Top 10 comedy films

1. Life of Brian 2. Airplane! 3. Withnail & I 4.There's Something About Mary 5. Monty Python and the Holy Grail 6. American Pie 7. Groundhog Day 8. Some Like it Hot 9. Blazing Saddles 10. Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Another British film, Withnail & I, is at number three in the chart, behind the disaster movie spoof Airplane!.

Withnail & I, starring Richard E Grant and Paul McGann, was released with little impact 15 years ago but has become a cult favourite, with many lines quoted endlessly by fans.

Life of Brian contains a number of quotable lines as well, including "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!", "What have the Romans ever done for us?" and the song Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

A sign of things to come for Messiah films?

The poll results will come as good news to Python star Terry Jones who is launching his own film company, Messiah Films, the title of which is possibly inspired by the Life of Brian.

The company will focus on unearthing new talent.

Terry Jones said: "We will focus on the three most important requirements for successful movie-making: one, a good script, two, a good script, and three, a good script, in that order."

The first film to be produced by the company comes from a script by Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson.

The Chemical Wedding is to made into a �3.5m movie.