Life of Brian (1979)

Life of Brian rating: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic

IMDb8/10· 433K votes

Rotten Tomatoes96%

Metacritic77%

TMDb7.8/10· 5K votes

With 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, backed by 8/10 on IMDb and 77/100 on Metacritic, critical reception of this film has been very positive.

About Life of Brian

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.

Cast of Life of Brian

• 

  Graham Chapman

  as Wise Man #2 / Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus

• 

  John Cleese

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

• 

  Terry Gilliam

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

• 

  Eric Idle

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

• 

  Terry Jones

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

• 

  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

• 

  Terence Bayler

  as Gregory

• 

  Carol Cleveland

  as Mrs. Gregory

• 

  Kenneth Colley

  as Jesus

• 

  Neil Innes

  as A Weedy Samaritan

• 

  Charles McKeown

  as False Prophet / Blind Man / Giggling Guard / Stig

• 

  John Young

  as Matthias, Son of Deuteronomy of Gath

Life of Brian facts

Budget

$4M

Box office

$20.8M

Our take on Life of Brian

Monty Python's 1979 comedy, directed by Terry Jones, follows Brian Cohen, an ordinary young man born the same night nearby who is repeatedly and absurdly mistaken for the Messiah. Dodging fervent followers, his overbearing mother, a pompous Pontius Pilate and a squabbling separatist movement, Brian stumbles through a story that shadows biblical lore purely for laughs. The humor is sharp, silly and cheerfully satirical about zealotry, groupthink and institutions rather than faith itself. Best suited to viewers who like fast, quotable absurdist comedy and don't scare easily from irreverence, it remains one of the troupe's most sustained and structured feature-length jokes.