Life of Brian (1979): cast, story & where to watch
1979 · Film · ★ 7.8
Released in 1979, Life of Brian is a comedy film directed by Terry Jones, running about 94 minutes. “He wasn't the messiah. He was a very naughty boy.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Life of Brian stars 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 and Eric Idle as Mr. Cheeky / Stan 'Loretta' / Harry the Haggler / Culprit Woman / Warris / Intensely Dull Youth / Jailer's Assistant / Otto / Lead Singer Crucifee, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.8/10, Life of Brian has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $20.7M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium and Amazon Prime Video with Ads and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Life of Brian page.
If you liked it. Fans of Life of Brian tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Life of Brian (1979)?
- In US, Life of Brian is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV and Peacock Premium, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Life of Brian worth watching?
- Life of Brian holds an audience score of 7.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Life of Brian?
- Life of Brian stars Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones.
- When was Life of Brian released?
- Life of Brian was released in 1979, with a runtime of about 94 minutes.