Want to know the best John Cleese movies? How about the worst John Cleese movies? Curious about John Cleese box office grosses or which John Cleese movie picked up the most Oscar® nominations? Need to know which John Cleese movie got the best reviews from critics and audiences? Well, you have come to the right place….because we have all of that information.
John Cleese (1939-) is an English actor, comedian, and screenwriter. In the late 1960s, he co-founded the comedy troupe. Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Along with his Python co-stars Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Graham Chapman, they appeared in numerous movies and television shows. His IMDb page shows over 170 acting credits since 1967. This page will rank John Cleese movies from Best to Worst in six different sortable columns of information. To do well in our overall rankings a movie has to do well at the box office, get good reviews by critics, be liked by audiences, and get some award recognition.

John Cleese Movies Ranked In Chronological Order With Ultimate Movie Rankings Score (1 to 5 UMR Tickets) *Best combo of box office, reviews and awards.
| Year | Movie (Year) | Rating | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Movie (Year) | Rating | S |
| 1988 | A Fish Called Wanda (1988) AA Best Writing Nom |
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| 2004 | Shrek 2 (2004) Voice Only |
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| 1981 | Time Bandits (1981) | ||
| 2001 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) | ||
| 2002 | Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (2002) | ||
| 1975 | Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) | ||
| 2016 | Trolls (2016) Voice Only |
||
| 2006 | Charlotte's Web (2006) | ||
| 1999 | The World Is Not Enough (1999) | ||
| 2002 | Die Another Day (2002) | ||
| 1979 | Life of Brian (1979) | ||
| 1981 | The Great Muppet Caper (1981) | ||
| 1997 | George of the Jungle (1997) | ||
| 2007 | Shrek the Third (2007) Voice Only |
||
| 2003 | Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) | ||
| 1985 | Silverado (1985) | ||
| 2001 | Rat Race (2001) | ||
| 1983 | The Meaning of Life (1983) | ||
| 2011 | Winnie the Pooh (2011) | ||
| 1971 | And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) | ||
| 2021 | Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021) | ||
| 2008 | The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) | ||
| 1968 | Interlude (1968) | ||
| 2013 | Planes (2013) Voice Only |
||
| 1996 | The Willows in Winter/Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (1997) | ||
| 1994 | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) | ||
| 2003 | Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) | ||
| 2014 | Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014) | ||
| 1997 | Fierce Creatures (1997) | ||
| 1994 | The Swan Princess (1994) | ||
| 1991 | An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991) | ||
| 2004 | Around the World in 80 Days (2004) | ||
| 1969 | The Magic Christian (1969) | ||
| 1970 | The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970) | ||
| 1986 | Clockwise (1986) | ||
| 1989 | The Big Picture (1989) | ||
| 2009 | Planet 51 (2009) Voice Only |
||
| 2015 | Absolutely Anything (2015) Voice Only |
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| 1999 | The Out-of-Towners (1999) | ||
| 1993 | Splitting Heirs (1993) | ||
| 2008 | Igor (2008) | ||
| 2005 | Valiant (2005) | ||
| 2012 | A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (2012) | ||
| 1989 | Erik the Viking (1989) | ||
| 2006 | Man About Town (2006) | ||
| 2009 | The Pink Panther 2 (2009) | ||
| 2011 | The Big Year (2011) | ||
| 1968 | The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968) | ||
| 2018 | Charming (2018) | ||
| 2020 | The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020) | ||
| 2000 | Isn't She Great (2000) | ||
| 1990 | Bullseye! (1990) | ||
| 1971 | The Statue (1971) | ||
| 2018 | Elliot the Littlest Reindeer (2018) Voice Only |
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| 2016 | Albion: The Enchanted Stallion (2016) Film Festival Circuit Only |
||
| 1983 | Yellowbeard (1983) | ||
| 1983 | Privates On Parade (1983) Film Festival Circuit Only |
||
| 2019 | Arctic Dogs (2019) Voice Only |
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| 2003 | Scorched (2003) | ||
| 2015 | A.C.O.R.N.S.: Operation Crackdown (2015) | ||
| 2002 | Pinocchio (2002) Voice Only |
||
| 2002 | The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) |

John Cleese Movies Can Be Ranked 6 Ways In This Table
The really cool thing about this table is that it is “user-sortable”. Rank the movies any way you want.
