A 1975 British comedy film has been crowned the greatest comedy of all time, according to one of the most accessed IMDb lists, titled “100 All Time Greatest Comedy Films”, which has garnered over 3 million views.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail, the anarchic medieval parody released in 1975, has risen above other comedy classics – a testament to the enduring appeal of the British surrealist troupe who changed the rules of humour forever.
Directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones – both of whom also star – Holy Grail is not a typical film. It opens with a title sequence interrupted by fake subtitles in Swedish, apparently advertising moose-related tourism.
By the time we actually meet King Arthur (played by Graham Chapman), who’s travelling without a horse while his servant follows behind with two halves of a coconut, we’ve already noticed this will be no ordinary tale.
The film is both a loose adaptation of the Arthurian legend and a chaotic sketch show in disguise, full of gags, accents, and complete disregard for narrative convention.
Ac ultural staple, the film’s lines have been quoted by presidents, sampled by musicians and referenced in sitcoms worldwide.
The film was a transatlantic success, doing well both in the UK and the US. While Monty Python already had a cult following in Britain thanks to their BBC series, Holy Grail helped them explode in America, which paved the way for their later works, especially Life of Brian (1979), which brought with it even more acclaim – and considerable controversy.
The rest of IMDb’s top ten paints a picture of comedic evolution: sitting just behind Holy Grail in second place is Airplane! (1980), a high-speed feature that redefined disaster movies.
Then comes Blazing Saddles (1974), Mel Brooks’ deconstruction of the Western genre, followed by Caddyshack (1980), Kubrick’s Dr. Strangelove (1964) – often not considered a “comedy” in the traditional sense -, Duck Soup (1933), Woody Allen’s Annie Hall (1977), and Chaplin’s Modern Times (1936). Rounding out the list are The Jerk (1979) and Stir Crazy (1980).
Outside of the aformentioned list, Monty Python and the Holy Grail has gained a significant reputation as a groundbreaking comedy and is widely considered one of the greatest comedies ever made. It also served as the inspiration for the musical Spamalot, which won a Tony Award.
If you want to watch the “best comedy film of all time”, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.