Monty Python & the Holy Grail
D: Gilliam & Jones (1974) 90m

The first fully-plotted movie from the legendary British comedy team Monty Python's Flying Circus is an absolute riot from start to finish. Here the Arthurian legend gets the full treatment of off-the-wall humour and zany sight-gags. As the encounter with the Black Knight proves, there is nothing sacred. The funniest fantasy movie ever.

Jabberwocky
D: Terry Gilliam (1977) 105m

Monty Python animator Terry Gilliam's first solo directorial effort didn't set the world on fire on release, but it has certainly withstood the test of time. In medieval times a cooper sets out to make his fortune and runs afoul of the Jabberwock monster. Michael Palin stars in this hilarious example of Pythonesque irreverence.

Time Bandits
D: Terry Gilliam (1981) 116m

Despite the involvement of three ex-Pythons, Time Bandits is a dark comedy that makes few compromises to cheery commercialism. A boy travels through time with a group of treasure-hunting dwarves who have absconded with a map belonging to the Supreme Being. They confront evil at the Fortress Of Ultimate Darkness.

Ghostbusters
D: Ivan Reitman (1984) 107m

Comic genius Bill Murray steals the show again in this story of three scientists who go into the ghostbusting business after getting kicked out of their university positions. It falls to them to save NYC after finding a portal to another dimension. Prototype speculative fiction comedy and a deservedly huge hit. Who you gonna call?

Little Shop Of Horrors
D: Frank Oz (1986) 94m

The original 1960 Roger Corman quickie starring Jack Nicholson spawned the hit off-Broadway comedy/musical on which this film is based. Rick Moranis stars as a love struck nerd who buys a plant during a solar eclipse. It turns out to be a bloodthirsty killer bent on world domination. Nice combination of all speculative fiction genres.

Big
D: Penny Marshall (1988) 104m

A delightfully sensitive story in which a 12-year-old boy wishes he were older and wakes up as a 30-year-old man. The problem is he is still 12 inside. Tom Hanks is superb in the lead role and the film tackles all the tough subjects - like sex, work and friendship - with true panache. Established Penny Marshall as a topnotch director.

Adventures of Baron Münchausen
D: Terry Gilliam (1989) 125m

Perhaps the most frantically zany of Gilliam's pure fantasy films. In what amounts to fantasy within a fantasy, legendary hero Baron Münchausen and his cohorts are resurrected to save a town from the Turks. Some of the more bizarre special effects include a running horse divided into halves and Robin Williams losing his head.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
D: Stephen Herek (1989) 90m

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter star as two not-so-bright teenagers who won't graduate unless they do well on their history presentation. Enter George Carlin, who has a time-tripping phone booth that allows them to round up a few historical figures for show and tell. Really dumb, irresistibly likable and followed by a sequel.