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Life of Brian (1979)

R  |   |  Comedy  |  17 August 1979 (USA)
8.1
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Ratings: 8.1/10 from 248,308 users   Metascore: 75/100
Reviews: 313 user | 109 critic | 14 from Metacritic.com

Brian is born on the original Christmas, in the stable next door. He spends his life being mistaken for a messiah.

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Title: Life of Brian (1979)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Wise Man #2 / Brian Cohen / Biggus Dickus
...
...
...
Mr. Cheeky / Stan aka Loretta / Harry the Haggler / Culprit Woman / Warris / Intensely Dull Youth / Jailer's Assistant / Otto / Lead Singer Crucifee
...
...
...
...
Kenneth Colley ...
Neil Innes ...
Charles McKeown ...
John Young ...
Matthias, Son of Deuteronomy of Gath
...
Sue Jones-Davies ...
Peter Brett
Edit

Storyline

The story of Brian of Nazareth, born on the same day as Jesus of Nazareth, who takes a different path in life that leads to the same conclusion. Brian joins a political resistance movement aiming to get the Romans out of Judea. Brian scores a victory of sorts when he manages to paint political slogans on an entire wall in the city of Jerusalem. The movement is not very effective but somehow Brian becomes a prophet and gathers his own following. His fate is sealed however and he lives a very short life. Written by garykmcd

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

See the movie that's controversial, sacrilegious, and blasphemous. But if that's not playing, see The Life of Brian. See more »

Genres:

Comedy

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

|

Release Date:

17 August 1979 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Monty Python's Life of Brian  »

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$26,376 (USA) (30 April 2004)

Gross:

$646,124 (USA) (22 October 2004)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Norway banned the film for one year for blasphemy, then gave it an '18' rating and included a warning from the censors at the beginning. It has been marketed in Sweden as "The film that is so funny that it was banned in Norway!" Ireland banned the film for blasphemy until 1987. Torbay Council, Devon, refused to show the film until September 2008. Aberystwyth, Wales, lifted its local ban in 2009 after cast member Sue Jones-Davies was elected mayor. See more »

Goofs

When Brian falls off the balcony and knocks the prophet into a large jar, he is clearly hanging on a bar with his hands. See more »

Quotes

[first lines]
Wise Man #1: Ahem!
Brian's mother: Oh!
[falls over in chair]
Brian's mother: Who are you?
Wise Man #2: We are three wise men.
Brian's mother: What?
Wise Man #1: We are three wise men.
Brian's mother: Well, what are you doing creeping around a cow shed at two o'clock in the morning? That doesn't sound very wise to me.
See more »

Crazy Credits

The opening credits are presented as an elaborate Terry Gilliam animated sequence of Roman temples being destroyed. See more »

Connections

Featured in De wereld draait door: Episode dated 10 May 2013 (2013) See more »

Soundtracks

Requiem in D minor, K.626 - 3. Sequentia: Dies irae
(uncredited)
Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performed by Unknown
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
One of my all-time favourites
27 December 2005 | by (Sweden) – See all my reviews

While Quest for the Holy Grail was funny because it was so low-budgetty and silly, Life of Brian is more advanced and with a greater variation of humour. It also has a bigger budget, which is great to see. Every scene looks realistic, and the sets (someone said they were formerly used by "The Last Temptation of Christ?) are great.

Almost every line in this movie is a classic, and all of them very quotable. The characters are hilarious, and out-of-this world zany.The plot is good, and contrary to the Holy Grail, it actually comes to a satisfying conclusion.

The movie also dares to joke about religion. No, they don't joke about Jesus or God, but about the believers in them. The line "I say you are Messiah, and I should know. I've followed a few" is so spot-on it hurts(when I laugh).

All in all, watch this. This is possibly the funniest movie ever created. You can't afford to miss it.


66 of 96 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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Hugely innacurate sarahwellis
Life of Brian or Holy Grail elijam
What quote comes to your mind right now? Ikillthreads
Am I missing something? AlienFanboy
The part that makes me laugh the hardest (every time I see it). ckanelevy
This is not an anti-christian or an atheist movie. san-fairy-ann
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