Monty Python was an influential British comedy group that is best known for their work on the television show Monty Python and the Flying Circus which aired from 1969 to 1974 on BBC. Monty Python also forayed into movies after their television career. Their list of movies consists of And Now for Something Completely Different (1971), Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975), Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979), Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982), and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983). Some Monty Python movies were a collection of Monty Python sketches shot and released as movies while some Monty Python movies consist entirely of original materials.
Monty Python movies are part of several lists of funniest movies: Monty Python and the Holy Grail is ranked number 41 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies", it is also the fifth greatest comedy movie of all time according to a survey of Total Film magazine reader; Monty Python's Life of Brian is ranked first in the aforementioned Total Film magazine reader survey; the UK arm of Amazon and the Internet Movie Database named Monty Python and the Holy Grail as the best British movie of all time.
The first Monty Python movie released was And Now for Something Completely Different which was shown in 1971 and directed by Ian MacNaughton. It is a collection of sketches from The Flying Circus purposely re-shot for cinema release. The movie was initially intended to be Monty Python’s breakthrough in the US and was not considered a success. The second Monty Python movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail was released in 1975 and was written by the group and directed by Gilliam and Jones. It was nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 1976. The movie is loosely based on the legend of King Arthur. The third Monty Python movie Monty Python's Life of Brian was released in 1979 and directed by the Monty Python comedy team. It tells the story of a young Jewish man who is born on the same day as, and next door to, Jesus Christ, and is consequently mistaken for the Messiah. The movie was a huge box office success, grossing fourth highest in the United Kingdom.
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl is Monty Python’s fourth movie. It was released in 1982 and was in the form of a concert movie. In the Monty Python movie, the group performed their greatest sketches at the Hollywood Bowl. Monty Python’s final movie is Monty Python's The Meaning of Life which was released in 1983.
Monty Python movies have not lost their popularity. Monty Python movies have been released in a special box set and are still being shown in special screenings on television and in cinemas. Because of their unique brand of comedy, Monty Python movies are indeed comedy classics.
