To a ne'er Monty Python viewer - what's the first video you'd suggest watching?

Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Hardcore Python fans will quote anything and everything at you, so you’re out of luck with them until you see it all. But Holy Grail is by far the most commonly referenced of the films by everyone else. You’ll also want to watch a number of sketches from Monty Python’s Flying Circus. You can get a lot of them on YouTube. Start with the Dead Parrot sketch and the Spanish Inquisition.

Here’s a second vote for Holy Grail. One of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen.

I liked The Life of Brian

First look into their movies…(in this order)
-Holy Grail (CLASSIC!)
-Life of Brian and/or Meaning of Life (I’ve seen both, love both)

Then move onto Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

-Parrot sketch
-Spanish Inquisition
-Argument Clinic
-Confuse a Cat
-Famous Deaths
-We’d like to buy a mattress

Oh god there are so many out there.

Holy Grail.

Life of Brian is indeed excellent, and one of my favorites. Sadly, it isn’t quoted as often as it should be. I think @seekingwolf gives a good ordering except that I’d definitely watch Life of Brian before Meaning of Life and I’d put the Election Night Special sketch in between Argument Clinic and Confuse a Cat.

Definitely Holy Grail!

Then probably the nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more sketch.

Then the lumberjack song sketch.

Anything with one of John Cleese’s funny walks.

And don’t forget the office of insults sketch and the fish slapping dance sketch.

@SavoirFaire

I think you are right. Life of Brian, in my opinion, was still really funny but a bit more subdued than Meaning of Life. I think that should be watched first then to “prepare” you. If you aren’t offended by life of Brian (LOL) and have a great time, then watch Meaning of Life.

I blew snot at the Meaning of Life….

Holy Grail is where most quotes come from.

Life of Brian is great and even better if
1) You know the bible well.
2) You don’t get offended by jokes about it.

Though honestly, its a commentary on religion that deserves serious thought.

She’s got huge….tracts of land!

Holy Grail.

You will know the love that we do.

Get the boxed set of Flying Circus episodes. Some of the gags in the movies have roots in these. And they’re hilarious ! ...And relatively bite-sized servings of Python.
Among their movies I might like “Meaning of Life” most but each has special highpoints.

She turned me into a newt! ...I got better.

….Okay, I’ll stop. I’m part of your problem not your solution at this point.

What type of humor do you like? The Cleese/Chapman written sketches tend to humor through confrontation, the Idle sketches humor through wordplay and the Palin/Jones sketches tend a bit more toward absurdist humor. Based on your answer I can tell you better what sketches to check out from Flying Circus (after you watch Holy Grail and Life of Brian though).

@asmonet I prefer to see you as pushing the OP towards a more fulfilling life my making him realize that, without Monty Python, his life till now has been about as fulfilling as that of a knight without any arms.

For the beginner, The Ministry of Silly Walks. has no rivals.

@roundsquare It’s just a flesh wound!

After @gailcalled‘s link, go for Dead Parrot.

Holy Grail. Yep.

As for the sketches, watch all those listed, yes. But all I can say is that the ones I first saw as a kid that made me laugh and stuck in my new-sh brain was Self-Defence Against Fresh Fruit and The Marriage Guidance Counselor sketch.

What about point-ed sticks!?

The Lumberjack Song

This one was proposed by Michael Palin as a test to see if you had any sense of humor at all.

Holy Grail. It’s by far the most ubiquitous. I personally recommend them all, but even most non-Python fans have seen Holy Grail. It’s sorta one of those movies “everyone” has seen.

The Life of Brian really was Python’s finest hour. I loved The Meaning of Life too, although Cleese in particular hated the movie.
I’ve been known to perform this cheeky little number as a little sideshow at parties. Those little kids do love it so ;¬}

Milo here: For one horrifying moment, I thought you were showering accolades on Holy Gail. Whew.

“Look, you’re all individuals!”

“YES, WE’RE ALL INDIVIDUALS!”
“I’m not!”

He’s not the Messiah, he’s a very naughty boy! Now, go away!

“So how do we know if a witch is made out of wood?”
“Build a bridge out of ‘er!”

Definitely Holy Grail. Most people who continually reference Monty Python usually haven’t seen anything besides Holy Grail and Life of Brian. In terms of actual hilarity, see the show. It’s on Netflix now, I believe.

“The Dead Parrot” sketch is the pinnacle of human humor.