Monty Python's Life of Brian Went from Controversial Being Named One of the Best Movies of All Time
In 1979, a movie was released that became so scandalous that it sparked protests and was even banned in some countries. Decades later, Monty Python's Life of Brian has become so beloved that it is currently ranked among the best movies of all time on a prestigious list.
Who Named ‘Monty Python's Life of Brian' One of the Best Movies of All Time
Rotten Tomatoes maintains a list of the 300 best movies of all time that is regularly updated by the website. The ranking is based on a combination of critics' scores, user ratings, and other factors including how many times films has been reviewed. Monty Python's Life of Brian is currently included on the list alongside many of the most iconic films of all time.
The beloved comedy currently holds a 96% Tomatometer score based on 74 critic reviews and 93% Popcornmeter score based on more than 250,000 user ratings. In addition to those strong numbers, the film is so widely respected that many people who were born decades after its release have watched and grown to love it. The fact that it is now widely embraced by critics and the publics is a fascinating twist for a movie that was once extremely controversial.
Why ‘Life of Brian' Sparked Angry Protests and Bans
In August 2019, the BBC published an article that examined the scandal that once surrounded Monty Python's Life of Brian. The piece detailed how fierce the backlash was when the comedy was produced and originally released.
The film focuses on a hapless man who is born next door to Jesus Christ, Brian Cohen (of Nazareth), and stumbles his way into a series of absurd situations. Even though the movie depicts Jesus as a genuinely good person who is rarely seen onscreen, it satirizes elements of faith, including when Brian is mistaken for a messiah. Despite that, the BBC's article quotes Monty Python member Eric Idle from Robert Seller'sbook "Very Naughty Boys," saying that he was under the impression that they'd been respectful. "I thought we'd been quite good. We'd avoided being specifically rude to specific groups."
No matter what the intentions for the film were, the project was deemed so controversial that the Chief Executive of EMI, Bernard Delfont, pulled out of an agreement to fund its production. Ultimately, it was made when George Harrison from The Beatles remortgaged his house to bankroll the project.
As the BBC's article detailed, the controversy didn't end behind the scenes. Countries like Ireland and Norway banned Monty Python's Life of Brian upon its release. In America, screenings of the film were picketed in New York. Additionally, Rabbi Abraham Hecht, President of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, decried it while speaking to Variety at the time. "Never have we come across such a foul, disgusting, blasphemous film before."
However, controversy can create cash sometimes, and that appears to have been the case for this movie. The BBC's article noted that the comedy was originally set to open on only 200 screens in the United States. After the scandal generated more interest, that number doubled. The outlet quoted John Cleese at the time expressing his gratitude for the protesters. "They actually made me rich. I feel we should send them a crate of champagne or something."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Apr 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 10:30 AM.