His films are sometimes set in dystopian worlds and involve black comedy and tragicomedic elements. Gilliam transitioned to directing serious films with themes exploring imagination and oppositions to bureaucracy and authoritarianism.

In 1988, they received the BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Contribution to Cinema. Together they collaborated on the sketch series Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) and the films Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975, which Gilliam directed as well), Life of Brian (1979) and The Meaning of Life (1983). He gained stardom as a member of the Monty Python comedy troupe alongside John Cleese, Eric Idle, Michael Palin, Terry Jones, and Graham Chapman. Terrence Vance Gilliam ( / ˈ ɡ ɪ l i ə m/ GIL-ee-əm born 22 November 1940) is a British filmmaker, comedian, animator and actor. From BBC's Desert Island Discs, 15 April 2011