The Best Michael Palin Movies, Ranked
107 credits from 1966 to 2025, ranked by the Movie Echo Score — a blend of critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. The Death of Stalin (2018) comes out on top with a score of 85. The biggest box office hit is Time Bandits (1981) with $42.4M worldwide. Below: the best films by genre and by decade, the most awarded and the newest releases.
Biggest Michael Palin Box Office Hits
Michael Palin's films have made $126M worldwide in total. Time Bandits (1981) is the biggest hit at $42.4M, ahead of The Death of Stalin (2018) ($24.6M). Lifetime grosses, with each film's domestic share.
- 1
Time Bandits 1981 · Adventure $42.4M $42.4M dom. - 2
The Death of Stalin 2018 · Biography $24.6M $8.05M dom. - 3
Monty Python's Life of Brian 1979 · Comedy $20.8M $20.2M dom. - 4
The Meaning of Life 1983 · Comedy $14.9M $14.9M dom. - 5
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life 1983 · Comedy $14.9M $14.9M dom. - 6
Monty Python and the Holy Grail 1975 · Adventure $2.93M $2.56M dom. - 7
A Private Function 1984 · Comedy $2.53M $2.53M dom. - 8
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl 1982 · Comedy $328K $328K dom. - 9
American Friends 1991 · Romance $23K $23K dom.
The Best Michael Palin Movie in Every Genre
The best-rated film in each genre Michael Palin has worked in, the genres with the most films first. Comedy leads with 29 films, and Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) is the pick of them.
The Best Michael Palin Movie of Each Decade
One pick per decade of Michael Palin's career, newest decade first: the best-rated film of each ten years, from 1970s to 2010s.
The Latest Michael Palin Movies
The most recent films Michael Palin is credited on, newest first — starting with Worzel Gummidge: The Green Man (2019). Open any of them for the cast, ratings, box office and where to watch.
-
Worzel Gummidge: The Green Man 2019 · The Green Man - The Death of Stalin 2018 · Vyacheslav Molotov
-
Michael Palin: A Life on Screen 2018 · Comedy -
Vanity Fair 2018 · William Makepeace Thackeray -
The Wipers Times 2013 · General Mitford -
-9mxi9GIPWBWDTA.jpg)
Not the Messiah (He’s a Very Naughty Boy) 2010 · Mrs. Betty Palin / Julius Caesar / Bevis -
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Terry Gilliam’s Personal Best 2006 · Various Characters -
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Michael Palin’s Personal Best 2006 · Comedy -
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Terry Jones’ Personal Best 2006 · Various Characters -
Monty Python’s Flying Circus—Eric Idle’s Personal Best 2006 · Various Characters -
Jabberwocky (re-release) 2001 · Adventure -
The Willows in Winter 1996 · Rat
The Best Michael Palin Movies: Questions & Answers
The best-rated, highest-grossing, most awarded and newest Michael Palin films, answered from the rankings on this page.
What is the best Michael Palin movie?
The Death of Stalin (2018) is the best-rated Michael Palin film, with a Movie Echo Score of 85. The Movie Echo Score blends critic reviews, audience ratings and how well a film has lasted.
The Death of Stalin: cast, ratings & box office What is the highest-grossing Michael Palin movie?
Time Bandits (1981) made the most at the box office, with $42.4M worldwide, followed by The Death of Stalin (2018) with $24.6M. Together, Michael Palin's films with box office figures have made $126M.
What is the best Michael Palin comedy movie?
Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) is the best-rated of Michael Palin's comedy films. In other genres: Time Bandits (adventure), The Death of Stalin (biography) and American Friends (romance).
What is the newest Michael Palin movie?
The newest film on Michael Palin's filmography is When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain (2025), with Michael Palin as Self.
More Movie Rankings & Collections
Best-of lists by year, decade and genre, all-time box office records and the films on the trending list.
Best-Rated Movie Rankings
Best-rated, biggest and most-awarded
New Movies & Top Genres
New releases, popular films and the best of every genre