50 Movies Like Life of Brian (1979) You Need to Watch Next
Updated August 2026
View Life of Brian details →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.
If you loved Life of Brian (1979) by Terry Jones, here are 50 movies that share its content DNA. iRankMovies measures real similarity using cosine similarity across eight weighted dimensions — genre (50%), tone (12%), pace (10%), structure (8%), era (7%), theme (6%), audience (4%) and narrative perspective (3%) — not just the rating. The closest matches according to our analysis are The Dictator, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Not Another Teen Movie. Every title is ranked by how closely it matches and backed by the iRank Score, a composite of IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic and TMDb across 12,000+ analysed titles.
The Best Movies Similar to Life of Brian
Selected for their real similarity in content, these are the movies that share the most with Life of Brian in terms of theme, narrative tone, and cinematic style. Every recommendation goes beyond genre — we evaluate the type of conflict, pacing, dramatic context, and the experience they create for viewers.
The Dictator
2012 · Larry Charles
The heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.
In common: Comedy
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
2020 · Jason Woliner
14 years after making a film about his journey across the USA, Borat risks life and limb when he returns to the United States with his young daughter, and reveals more about the culture, the COVID-19
In common: Comedy
Not Another Teen Movie
2001 · Joel Gallen
On a bet, a gridiron hero at John Hughes High School sets out to turn a bespectacled plain Jane into a beautiful and popular prom queen in this outrageous send-up of the teen movies of the 1980s and '
In common: Comedy
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
2006 · Larry Charles
Kazakh journalist Borat Sagdiyev travels to America to make a documentary. As he zigzags across the nation, Borat meets real people in real situations with hysterical consequences. His backwards behav
In common: Comedy
Office Space
1999 · Mike Judge
A depressed white-collar worker tries hypnotherapy, only to find himself in a perpetual state of devil-may-care bliss that prompts him to start living by his own rules, and hatch a hapless attempt to
In common: Comedy
The Hangover
2009 · Todd Phillips
When three friends finally come to after a raucous night of bachelor-party revelry, they find a baby in the closet and a tiger in the bathroom. But they can't seem to locate their best friend, Doug –
In common: Comedy
Grown Ups
2010 · Dennis Dugan
After their high school basketball coach passes away, five good friends and former teammates reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend.
In common: Comedy
Grown Ups 2
2013 · Dennis Dugan
Lenny has relocated his family back to the small town where he and his friends grew up. This time around, the grown ups are the ones learning lessons from their kids on a day notoriously full of surpr
In common: Comedy
Scary Movie 5
2013 · Malcolm D. Lee
Home with their newly-formed family, happy parents Dan and Jody are haunted by sinister, paranormal activities. Determined to expel the insidious force, they install security cameras and discover thei
In common: Comedy
The Hangover Part II
2011 · Todd Phillips
The Hangover crew heads to Thailand for Stu's wedding. After the disaster of a bachelor party in Las Vegas last year, Stu is playing it safe with a mellow pre-wedding brunch. However, nothing goes as
In common: Comedy
Project X
2012 · Nima Nourizadeh
Three high school seniors throw a party to make a name for themselves. As the night progresses, things spiral out of control as word of the party spreads.
In common: Comedy
Sex Tape
2014 · Jake Kasdan
When Jay and Annie first got together, their romantic connection was intense – but ten years and two kids later, the flame of their love needs a spark. To kick things up a notch, they decide – why no
In common: Comedy
The Intern
2015 · Nancy Meyers
70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site,
In common: Comedy
Legally Blonde
2001 · Robert Luketic
Fashionable sorority queen Elle Woods has it all, but, she wants nothing more than to be Mrs. Warner Huntington III. But he dumps her before heading to Harvard Law School. Elle rallies all of her reso
In common: Comedy
Scary Movie 4
2006 · David Zucker
Cindy finds out the house she lives in is haunted by a little boy and goes on a quest to find out who killed him and why. Also, Alien "Tr-iPods" are invading the world and she has to uncover the secre
In common: Comedy
It Boy
2013 · David Moreau
38-year-old Alice has everything to become the next editor-in-chief of Rebelle magazine except for her uptight image. But when the young and charming Balthazar, barely 20, crosses Alice's path, she re
In common: Comedy
Airplane!
