben / Pontius Pilate / Boring Prophet / Eddie / Shoe Follower / Nisus Wettus

Terence Bayler

Gregory

Carol Cleveland

Mrs. Gregory

Detailed Critic & Audience Reviews

D drystyx Verified TMDB Critic

2023-04-03

This isn't Monty Python's best.
In fact, it's very ordinary humor for the most part.
The story of another man living a life parallel to Jesus could have been much funnier than this.
However, people who love "dry humor" may appreciate this one more. It isn't the slapstick humor that we usually get from Monty Python that leaves a person nearly dying of laughter.
It's very low key humor. The only memorable scene is the suicide squad that comes to save Brian, which lasts a few seconds.
It's not totally boring, but it comes close. 4/10...

F Filipe Manuel Neto Verified TMDB Critic

2023-10-06

**It's an excellent comic film, but much inferior to “The Holy Grail”.**

There is consensus on the impact that Monty Python had on humor, and on the way comedy is seen and performed. After a bombastic television series and a highly successful first film, they decided to make this film which, in essence, is a satire on the great biblical epics of the past. In this film, we follow Brian, a man who was born a short distance from Jesus and is constantly confused with him.

I'm not conservative enough to not appreciate a religious joke if it's good, and there are a lot of good things in th...

M misubisu Verified TMDB Critic

2025-11-05

## **Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) Review: A Blasphemous, Brilliant, and Utterly Human 10/10**

If *Holy Grail* was a shotgun blast of medieval absurdity, then *Life of Brian* is a precision laser guided by satirical genius. Arriving four years later amid a whirlwind of anticipation and pre-release outrage, this is not merely a follow-up; it is an evolution. It is the pinnacle of Monty Python's craft—a film so sharp, so intelligent, and so uproariously funny that it doesn't just earn a perfect score; it defines what a perfect satire can be.

### The Plot: A Case of Mistaken Messiah...