Monty Python and the Holy Grail

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is available in the US on Amazon Prime Video and fuboTV right now. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. 6,463 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Graham Chapman leads a cast with real comic timing. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail arrived without much fanfare and built its audience the hard way — through word of mouth. The jokes in Monty Python and the Holy Grail land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. King Arthur, accompanied by his squire, recruits his Knights of the Round Table, including Sir Bedevere the Wise, Sir Lancelot the Brave, Sir Robin the Not-Quite-So-Brave-As-Sir-Lancelot and Sir Galahad the Pure. On the way, Arthur battles the Black Knight who, despite having had all his limbs chopped off, insists he can still fight. They reach Camelot, but Arthur decides not to enter, as "it is a silly place". Graham Chapman and John Cleese lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 1975. What keeps Monty Python and the Holy Grail from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Graham Chapman's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.