Common Sense Media Review
By Sandie Angulo Chen
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sandaled Python pic too irreverent for young kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Monty Python's Life of Brian
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 14 parent reviews
Based on 47 kid reviews
Kids say this film is hilariously funny but contains inappropriate content for younger audiences, particularly due to its frequent swearing and nudity. While many praise its clever satire of religion, others find it disrespectful and suggest it may be confusing for children without deep understanding of the biblical context.
- satire of religion
- mature humor
- frequent nudity
- strong language
- not for young kids
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Brian is born at the same time as Jesus, and the three wise men mistake his birth for Christ's until they quickly realize their error and take back their gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Thirty-three years later, Brian is a concession salesman at the Coliseum, where he encounters a Judean revolutionary group trying to overthrow Roman rule. Meanwhile, a Messianic fervor has taken hold of people. Other self-proclaimed prophets are also claiming to be the son of God, so when Brian literally lands on the pulpit of one to escape the Romans, he just goes along with the charade.
Is It Any Good?
The Life of Brian isn't the comedy masterpiece that is The Holy Grail (nor is it as family friendly), but if you're a fan of the witty Monty Python gang, this a must-see comedy.
THE LIFE OF BRIAN is still known as a controversial film that was deemed blasphemous by leading Catholic and other Christian groups when it was released in 1979. However, the comedy doesn't mock Jesus Christ himself, although he's shown and mentioned briefly a couple of times. Instead, the film makes fun of large-scale biblical epics.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the kinds of films Monty Python was lampooning. What stereotypical aspects of biblical epics does the film include? Is the film offensive or just funny, or somehow both -- why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 17, 1979
- On DVD or streaming : January 29, 2008
- Cast : Eric Idle , Graham Chapman , John Cleese
- Director : Terry Jones
- Studio : Sony Pictures
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate