Want to know the best Monty Python movies? How about the worst Monty Python movies? Curious about Monty Python box office grosses or which Monty Python movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which Monty Python movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well, you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy troupe who created the sketch comedy television show Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which first aired on the BBC in 1969. Following the success of their television show, they turned their attention to motion pictures. Their show and their movies were written and performed by its members Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin.
This page has two tables of information. Table one ranks Monty Python movies in chronological order. Table two ranks Monty Python movies and ALL the other movies made by the six members of Monty Python. To do well in our overall rankings a movie has to do well at the box office, get good reviews by critics, be liked by audiences, and get some award recognition.
Monty Python Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
Year
Movie (Year)
Rating
S
Year Movie (Year) Rating S
1975
Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)
1979
Life of Brian (1979)
1983
The Meaning of Life (1983)
1971
And Now for Something Completely Different (1971)
2014
Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014)
2012
A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (2012)
Monty Python And Alumni Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies any way you want.
- Sort which Monty Python member was in the movie.
- Sort movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort movies by how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each movie received.
- Sort movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 1 | Shrek 2 (2004) | John Cleese | 441.20 | 765.9 | 1,596.80 | 1 | 83 | 02 / 00 | 98.2 | |
| 4 | A Fish Called Wanda (1988) | John Cleese & Michael Palin |
62.50 | 163.9 | 163.90 | 12 | 86 | 03 / 01 | 96.9 | |
| 2 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) | John Cleese | 316.60 | 604.0 | 1,857.90 | 1 | 74 | 03 / 00 | 96.7 | |
| 3 | Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (2002) | John Cleese | 260.00 | 483.2 | 1,630.00 | 4 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 96.4 | |
| 5 | Time Bandits (1981) | Cleese, Palin & Directed by Gilliam |
42.40 | 164.3 | 164.30 | 11 | 82 | 00 / 00 | 95.3 | |
| 7 | Twelve Monkeys (1995) | Directed by Terry Gilliam | 57.10 | 141.6 | 418.40 | 31 | 83 | 02 / 00 | 94.4 | |
| 8 | Trolls (2016) | John Cleese | 153.70 | 191.6 | 432.30 | 18 | 65 | 01 / 01 | 93.3 | |
| 7 | Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) | Monty Python | 19.30 | 101.5 | 101.50 | 37 | 93 | 00 / 00 | 93.1 | |
| 9 | Casper (1995) | Eric Idle | 100.30 | 248.6 | 713.50 | 8 | 60 | 00 / 00 | 92.3 | |
| 8 | The World Is Not Enough (1999) | John Cleese | 126.90 | 270.4 | 770.90 | 14 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 92.0 | |
| 9 | Die Another Day (2002) | John Cleese | 160.90 | 299.1 | 802.90 | 12 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 92.0 | |
| 13 | Charlotte's Web (2006) | John Cleese | 83.00 | 136.0 | 237.40 | 26 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 90.0 | |
| 12 | South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) | Eric Idle | 52.00 | 110.9 | 110.90 | 47 | 80 | 01 / 00 | 90.0 | |
| 14 | The Fisher King (1991) | Directed by Terry Gilliam | 41.90 | 107.3 | 107.30 | 30 | 76 | 05 / 01 | 89.9 | |
| 17 | Life of Brian (1979) | Monty Python | 19.40 | 83.3 | 83.30 | 47 | 88 | 00 / 00 | 89.5 | |
| 15 | George of the Jungle (1997) | John Cleese | 105.30 | 247.2 | 409.70 | 12 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 89.4 | |
| 17 | Shrek the Third (2007) | John Cleese & Eric Idle |
322.70 | 505.7 | 1,251.90 | 2 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 89.3 | |
| 18 | The Great Muppet Caper (1981) | John Cleese | 31.20 | 121.0 | 121.00 | 24 | 73 | 01 / 00 | 88.5 | |
| 19 | Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) | John Cleese | 100.80 | 180.3 | 463.30 | 29 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 86.1 | |
| 19 | Silverado (1985) | John Cleese | 32.20 | 97.8 | 97.80 | 27 | 73 | 02 / 00 | 86.1 | |
| 21 | National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) | Eric Idle | 49.40 | 149.9 | 149.90 | 14 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 84.8 | |
| 21 | L.A. Story (1991) | Terry Jones | 28.90 | 73.9 | 73.90 | 45 | 78 | 00 / 00 | 84.7 | |
| 23 | Brazil (1985) | Michael Palin & Directed by Terry Gilliam |
9.90 | 30.2 | 30.20 | 85 | 89 | 02 / 00 | 84.1 | |
| 23 | Arthur Christmas (2011) | Michael Palin | 46.50 | 63.2 | 200.40 | 70 | 80 | 00 / 00 | 83.5 | |
| 25 | Stranger Than Fiction (2006) | Terry Jones | 40.70 | 66.6 | 87.90 | 73 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 81.5 | |
| 27 | Rat Race (2001) | John Cleese | 56.60 | 108.0 | 165.30 | 44 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 81.2 | |
| 26 | The Meaning of Life (1983) | Monty Python | 14.90 | 51.1 | 51.10 | 48 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 80.9 | |
| 28 | Winnie the Pooh (2011) | John Cleese | 26.70 | 36.3 | 45.10 | 106 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 79.2 | |
| 29 | The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988) | Eric Idle & Directed by Terry Gilliam |
8.10 | 21.2 | 21.20 | 103 | 79 | 04 / 00 | 76.6 | |
| 30 | And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) | Monty Python | 3.00 | 19.8 | 19.80 | 88 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 75.0 | |
| 33 | 102 Dalmatians (2000) | Eric Idle | 67.00 | 133.9 | 367.30 | 38 | 42 | 01 / 00 | 73.7 | |
| 31 | Interlude (1968) | John Cleese | 4.60 | 37.6 | 37.60 | 67 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 69.8 | |
| 32 | The Death of Stalin (2017) | Michael Palin | 8.00 | 9.7 | 29.60 | 125 | 77 | 00 / 00 | 67.6 | |
| 34 | The Willows in Winter/Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (1997) | Cleese, Idle, Palin & Directed by Terry Jones |
0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 251 | 80 | 00 / 00 | 66.8 | |
| 35 | The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) | John Cleese | 79.40 | 119.2 | 350.00 | 41 | 40 | 00 / 00 | 65.4 | |
| 36 | Planes (2013) | John Cleese | 90.30 | 119.7 | 317.20 | 39 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 61.5 | |
| 35 | Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014) | Monty Python | 0.00 | 0.1 | 3.20 | 366 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 58.0 | |
| 37 | Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) | John Cleese | 21.00 | 37.5 | 97.60 | 106 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 57.6 | |
| 40 | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) | John Cleese | 22.00 | 58.1 | 295.90 | 60 | 54 | 01 / 00 | 57.3 | |
| 39 | Fierce Creatures (1997) | John Cleese & Michael Palin |
9.40 | 22.0 | 22.00 | 117 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 55.5 | |
| 42 | The Swan Princess (1994) | John Cleese | 9.80 | 25.8 | 25.80 | 114 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 54.8 | |
| 44 | The Brothers Grimm (2005) | Directed by Terry Gilliam | 37.90 | 63.9 | 177.40 | 75 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 54.0 | |
| 41 | The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) | Directed by Terry Gilliam | 7.70 | 11.1 | 88.80 | 150 | 66 | 02 / 00 | 53.8 | |
| 44 | The Creator (1999) | Terry Jones | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 297 | 71 | 00 / 00 | 52.5 | |
| 46 | An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991) | John Cleese | 22.20 | 56.8 | 104.40 | 59 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 51.6 | |
| 45 | The Missionary (1982) | Michael Palin | 7.20 | 26.6 | 26.60 | 71 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 51.3 | |
| 46 | Around the World in 80 Days (2004) | John Cleese | 24.00 | 41.7 | 125.00 | 96 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 50.7 | |
| 49 | Ella Enchanted (2004) | Eric Idle | 22.90 | 39.8 | 47.50 | 99 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 49.9 | |
| 48 | A Private Function (1984) | Michael Palin | 2.50 | 8.1 | 8.10 | 130 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 47.3 | |
| 52 | The Transformers: The Movie (1986) | Eric Idle | 5.80 | 17.0 | 17.00 | 95 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 47.1 | |
| 53 | The Magic Christian (1969) | Graham Chapman & John Cleese |
2.00 | 15.2 | 15.20 | 98 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 46.9 | |
| 50 | The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018) | Directed by Terry Gilliam | 0.30 | 0.4 | 2.80 | 228 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 46.5 | |
| 51 | The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970) | John Cleese & Graham Chapman |
0.00 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 190 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 46.3 | |
| 55 | Nuns on the Run (1990) | Eric Idle | 11.00 | 27.9 | 27.90 | 95 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 45.8 | |
| 54 | Clockwise (1986) | John Cleese | 1.50 | 4.3 | 4.30 | 160 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 44.8 | |
| 57 | The Magic Sword: Quest for Camelot (1998) | Eric Idle | 22.50 | 51.7 | 87.10 | 78 | 49 | 01 / 00 | 42.6 | |
| 56 | The Odd Job (1978) | Graham Chapman | 0.00 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 173 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 42.4 | |
| 57 | Jabberwocky (1977) | Jones, Palin & Directed by Gilliam |
2.00 | 9.8 | 9.80 | 113 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 41.7 | |
| 59 | Personal Services (1987) | Directed by Terry Jones | 1.70 | 4.8 | 4.80 | 145 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 41.5 | |
| 58 | A Fish Tale (2000) | Terry Jones | 0.60 | 1.1 | 12.30 | 208 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 40.8 | |
| 62 | Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) | Directed by Terry Gilliam | 10.70 | 24.5 | 31.50 | 113 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 39.0 | |
| 61 | The Big Picture (1989) | John Cleese | 0.10 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 199 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 38.1 | |
| 65 | Hollywood Homicide (2003) | Eric Idle | 30.90 | 55.3 | 91.40 | 89 | 45 | 00 / 00 | 33.5 | |
| 64 | Absolutely Anything (2015) | Idle, Cleese,Palin & Directed by Jones |
0.10 | 0.1 | 9.20 | 348 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 33.1 | |
| 63 | American Friends (1991) | Michael Palin | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 231 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 33.0 | |
| 66 | Planet 51 (2009) | John Cleese | 42.20 | 60.6 | 151.90 | 69 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 31.2 | |
| 67 | Asterix et Obelix Contre Cesar (1999) | Terry Jones | 1.60 | 3.5 | 5.40 | 183 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 26.6 | |
| 69 | The Out-of-Towners (1999) | John Cleese | 28.50 | 60.8 | 60.80 | 71 | 38 | 00 / 00 | 24.9 | |
| 68 | Splitting Heirs (1993) | John Cleese & Eric Idle |
3.20 | 8.5 | 8.50 | 155 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 24.8 | |
| 69 | Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1998) | Eric Idle | 0.10 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 239 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 23.7 | |
| 70 | The Zero Theorem (2013) | Directed by Terry Gilliam | 0.20 | 0.3 | 1.30 | 211 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 22.3 | |
| 74 | Igor (2008) | John Cleese | 19.50 | 29.3 | 46.20 | 118 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 22.2 | |
| 75 | Valiant (2005) | John Cleese | 19.50 | 32.8 | 104.00 | 119 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 21.9 | |
| 72 | Erik the Viking (1989) | John Cleese & Directed by Terry Jones |
1.90 | 5.2 | 5.20 | 139 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 21.8 | |
| 74 | Man About Town (2006) | John Cleese | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 363 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 21.4 | |
| 76 | The Big Year (2011) | John Cleese | 7.20 | 9.8 | 10.40 | 150 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 17.8 | |
| 77 | Charming (2018) | John Cleese | 0.00 | 0.1 | 7.80 | 490 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 16.6 | |
