26Monty Python’s Life of Brian (1979)

The story of Jesus as told via a Jew named Brian Cohen, born one manger over from the Messiah Himself. The Pythons’ satire made them a target for critics not pleased that they were having a laugh with such sacred events as the Sermon on the Mount (“C’mon, let’s go to a stoning,” says Brian’s bored mother) and The Crucifixion (an occasion for singing “Always look on the bright side of life”). In 2008, John Cleese told TV Guide that Life of Brian is the best film the Pythons made. “The humor comes from the way people follow religious leaders,” Cleese said. “So we were actually making fun of a lot of people who call themselves Christians whom Christ probably wouldn't have recognized as Christians because they've missed the point of his teachings.”