- Sort John Cleese movies by his co-stars
- Sort John Cleese movies by adjusted domestic box office grosses using current movie ticket cost (in millions)
- Sort John Cleese movies by yearly domestic box office rank
- Sort John Cleese movies by how they were received by critics and audiences. 60% rating or higher should indicate a good movie.
- Sort by how many Oscar® nominations and how many Oscar® wins each John Cleese movie received.
- Sort John Cleese movies by Ultimate Movie Rankings (UMR) Score. UMR puts box office, reviews and awards into a mathematical equation and gives each movie a score.
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R | Movie (Year) | UMR Co-Star Links | Actual B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Domestic (mil) | Adj. B.O. Worldwide (mil) | B.O. Rank by Year | Review | Oscar Nom / Win | UMR Score | S |
| 4 | A Fish Called Wanda (1988) AA Best Writing Nom |
Jamie Lee Curtis & Kevin Kline |
62.50 | 190.1 | 190.10 | 12 | 86 | 03 / 01 | 98.2 | |
| 1 | Shrek 2 (2004) Voice Only |
Mike Myers & Eddie Murphy |
441.20 | 888.1 | 1,851.50 | 1 | 83 | 02 / 00 | 98.0 | |
| 5 | Time Bandits (1981) | Sean Connery & Shelley Duvall |
42.40 | 190.5 | 190.50 | 11 | 82 | 00 / 00 | 96.9 | |
| 2 | Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001) | Daniel Radcliffe & Richard Harris |
316.60 | 700.4 | 2,154.30 | 1 | 74 | 03 / 00 | 96.4 | |
| 3 | Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (2002) | Daniel Radcliffe & Emma Watson |
260.00 | 560.3 | 1,890.00 | 4 | 75 | 00 / 00 | 96.0 | |
| 8 | Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) | Monty Python | 19.30 | 117.7 | 117.70 | 37 | 93 | 00 / 00 | 93.9 | |
| 6 | Trolls (2016) Voice Only |
Anna Kendrick & Justin Timberlake |
153.70 | 222.1 | 501.20 | 18 | 65 | 01 / 01 | 93.3 | |
| 12 | Charlotte's Web (2006) | Julia Roberts & Robert Redford |
83.00 | 157.6 | 275.20 | 26 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 91.0 | |
| 6 | The World Is Not Enough (1999) | Pierce Brosnan & James Bond Movies |
126.90 | 313.6 | 893.90 | 14 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 90.8 | |
| 7 | Die Another Day (2002) | Pierce Brosnan & Halle Berry |
160.90 | 346.9 | 931.00 | 12 | 59 | 00 / 00 | 90.7 | |
| 13 | Life of Brian (1979) | Monty Python | 19.40 | 96.6 | 96.60 | 47 | 88 | 00 / 00 | 89.7 | |
| 14 | The Great Muppet Caper (1981) | Charles Grodin & Peter Falk |
31.20 | 140.3 | 140.30 | 24 | 73 | 01 / 00 | 89.3 | |
| 13 | George of the Jungle (1997) | Brendan Fraser & Leslie Mann |
105.30 | 286.7 | 475.10 | 12 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 88.0 | |
| 14 | Shrek the Third (2007) Voice Only |
Eddie Murphy & Cameron Diaz |
322.70 | 586.3 | 1,451.60 | 2 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 87.8 | |
| 16 | Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003) | Drew Barrymore & Cameron Diaz |
100.80 | 209.0 | 537.30 | 29 | 48 | 00 / 00 | 86.9 | |
| 15 | Silverado (1985) | Kevin Costner & Danny Glover |
32.20 | 113.4 | 113.40 | 27 | 73 | 02 / 00 | 86.4 | |
| 18 | Rat Race (2001) | Breckin Meyer & Whoopi Goldberg |