1980 · Jim Abrahams
An ex-fighter pilot forced to take over the controls of an airliner when the flight crew succumbs to food poisoning.
In common: Comedy
101 Dalmatians
1996 · Stephen Herek
An evil, high-fashion designer plots to steal Dalmatian puppies in order to make an extravagant fur coat, but instead creates an extravagant mess.
In common: Comedy
Happy Gilmore 2
2025 · Kyle Newacheck
Happy Gilmore isn't done with golf — not by a long shot. Since his retirement after his first Tour Championship win, Gilmore returns to finance his daughter's ballet classes.
In common: Comedy
American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules
2020 · Mike Elliott
It's Senior year at East Great Falls. Annie, Kayla, Michelle, and Stephanie decide to harness their girl power and band together to get what they want their last year of high school.
In common: Comedy
The Hangover Part III
2013 · Todd Phillips
This time, there's no wedding. No bachelor party. What could go wrong, right? But when the Wolfpack hits the road, all bets are off.
In common: Comedy
Old School
2003 · Todd Phillips
Three friends attempt to recapture their glory days by opening up a fraternity near their alma mater.
In common: Comedy
Home Alone 3
1997 · Raja Gosnell
9-year-old Alex Pruitt is home alone with the chicken pox. Turns out, due to a mix-up among nefarious spies, Alex was given a toy car concealing a top-secret microchip. Now Alex must fend off the spie
In common: Comedy
EuroTrip
2004 · Jeff Schaffer
When Scott learns that his longtime cyber-buddy from Berlin is a gorgeous young woman, he and his friends embark on a trip across Europe.
In common: Comedy
Garfield
2004 · Peter Hewitt
Garfield, the fat, lazy, lasagna lover, has everything a cat could want. But when Jon, in an effort to impress the Liz - the vet and an old high-school crush - adopts a dog named Odie and brings him h
In common: Comedy
Mean Girls
2024 · Arturo Perez Jr.
New student Cady Heron is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called ‘The Plastics,’ ruled by the conniving queen bee Regina George and her minions Gretc
In common: Comedy
American Reunion
2012 · Jon Hurwitz
The characters we met a little more than a decade ago return to East Great Falls for their high school reunion. In one long-overdue weekend, they will discover what has changed, who hasn’t, and that t
In common: Comedy
Accepted
2006 · Steve Pink
A high school slacker who's rejected by every school he applies to opts to create his own institution of higher learning, the South Harmon Institute of Technology, on a rundown piece of property near
In common: Comedy
American Pie Presents: Beta House
2007 · Andrew Waller
Erik, Ryan, and Cooze start college and pledge the Beta House fraternity, presided over by none other than legendary Dwight Stifler. But chaos ensues when a fraternity of geeks threatens to stop the d
In common: Comedy
Mr. Bean's Holiday
2007 · Steve Bendelack
Mr. Bean wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two reunite. On the way he discovers France, bicycling and true love, among other things.
In common: Comedy
Get Hard
2015 · Etan Cohen
When millionaire hedge fund manager James is convicted of fraud and sentenced to a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him one month to get his affairs in order. Knowing that he won't survive more
In common: Comedy
The Change-Up
2011 · David Dobkin
Lifelong friends Dave and Mitch are envious of the other's life. Mitch thinks Dave has it all: a beautiful, loving family and a high-paying job at a prestigious law firm. But Dave thinks Mitch’s stres
In common: Comedy
Step Brothers
2008 · Adam McKay
Brennan Huff and Dale Doback might be grown men. But that doesn't stop them from living at home and turning into jealous, competitive stepbrothers when their single parents marry. Brennan's constant c
In common: Comedy
Daddy's Home
2015 · Sean Anders
The story of a mild-mannered radio executive who strives to become the best stepdad ever to his wife's two children, but complications ensue when their freewheeling, freeloading real father arrives, f
In common: Comedy
Bad Teacher
2011 · Jake Kasdan
A lazy, incompetent middle school teacher who hates her job and her students is forced to return to her job to make enough money for a boob job after her rich fiancé dumps her.