| 78 | The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968) | John Cleese | 2.00 | 16.5 | 16.50 | 118 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 16.1 | |
| 79 | Missing Pieces (1991) | Eric Idle | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 237 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 15.2 | |
| 81 | The Pink Panther 2 (2009) | John Cleese | 35.90 | 51.6 | 100.60 | 79 | 35 | 00 / 00 | 14.7 | |
| 80 | Doctor In Trouble (1970) | Graham Chapman | 0.00 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 191 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 13.9 | |
| 82 | Dudley Do-Right (1999) | Eric Idle | 10.00 | 21.2 | 21.20 | 128 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 11.8 | |
| 83 | Isn't She Great (2000) | John Cleese | 3.00 | 5.9 | 6.00 | 158 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 10.7 | |
| 84 | Bullseye! (1990) | John Cleese | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 247 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 9.9 | |
| 85 | The Statue (1971) | Graham Chapman & John Cleese |
0.20 | 1.0 | 1.00 | 181 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 9.7 | |
| 86 | Elliot the Littlest Reindeer (2018) | John Cleese | 0.00 | 0.1 | 3.10 | 492 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 9.3 | |
| 88 | Yellowbeard (1983) | Chapman, Cleese & Idle |
4.30 | 14.7 | 14.70 | 96 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 6.7 | |
| 87 | King Guillaume (2009) | Terry Jones | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 418 | 44 | 00 / 00 | 6.6 | |
| 89 | Mom and Dad Save the World (1992) | Eric Idle | 2.00 | 5.3 | 5.30 | 149 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 6.3 | |
| 90 | Arctic Dogs (2019) | John Cleese | 5.80 | 6.8 | 10.60 | 135 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 6.2 | |
| 91 | Tideland (2005) | Directed by Terry Gilliam | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 311 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 4.6 | |
| 92 | Scorched (2003) | John Cleese | 0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 255 | 38 | 00 / 00 | 3.2 | |
| 93 | A.C.O.R.N.S.: Operation Crackdown (2015) | John Cleese | 0.10 | 0.1 | 1.40 | 341 | 37 | 00 / 00 | 2.5 | |
| 94 | Too Much Sun (1990) | Eric Idle | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 248 | 35 | 00 / 00 | 1.8 | |
| 95 | Delgo (2008) | Eric Idle | 0.70 | 1.0 | 1.00 | 220 | 29 | 00 / 00 | 0.7 | |
| 96 | Pinocchio (2002) | John Cleese & Eric Idle |
3.70 | 6.8 | 6.80 | 170 | 27 | 00 / 00 | 0.7 | |
| 97 | The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) | John Cleese | 4.40 | 8.2 | 13.20 | 165 | 26 | 00 / 00 | 0.6 | |
| 98 | An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn (1997) | Eric Idle | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 291 | 21 | 00 / 00 | 0.1 |
I am not a great fan of The Monty Python style of humour but as I explain on other pages in this set of new profiles I like some of the work of the individual members of the gang; and in the case of Graham Chapman I admired him as a person. I have seen 10 of the movies in the tables above:
Shrek 2
Shrek 3
The Fisher King – my favourite among this batch with Robin at his peak
LA Story
Frankenstein
The Magic Christian – hilarious for Laurence Harvey’s striptease routine!
Jabberwocky
Doctor in Trouble – brilliant Leslie Phillips taking over from my Dirk as the good doctor of the 1950s and early 1960s.
The Out of Towners.
and One of the Harry potter films – I can’t remember which one.
I think it is very clever and industrious the way in which Bruce has drawn together on the one page and on the individual pages all of the diverse offerings from the Python gang; and as The Monty Python productions on TV and the big screen were always very popular over here many viewers from these shores [and perhaps in the US] will likely find value in the Python set of profiles – so “Voted Up”
BIGGEST SURPRISE: Given that 12 Monkeys is listed I am surprised that Mr Gimme More was not allowed to gatecrash the Python Gang in their star links column. Had The Thin Woman been in one of those movies could The Work Horse have held back?
