MONTY PYTHON'S LIFE OF BRIAN IS THE FUNNIEST FILM OF ALL TIME
by Hans ten Cate
Monday, 14 July 2003

The top 20 films chosen by the movie buffs are:

1. Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)
2. National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)
3. Blazing Saddles (1974)
4. Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
5. The Wedding Singer (1999)
6. Dumb and Dumber (1995)
7. Airplane! (1980)
8. When Harry met Sally (1989)
9. Monty Python and The Holy Grail (1975)
10. Some Like It Hot (1959)
11. The Princess Bride (1987)
12. Shrek (2001)
13. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)
14. The Man with two Brains (1983)
15. Happy Gilmore (1996)
16. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
17. The Lady Killers (1955)
18. The Jerk (1979)
19. Austin Powers International Man of Mystery (1997)
20. The Mask (1994).

Monty Python's Life Of Brian has been voted the funniest ever film in a survey of 4,000 movie buffs by Choices Video, a UK-based video rental chain.

Condemned by the church and dismissed as blasphemous by conservative critics, the film about a man mistaken for the Messiah was one of the most controversial movies ever in its day. The film was banned in several areas of Britain, including Swansea which lifted the ban only in 1997.

And now fans have dubbed the film as the top comedy film. Choices Video's representative, Hazel Larkin, said: "The British have a great sense of humour and it's great to see a Brit winner." Monty Python and the Holy Grail also made the list, ranking ninth overall.

"It's clear that everyone has a different opinion about what makes us laugh," said Larkin, "but you'd have to be the most miserable person in the world to not crack a funny bone watching these movies."

Sources:

  • "the funniest film ever: Monty Python's Life of Brian declared the funniest film ever," on itchy Manchester.com
  • Karen McVeigh, "Life of Brian has last laugh on critics," in The Scotsman, 5 July 2003
  • "Python Classic Tops the Laughter Leagure," in The Daily Record, 5 July 2003