56.60 | 125.3 | 191.60 | 44 | 61 | 00 / 00 | 82.4 | |
| 17 | The Meaning of Life (1983) | Monty Python | 14.90 | 59.2 | 59.20 | 48 | 79 | 00 / 00 | 80.7 | |
| 19 | Winnie the Pooh (2011) | Jim Cummings & Craig Ferguson |
26.70 | 42.1 | 52.30 | 106 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 78.7 | |
| 20 | And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) | Monty Python | 3.00 | 23.0 | 23.00 | 85 | 81 | 00 / 00 | 74.3 | |
| 21 | Clifford the Big Red Dog (2021) | Russell Wong | 48.90 | 56.6 | 85.50 | 26 | 67 | 00 / 00 | 72.7 | |
| 25 | The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) | Keanu Reeves & Jennifer Connelly |
79.40 | 138.2 | 405.80 | 41 | 40 | 00 / 00 | 70.9 | |
| 21 | Interlude (1968) | Oskar Werner | 4.60 | 43.6 | 43.60 | 67 | 70 | 00 / 00 | 70.4 | |
| 25 | Planes (2013) Voice Only |
Dane Cook & Stacy Keach |
90.30 | 138.8 | 367.90 | 39 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 67.9 | |
| 22 | The Willows in Winter/Mr. Toad's Wild Ride (1997) | Michael Palin & Directed by Terry Jones |
0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 252 | 80 | 00 / 00 | 65.4 | |
| 28 | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) | Robert DeNiro & Kenneth Branagh |
22.00 | 67.4 | 343.20 | 60 | 54 | 01 / 00 | 60.8 | |
| 26 | Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) | Steve Martin & Brendan Fraser |
21.00 | 43.5 | 113.10 | 106 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 59.7 | |
| 28 | Monty Python Live (Mostly) (2014) | Monty Python | 0.00 | 0.1 | 3.70 | 383 | 74 | 00 / 00 | 57.0 | |
| 28 | Fierce Creatures (1997) | John Cleese & Jamie Lee Curtis |
9.40 | 25.5 | 25.50 | 117 | 65 | 00 / 00 | 56.5 | |
| 29 | The Swan Princess (1994) | Jack Palance & Howard McGillin |
9.80 | 29.9 | 29.90 | 114 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 56.1 | |
| 32 | An American Tail: Fievel Goes West (1991) | James Stewart & Amy Irving |
22.20 | 65.8 | 121.00 | 59 | 52 | 00 / 00 | 55.7 | |
| 30 | Around the World in 80 Days (2004) | Jim Broadbent & Kathy Bates |
24.00 | 48.3 | 144.90 | 96 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 53.9 | |
| 34 | The Magic Christian (1969) | Peter Sellers & Ringo Starr |
2.00 | 17.6 | 17.60 | 98 | 63 | 00 / 00 | 48.0 | |
| 32 | The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970) | Graham Chapman | 0.00 | 0.3 | 0.30 | 192 | 68 | 00 / 00 | 46.0 | |
| 34 | Clockwise (1986) | Penny Leatherbarrow | 1.50 | 5.0 | 5.00 | 160 | 66 | 00 / 00 | 44.8 | |
| 36 | The Big Picture (1989) | Kevin Bacon | 0.10 | 0.4 | 0.40 | 199 | 64 | 00 / 00 | 37.8 | |
| 38 | Planet 51 (2009) Voice Only |
Dwayne Johnson & Gary Oldman |
42.20 | 70.3 | 176.10 | 69 | 42 | 00 / 00 | 37.0 | |
| 37 | Absolutely Anything (2015) Voice Only |
Kate Beckinsale & Robin Williams |
0.10 | 0.1 | 10.70 | 314 | 62 | 00 / 00 | 32.9 | |
| 40 | The Out-of-Towners (1999) | Steve Martin & Goldie Hawn |
28.50 | 70.5 | 70.50 | 71 | 38 | 00 / 00 | 30.2 | |
| 38 | Splitting Heirs (1993) | Catherine Zeta-Jones & Rick Moranis |
3.20 | 9.8 | 9.80 | 155 | 55 | 00 / 00 | 25.6 | |
