The Monty Python comedy troupe branched off into a variety of different media after the success of their sketch comedy television series, Monty Python's Flying Circus.
Television Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus (1972) Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python (1989) Monty Python Live at Aspen (1998) Python Night – 30 Years of Monty Python (1999) Monty Python's Personal Best (2006)
Films And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979) Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1982) Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
Books The following official Monty Python books authored by the team members have been published, mostly in large format:
Monty Python's Big Red Book (1971) – Hardcover and paperback. Covers vary. The Brand New Monty Python Bok (1973) (Paperback edition issued as The Brand New Monty Python Papperbok) Monty Python and the Holy Grail (Book) (1977) (First draft and shooting scripts, with Gilliam pictures, lobby cards, stills, correspondence and cost breakdown – the film script later republished separately as a standard paperback) Monty Python's The Life of Brian/MONTYPYTHONSCRAPBOOK (1979) (Expanded film script plus a lot of extra material published back-to-back with it – the film script later published separately as a standard paperback) The Complete Works of Shakespeare and Monty Python: Vol. 1 – Monty Python (1981) (a repackaging of both the Big Red Book and the Brand New Bok) Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983) (Expanded film script with photos) The Monty Python Gift Boks (1986) (Reissues of paperback editions of Big Red Book and the Brand New Papperbok wrapped in a mini poster) Monty Python's Flying Circus: Just the Words (1989) (Mostly complete transcripts of all 4 television series. Originally published in two volumes) The Fairly Incomplete & Rather Badly Illustrated Monty Python Song Book (1994) Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus – Sämtliche Deutschen Shows (1998) (Germany-only scriptbook for the two Fliegender Zirkus specials) A Pocketful of Python – Picked by Terry Jones (1999) (Terry Jones's favourite Python moments.) A Pocketful of Python – Picked by John Cleese (1999) (John Cleese's favourite Python moments.) A Pocketful of Python – Picked by Terry Gilliam (2000) (Terry Gilliam's favourite Python moments.) A Pocketful of Python – Picked by Michael Palin (2000) (Michael Palin's favourite Python moments.) A Pocketful of Python – Picked by Eric Idle (2002) (Eric Idle's favourite Python moments.) The Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons (2003) (Edited by Bob McCabe – a large-format, illustrated coffee table book, oral history of Monty Python told through collection of interviews from Python members and friends; later reissued as small, text-only paperback.) The Very Best of Monty Python (2006) (Full-colour paperback combining the five volumes of A Pocketful of Python) Monty Python Live! (2009) (A combination of oral history and new Python comedy book including the complete illustrated libretto of Python's live shows)
Records
Albums Studio albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsUKAUSNZUSAnother Monty Python Record Released: 8 October 1971 Label: Charisma Formats: LP, MC26———Monty Python's Previous Record Released: 8 December 1972 Label: Charisma Formats: LP, MC39———The Monty Python Matching Tie and Handkerchief Released: 7 December 1973 Label: Charisma Formats: LP, MC, 8-track4982—48Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album Released: 6 October 1980 Label: Charisma Formats: LP, MC13323164"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Live albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsUKUSMonty Python's Flying Circus Released: 6 November 1970 Label: BBC Formats: LP, MC, 8-track—83Monty Python Live at Drury Lane Released: 28 June 1974 Label: Charisma Formats: LP, MC, 8-track19—Monty Python Live at City Center Released: 3 May 1976 Label: Arista Formats: LP, MC, 8-track US-only release—186"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Soundtrack albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsUKAUSNZUSThe Album of the Soundtrack of the Trailer of the Film of Monty Python and the Holy Grail Released: 18 July 1975 Label: Charisma Formats: LP, MC, 8-track45——87Monty Python's Life of Brian Released: 8 October 1979 Label: Warner Bros. Formats: LP, MC6311—155Monty Python's The Meaning of Life Released: 5 April 1983 Label: MCA, CBS Formats: LP, MC—4645—"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Compilation albums TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsUKAUTGERSWIThe Monty Python Instant Record Collection Released: 2 December 1977 Label: Charisma Formats: LP, MC————The Final Rip Off Released: 30 November 1987 Label: Virgin Formats: 2×CD, 2×LP, 2×MC————Monty Python Sings Released: 11 December 1989 Label: Virgin Formats: CD, LP, MC35192133The Ultimate Monty Python Rip Off Released: 3 October 1994 Label: Virgin Formats: CD————"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Box sets TitleAlbum detailsAll of the Worst of Monty Python Released: 1980 Label: Charisma Formats: 7×LP Australasia-only releaseThe Instant Monty Python CD Collection Released: 3 October 1994 Label: Virgin Formats: 6×CDAt the Movies Released: 2000 Label: Disky Formats: 3×CDAnother Monty Python Box Released: April 2002 Label: Disky Formats: 3×CDThe Pythons Autobiography by The Pythons – The Interviews That Made The Book Released: 15 September 2003 Label: Audio Renaissance Formats: 2×CDMonty Python’s Total Rubbish – The Complete Collection Released: 30 June 2014 Label: Virgin Formats: 9×CD+7", 9×LP+7"Live (Mostly) – One Down Five to Go Released: 10 November 2014 Label: Eagle Vision/Universal Music Formats: 2×CD+DVD
