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Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

1983·Movie
1h 47min·R
78
GreatGoodWatch score

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Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life fingerprint

Very funny, high energy, emotionally cool.

Energy

Fast-paced and spectacular

Fast from start to finish.

  • Fast Pace7
  • Spectacle7
  • Adrenaline5

Heart

Emotionally reserved

  • Wonder6
  • Catharsis4
  • Pathos3

Humor

Plenty of absurdist humor and sharp wit

  • Absurdist Humor10
  • Wit & Wordplay9
  • Satire & Parody9

World

Society, politics, and class and money

Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Novelty9
  • Rewatchability8
  • Ambiguity8

Craft

Standout direction, performances, and dialogue

  • Direction9
  • Non-linear Narrative9
  • Acting8

Style

Standout visual style and editing

A distinctive visual signature.

  • Visual Stylization9
  • Editing8
  • Cinematography7

Who it's for

AdultsFriends NightPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure EscapismThought-Provoking

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Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every movie. Select a row to see all of them.

About

It took God six days to create the heavens and the earth...and Monty Python ninety minutes to screw it up.

Life's questions are 'answered' in a series of outrageous vignettes, beginning with a staid London insurance company which transforms before our eyes into a pirate ship. Then there's the National Health doctors who try to claim a healthy liver from a still-living donor. The world's most voracious glutton brings the art of vomiting to new heights before his spectacular demise.
Absurdist Sketch ComedyPhilosophical SatireDark British HumorSurreal & GrotesqueEpisodic NarrativeIrreverent & ProvocativeCult ClassicExistential ComedyVisual Spectacle

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Monty Python's The Meaning of Life legally?

You can rent or buy it from Apple TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Google Play Movies. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Monty Python's The Meaning of Life worth watching?

78
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 78/100 (IMDb 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes 86%, and Metacritic 72). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Monty Python's The Meaning of Life rated?

RViolenceNuditySexual contentStrong languageDisturbing imagery

It's rated R in the United States. Content advisories: violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, and disturbing imagery.

How long is Monty Python's The Meaning of Life?

1 h 47 min

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life runs 1 h 47 min.

Do critics and audiences agree on Monty Python's The Meaning of Life?

Critics79
Audiences78

Yes. Critics average 79 and audiences 78 out of 100, so both groups see Monty Python's The Meaning of Life much the same way.

Was Monty Python's The Meaning of Life a box office hit?

Budget$9 million
Box office$43 million

Yes. It cost about $9 million to make and earned $43 million worldwide, 4.7 times its budget.

What language is Monty Python's The Meaning of Life in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United Kingdom.

In how many countries can I watch Monty Python's The Meaning of Life?

84ADALAOARATAUAZBABEBFBGBOBRBY+70

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Monty Python's The Meaning of Life in 84 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Monty Python's The Meaning of Life use?

Meatgrinder SurgeryArmour-Piercing QuestionProne to VomitingBookendsUnusually Uninteresting SightExcuse Me While I MultitaskMisplaced WildlifeMassive Numbered SiblingsMaurice Chevalier AccentAnti-Christmas Song"No. Just… No" ReactionThe Last Strawand 105 more

TV Tropes lists 117 storytelling tropes for Monty Python's The Meaning of Life, including Meatgrinder Surgery, Armour-Piercing Question, Prone to Vomiting.