One of the most celebrated comedy movies of the ’80s is arriving soon on Netflix. Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life came out in 1983 and was one of the most well-known cinematic projects developed by the iconic Monty Python troupe. Terry Jones directed the movie from a script he co-wrote with several other troupe members, including Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, and Eric Idle.
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life arrives on Netflix in January 2026
Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life begins streaming on Netflix on January 1, 2026. The movie embraces the sketch comedy structure of the original BBC TV show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, which aired between the late ’60s and the early ’70s, and their first feature, And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) (via What’s on Netflix).
Notably, both of The Meaning of Life’s immediate predecessors, Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979), have mostly coherent and singular narratives.
The Meaning of Life became the final movie featuring all six members of Monty Python after Chapman died in 1989. Each member played multiple characters in the movie. The movie’s cast also includes Carol Cleveland as Beefeater Waitress / Wife of Guest #1 / Leaf Mother / Leaf Daughter / Heaven Receptionist, Simon Jones as Chadwick / Jeremy Portland-Smythe, Patricia Quinn as Mrs. Williams, Matt Frewer as VBCA Executive, George Silver as Diner Eating Howard the Fish, and Andrew MacLachlan as Groom / Wycliff / Victim #1 / Guest #3.
The Meaning of Life explores various stages of life through a series of comedy sketches. The movie became a moderate success at the box office. It currently has an 86% approval rating on the review-aggregating site Rotten Tomatoes after 37 reviews.
The swashbuckling comedy short film The Crimson Permanent Assurance introduces The Meaning of Life. Gilliam wrote and directed The Crimson Permanent Assurance. Its cast includes Sydney Arnold and Guy Bertrand.
Originally reported by Tamal Kundu on ComingSoon.