| 41 | Igor (2008) | John Cusack | 19.50 | 34.0 | 53.50 | 118 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 24.8 | |
| 42 | Valiant (2005) | Ben Kingsley & Ewan McGregor |
19.50 | 38.0 | 120.60 | 119 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 24.7 | |
| 43 | A Liar's Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (2012) | Monty Python | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 377 | 57 | 00 / 00 | 23.5 | |
| 44 | Erik the Viking (1989) | Tim Robbins & John Cleese |
1.90 | 6.1 | 6.10 | 139 | 54 | 00 / 00 | 22.2 | |
| 44 | Man About Town (2006) | Ben Affleck & Rebecca Romijn |
0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 371 | 56 | 00 / 00 | 21.6 | |
| 47 | The Pink Panther 2 (2009) | Steve Martin & Jeremy Irons |
35.90 | 59.9 | 116.70 | 79 | 35 | 00 / 00 | 19.0 | |
| 46 | The Big Year (2011) | Owen Wilson & Jack Black |
7.20 | 11.4 | 12.10 | 150 | 50 | 00 / 00 | 18.6 | |
| 48 | The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom (1968) | Shirley MacLaine & Richard Attenborough |
2.00 | 19.1 | 19.10 | 118 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 17.6 | |
| 47 | Charming (2018) | Demi Lovato | 0.00 | 0.1 | 8.40 | 496 | 53 | 00 / 00 | 17.0 | |
| 49 | The Very Excellent Mr. Dundee (2020) | Paul Hogan & Chevy Chase |
0.10 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 261 | 51 | 00 / 00 | 13.9 | |
| 49 | Isn't She Great (2000) | Bette Midler & Nathan Lane |
3.00 | 6.9 | 7.00 | 158 | 46 | 00 / 00 | 11.2 | |
| 52 | Bullseye! (1990) | Michael Caine & Roger Moore |
0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 248 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 10.1 | |
| 53 | The Statue (1971) | David Niven | 0.20 | 1.2 | 1.20 | 184 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 9.8 | |
| 54 | Elliot the Littlest Reindeer (2018) Voice Only |
Josh Hutcherson | 0.00 | 0.1 | 3.30 | 487 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 9.5 | |
| 55 | Albion: The Enchanted Stallion (2016) Film Festival Circuit Only |
Debra Messing | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 439 | 47 | 00 / 00 | 9.4 | |
| 55 | Yellowbeard (1983) | James Mason & Peter Boyle |
4.30 | 17.1 | 17.10 | 96 | 39 | 00 / 00 | 7.5 | |
| 55 | Privates On Parade (1983) Film Festival Circuit Only |
Julian Sands | 0.00 | 0.1 | 0.10 | 189 | 44 | 00 / 00 | 7.0 | |
| 56 | Arctic Dogs (2019) Voice Only |
Jeremy Renner & Anjelica Huston |
5.80 | 7.9 | 12.30 | 135 | 41 | 00 / 00 | 6.4 | |
| 57 | Scorched (2003) | Woody Harrelson | 0.10 | 0.2 | 0.20 | 255 | 38 | 00 / 00 | 3.3 | |
| 59 | A.C.O.R.N.S.: Operation Crackdown (2015) | John Leguizamo | 0.10 | 0.1 | 1.70 | 316 | 37 | 00 / 00 | 2.5 | |
| 59 | Pinocchio (2002) Voice Only |
Roberto Benigni & Glenn Close |
3.70 | 7.9 | 7.90 | 170 | 27 | 00 / 00 | 0.7 | |
| 60 | The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) | Eddie Murphy | 4.40 | 9.5 | 15.30 | 165 | 26 | 00 / 00 | 0.6 |
Check out John Cleese‘s career compared to current and classic actors. Most 100 Million Dollar Movies of All-Time.

John Cleese, is the # 13 most connected actor of the 2000’s.