BFF25: John Cleese Packs It In

Australian premiere

At 85, John Cleese isn’t easing into retirement - he’s hitting the road in John Cleese Packs It In, a wry, often poignant documentary that accompanies one of his most ambitious undertakings. Over six weeks, Cleese performs 23 shows across 16 European cities in five countries, battling travel chaos, creaking joints, and his own stubborn urge to keep going.

But this isn’t simply a performance film, it’s also a backstage glimpse at a comedy legend reckoning with time, legacy, and public expectation. As he reflects on six decades of work—from Cambridge Footlights to Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, and A Fish Called Wanda, we see not just the polished icon, but the vulnerabilities beneath: fatigue, doubt, and the occasional absurd indignity of aging in the spotlight.

With 90 minutes of intimate access and off-guard moments, John Cleese Packs It In is equal parts tribute and reckoning. Audiences will laugh, maybe wince, and almost certainly be moved, as Cleese confronts the question everyone has: if this is the end of the road, how do you bow out on your own terms? Silly Walks optional.