In common: Comedy
Zoolander
2001 · Ben Stiller
Clear the runway for Derek Zoolander, VH1's three-time male model of the year. His face falls when hippie-chic Hansel scooters in to steal this year's award. The evil fashion guru Mugatu seizes the op
In common: Comedy
Easy A
2010 · Will Gluck
Olive, an average high school student, sees her below-the-radar existence turn around overnight once she decides to use the school's gossip grapevine to advance her social standing. Now her classmates
In common: Comedy
Twins
1988 · Ivan Reitman
Julius and Vincent Benedict are the results of an experiment that would allow for the perfect child. Julius was planned and grows to athletic proportions. Vincent is an accident and is somewhat smalle
In common: Comedy
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
1993 · Mel Brooks
Robin Hood comes home after fighting in the Crusades to learn that the noble King Richard is in exile and that the despotic King John now rules England, with the help of the Sheriff of Rottingham. Rob
In common: Comedy
Dennis the Menace
1993 · Nick Castle
Mr. Wilson's ever-present annoyance comes in the form of one mischievous kid named Dennis. But he'll need Dennis's tricks to uncover a collection of gold coins that go missing when a shady drifter nam
In common: Comedy
Ri¢hie Ri¢h
1994 · Donald Petrie
Billionaire heir Richie Rich has it all, including Reggie Jackson as a batting coach and Claudia Schiffer as a personal trainer -- but no playmates. What's more, scoundrel Laurence Van Dough is schemi
In common: Comedy
Bachelor Party
1984 · Neal Israel
On the eve of his wedding to his longtime girlfriend, unassuming nice guy Rick is dragged out for a night of debauchery by his friends.
In common: Comedy
The Wedding Ringer
2015 · Jeremy Garelick
Doug Harris is a loveable but socially awkward groom-to-be with a problem: he has no best man. With less than two weeks to go until he marries the girl of his dreams, Doug is referred to Jimmy Callah
In common: Comedy
No manches, Frida
2016 · Nacho G. Velilla
After being released from prison, Zequi, a bank robber, sets out to recover money buried by his accomplice; but is horrified to learn that a high school gymnasium is now over the site where the loot i
In common: Comedy
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
1989 · Jeremiah S. Chechik
It's Christmastime, and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration. But things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen, and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsen
In common: Comedy
Anger Management
2003 · Peter Segal
After a small misunderstanding aboard an airplane escalates out of control, timid businessman Dave Buznik is ordered by the court to undergo anger management therapy at the hands of specialist Dr. Bud
In common: Comedy
Daddy's Home 2
2017 · Sean Anders
Father and stepfather Dusty and Brad join forces to make Christmastime perfect for the children. Their newfound partnership soon gets put to the test when Dusty's old-school, macho dad and Brad's gent
In common: Comedy
Young Frankenstein
1974 · Mel Brooks
A young neurosurgeon inherits the castle of his grandfather, the famous Dr. Victor von Frankenstein. In the castle he finds a funny hunchback, a pretty lab assistant and the elderly housekeeper. Young
In common: Comedy
Booksmart
2019 · Olivia Wilde
Two academic teenage superstars realize, on the eve of their high school graduation, that they should have worked less and played more. Determined to never fall short of their peers, the girls set out
In common: Comedy
Bottoms
2023 · Emma Seligman
Unpopular best friends PJ and Josie start a high school self-defense club to meet girls and lose their virginity. They soon find themselves in over their heads when the most popular students start bea
In common: Comedy
Popular Comedy series
Rick and Morty
2013 · Rob Schrab
Follows a sociopathic genius scientist who drags his inherently timid grandson on adventures across the universe.
The Owl House
2020
Luz, a self-assured teenage human girl, accidentally stumbles upon a portal to a magical new world where she befriends a rebellious witch, Eda, and an adorably tiny warrior, King.
Fighting Spirit
2000
Makunouchi Ippo is an ordinary high school student in Japan. Since he spends most of his time away from school helping his mother run the family business, he doesn't get to enjoy his younger years lik
Kamisama Kiss
2012 · Sadakazu Kikuchi
Nanami was just a normal high school girl down on her luck until a stranger’s lips marked her as the new Land God and turned her world upside down. Now, she’s figuring out the duties of a deity with t