Singles TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbumUKAUSAUTBEL (FLA)GERIRENLNORSWI"Spam Song"1972—————————Another Monty Python Record"Eric the Half a Bee"—————————Monty Python's Previous Record"Teach Yourself Heath" (flexi disc release)—————————Monty Python's Tiny Black Round Thing (flexi disc release)1974—————————Monty Python Live at Drury Lane"The Single" (US-only release)1975————————— rowspan="3" "Lumberjack Song"52————————Python on Song197653————————"Brian" / "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" 1979——9——30———34——Monty Python's Life of Brian"I Like Chinese"1980—32———————Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album"Galaxy Song"198377————————Monty Python's The Meaning of Life"Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (reissue)1991311923531—53Monty Python Sings"I Like Chinese" (Germany-only reissue)1992————67————"Galaxy Song" (with Stephen Hawking)2015—————————"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
Documentaries Film Night – On Location with Monty Python and the Holy Grail (BBC2, 1974) The Pythons (BBC1, 1979) The Meaning of Monty Python's Meaning of Life (ITV, 1983) Life of Python (US version) (Showtime, 1990) Life of Python (UK version) (BBC1, 1990) 30 Years of Monty Python – A Revelation (Paramount Comedy Channel, 1999) It's...The Monty Python Story (BBC Two, 1999) Pythonland (BBC Two, 1999) From Spam To Sperm – Monty Python's Greatest Hits (BBC Two, 1999) The Quest for the Holy Grail Locations (DVD, 2001) The Meaning of Making The Meaning of Life (DVD, 2003) Comedy Connections – Monty Python's Flying Circus (BBC One, 2005) The Secret Life of Brian (Channel 4, 2007) What The Pythons Did Next... (Channel 4, 2007) The Story of Brian (Alternate extended edit of The Secret Life of Brian) (DVD/Blu-ray, 2007) Before the Flying Circus (DVD, 2008) Monty Python Conquers America (DVD, 2008) Movie Connections – Monty Python and the Holy Grail (BBC One, 2009) Monty Python: Almost the Truth (Lawyers Cut) (DVD/Blu-ray, 2009) The Meaning of Monty Python (Blu-ray, 2013) Monty Python: And Now for Something Rather Similar (BBC One, 2014) Monty Python: The Meaning of Live (UKTV Gold, 2014) Python at 50: Silly Talks and Holy Grails (BBC Two, 2019)
Stage productions Spamalot (2004) Not the Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) (2007) An Evening Without Monty Python (2009) Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014)
Games
Computer and video games Monty Python's Flying Circus: The Computer Game (1991) Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time (1994) Live With(out) Monty Python (1994) Monty Python's More Naughty Bits (1994) Monty Python's Invasion from the Planet Skyron (1995) Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail (1996) Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1997)
Tabletop games
Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme (2025)
Other collaborations outside Monty Python In addition to their work as a group, the six members have collaborated with each other on numerous other film and television projects outside Monty Python.
YearTitleDirector(s)Graham ChapmanJohn CleeseTerry GilliamEric IdleTerry JonesMichael Palin1969The Magic Christian Joseph McGrath1970The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Kevin Billington1971The Statue Rod Amateau 1977Jabberwocky Terry Gilliam1978All You Need Is Cash Eric IdleGary Weis1981Time Bandits Terry Gilliam1983The Crimson Permanent Assurance Terry Gilliam1983Yellowbeard Mel Damski1985Brazil Terry Gilliam1988A Fish Called Wanda Charles Crichton 1988The Adventures of Baron Munchausen Terry Gilliam1989Erik the Viking Terry Jones1993Splitting Heirs Robert Young1996The Wind in the Willows Terry Jones 1997Fierce Creatures Robert YoungFred Schepisi 2002Pinocchio Roberto Benigni2003Concert for George David Leland2006Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him)? John Scheinfeld2006Locked Out Albert Dupontel2007Shrek the Third Chris Miller2011George Harrison: Living in the Material World Martin Scorsese2012A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman Bill JonesJeff SimpsonBen Timlett2015Absolutely Anything Terry Jones
Notes
References
Further reading From Fringe to Flying Circus – Roger Wilmut (1980) Monty Python: The Case Against Irreverence, Scurrility, Profanity, Vilification, and Licentious Abuse – Robert Hewison (1981) Monty Python: Complete and Utter Theory of the Grotesque – John O. Thompson (1982) Life of Python – George Perry (1983) The First 20 Years of Monty Python – Kim "Howard" Johnson (1989) And Now for Something Completely Trivial: The Monty Python Trivia and Quiz Book – Kim "Howard" Johnson (1991) Monty Python: A Chronological Listing of the Troupe's Creative Output and Articles and Reviews About Them, 1969–89 – Douglas L. McCall (1992) Life Before and After Monty Python: The Solo Flights of the Flying Circus – Kim "Howard" Johnson (1993) Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time : An Official Compendium of Answers to Ruddy Questions Not Normally Considered Relevant to Mounties! – Rusel Demaria (1995) The First 28 Years of Monty Python – Kim "Howard" Johnson (1998) Monty Python Speaks! – David Morgan (1999) The (Non-Inflatable) Monty Python TV Companion – Jim Yoakum (1999) The Pythons' Autobiography by The Pythons (2003) Monty Python and Philosophy: Nudge, Nudge, Think, Think! – Gary L. Hardcastle and George A. Reisch (2006) And Now For Something Completely Digital: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Monty Python – Alan Parker & Mick O'Shea (2006) Monty Python's Tunisian Holiday – Kim "Howard" Johnson (2008)