Hey Bob… thanks for checking out our Monty Python page…even though you are not into their humor. Tally count: Cogerson 54, Steve 53, Bob 10 and Flora 8. Thanks for the mini-reviews of some of the ones you have seen. I have never heard about the Harvey striptease routine.
Glad you liked the way we got all the Python projects on one page….it took almost an entire day to write six UMR pages, update the Gilliam page and then put them altogether. As for no Bruce….just not enough room in that column….lol. Good stuff as always.
King Arthur: “The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I am your king.”
Dennis: “Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.”
King Arthur: “Be quiet!”
Dennis: “You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just ’cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!”
King Arthur: “Shut up!”
Steve: “Hey Bruce, I’m way behind on the new pages, can’t keep up, you’re too fast”
Bruce: “Be quiet!”
I’m a bit of a Python fan, saw one of their films at the cinema would you believe, a long time a go, in a city far far away…. I saw Holy Grail on a double bill with Blazing Saddles in London in July 1979. Holy Grail remains my favorite Monty Python film.
I’ve seen 53 of the 96 films on the chart, lots of favorites here including – Holy Grail, Life of Brian, Meaning of Life, And Now for Something Completely Different, Fish Called Wanda, Harry Potter, Day the Earth Stood Still, Time Bandits, Brazil, 12 Monkeys, Die Another Day, World is Not Enough, Silverado, Shrek and Baron Munchausen.
Good to see Holy Grail topping the critics chart though I expected Brazil to be the winner, another huge favorite of mine.
Shrek 2 tops the box office.
Excellent work Bruce. Vote Up!
Hey Steve….thanks for checking out our Monty Python page. This one took some work…but in the end…I like the massive list with all 6 of the Pythons movies ranked. I wonder how many remaining movies the last 4 remaining members have left in them.
I like your Python/UMR skit…..job well done. I agree….we have produced lots of new pages….but trying not to overwhelm the readers…they are listed are the newest page….if it is somebody you find interesting…then comment….if not….then ignore. As I finish up the Joel book, we are getting to subjects, that I can not believe we have UMR pages on….people like Asner, Snodgress, Benson and others.
The first time I saw Monty Python and the Holy Grail it was on PBS during a fund drive. I watched it with my dad and brother…we laughed so hard. I remember staying up until the middle of the night to watch it again…..and it never came on…..it was like 3 in the morning….and the little 10 year old Cogerson was miffed. These young kids have no idea how good they have it when wanting to watch a movie. I sound like the old guy fussing about kids being on the grass…lol.
Wow…are tally counts are close 54 me, 53 for you. I have seen all of your favorites except for And Now for Something Completely Different. I am right there with you on Brazil, Grail, 12 Monkeys and Fish Called Wanda. Good feedback as always.
The Monty Pythons represented British humor at its cynical best. They even managed to take a stab at us nice and serious Canadians with their Lumberjack wearing women’s clothing sketch. I have seen 4 of the actual Python movies, with Life of Brian being my favorite. Including movies one or more Python have played in, I count 20 on the list I remember seeing with favorites being A Fish Called Wanda and 12 Monkeys.
Hey PhilHoF17. Thanks for checking out this latest page. This one turned out to be a major job…and I thought it was quick page to do. Then again, I did the same thing with our James Dean page….made his 3 movies into a major project.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Pythons. I loved Grail, liked Brian and was somewhat bored with Life. I have not seen And Now For Something Completly Different. Of the “other” Python movies…I am right there with you on 12 Monkeys and A Fish Called Wanda. Love both of those movies. I have seen 54 of the 98 movies listed on the big table….most as a Cleese fan. Good stuff as always.
One of my favorite films, that only features 2 of the Pythons is A Fish Called Wanda. Very funny movie. Fierce Creatures is not bad, but clearly not as good as Wanda.
Hey Ava….I love A Fish Called Wanda…..it has been ages since I saw it….but I remember how much I laughed the first two or three times I saw it. I have seen Fierce Creatures…..but it is no Wanda…lol. Good comment.