Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life (1983): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life is a 1983 comedy starring Angela Mann as Second guest's wife, Matt Frewer and Andrew Bicknell. It runs 1 hour 47 minutes and earned $14.9 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 47m (107 min)
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Celandine Films
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life About?
The premise of Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
It took God six days to create the heavens and the earth, and Monty Python ninety minutes to scramble them. The film answers life’s big questions in outrageous sketches: a London insurance office morphs into a pirate ship; National Health doctors try to harvest a living donor’s liver; a glutton takes vomiting to heights before his final demise.
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- philosophy
- monty python
- meaning of life
- death
- greed
- restaurant
- organ donor
- gluttony
- vomiting
- breaking the fourth wall
- surrealism
- heaven
+38 more Show fewer
- sketch comedy
- exploding body
- blood
- religion
- poisoning
- disgust
- skeleton
- exploding stomach
- dying
- musical number
- animated sequence
- bucket on head
- fish
- obesity
- cult comedy
- cult film
- cult classic
- outer space
- food
- aquarium
- violence
- gross out comedy
- sex education
- absurd comedy
- absurdism
- end of life
- life span
- humanity
- satire comedy
- death character
- grim reaper character
- soldier
- battle
- black comedy
- anglo zulu war
- female nudity
- sexuality
- organ donation
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life Cast & Characters
Angela Mann leads the cast as Second guest's wife, with Matt Frewer as Cornered Executive who Jumps (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance") and Andrew Bicknell.
- Angela Mann as Second guest's wife
-
Matt Frewer as Cornered Executive who Jumps (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance") - Andrew Bicknell
-
Michael Caine as British Soldier (uncredited) (segment "Fighting Each Other")
Also Starring in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life
· 19 more- John Cleese Various Roles
- Michael Palin Various Roles
- Terry Gilliam Various Roles
- Eric Idle Various Roles
- Terry Jones Various Roles
- Graham Chapman Various Roles
- Patricia Quinn Mrs. Williams
- Carol Cleveland Various Roles
- Jane Leeves Dancer (uncredited)
- Simon Jones Cedric
- Judy Loe Nurse #1
- Sydney Arnold Pirate Captain (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
- Andrew MacLachlan Groom
- Guy Bertrand Chief Executive (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance")
- Valerie Whittington Mrs. Moore
- Imogen Bickford-Smith Nurse #2
Show all 23 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Mark Holmes Severed head
- Luke Baxter Dancer
- Jennifer Franks Bride
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life Plot Summary
What happens in Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Six fish in a restaurant tank greet each other, then witness a friend being eaten, a moment that sparks the film’s central inquiry into the meaning of life. The story unfolds as a tapestry of interlinked sketches, each satirizing different corners of human behavior while probing big questions with wit, whimsy, and a touch of the macabre. The tone remains observational and gently ironic, weaving together absurd humor with moments of surprising insight.
The Miracle of Birth opens the montage, where maternity doctors are preoccupied with impressing a hospital administrator rather than the woman in labor. The scene sets the film’s rhythm: grand ideas filtered through everyday absurdities, where care and routine collide in comic, pointed ways.
Full summary
The whole story of Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, scene by scene
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life Box Office
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life grossed $14.9 million worldwide. $14.9 million came from the US and Canada and $20,145 (0%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$14.9M
- US & Canada
- $14.9M
- International
- $20.1K
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life Videos
2 videos: 2 clips.
- Clip Monty Python's The Meaning Of Life in 4K Ultra HD | The Gift of War | Extended Preview
How Well Do You Know Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What creatures witness one of their own being eaten in a restaurant tank at the very start of the film, sparking its central question about the meaning of life?
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life Also Known As
37 alternative titles, including “万世魔星:生命的意义” and “Monty Python e o Sentido da Vida”.
- Also known as
-
- 万世魔星:生命的意义
- Monty Python e o Sentido da Vida
- Monty Python: Livets mening
- Monty Python - O Sentido da Vida
- Monty Python - Il Senso Della Vita
- El sentido de la vida
- Monty Python: Smysl života
- Monty Pythons - Der Sinn des Lebens
- Az élet értelme
- Monty Python - le sens de la vie
- Sens życia według Monty Pythona
- Monty Python's Meningen med livet
+25 more Show fewer
- Смысл жизни по Монти Пайтону
- O Sentido da Vida
- Monty Pythonův Smysl života
- 人生七部曲
- Monty Python - the Meaning of Life
- Μόντι Πάιθονς: Το νόημα της ζωής
- מונטי פיטון: טעם החיים
- 脱线一箩筐
- Monty Python Hayatın Anlamı
- 몬티 파이튼의 삶의 의미
- Монти Пајтонов смисао живота
- Monty Python: Elämän tarkoitus
- Монти Пайтън: Смисълът на живота
- Monty Pythons meningen med livet
- 人生狂騒曲
- Sensul vieții
- Monty Python: elu mõte
- Monty Python: Smisao života
- Smisel življenja, ცხოვრების აზრი მონტი პაიტონის აზრით
- Gyvenimo prasmė
- Сенс життя за Монті Пайтоном
- El sentit de la vida
- Monty Python, le sens de la vie
- มอนตีไพธันส์เดอะมีนิงออฟไลฟ์
- Ý Nghĩa Cuộc Sống
Seen Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life?
Movies Like Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl, Monty Python's Life of Brian and Monty Python’s Personal Best.
-
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl 1982 -
Monty Python's Life of Brian 1979 -
Monty Python’s Personal Best 2006 -
And Now for Something Completely Different 1971 -
Life of Python 1990 -
Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1975 -
Monty Python: Live at Aspen 1998 -
Monty Python’s Fliegender Zirkus 1972 -
Monty Python: Almost the Truth (The Lawyer’s Cut) 2009 -
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Terry Jones’ Personal Best 2006 -
The Full Monty 2023 -
A Liar's Autobiography - The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman 2012
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life FAQ: Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life?
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life runs 1 hour 47 minutes (107 minutes).
When was Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life released?
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life was released on March 31, 1983.
Who is in the cast of Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life?
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life stars Angela Mann as Second guest's wife, Matt Frewer as Cornered Executive who Jumps (segment "The Crimson Permanent Assurance") and Andrew Bicknell, among 23 credited actors.
How much did Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life make at the box office?
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life grossed $14.9 million worldwide ($14.9 million domestic, $20,145 international).
Does Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life have a post-credit scene?
No. Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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