In honor of The One and Only Ivan streaming on Disney+ this weekend, the SiftPop writers have have ranked the Best Ever Movies Featuring Non-Human Primates. Let us know @Siftpop what your ranking is!
Peter Jackson’s King Kong was one of my favorite films when it came out in 2005. It’s an expertly crafted adventure film that has a surprising amount of emotion and depth of feeling attached to it. Peter Jackson’s decision to set it in depression-era 1930’s gave it this classic adventure feel that feels like a romanticized version of the time while also paying homage to the original 1933 King Kong that pushed the boundaries on what you could do with special effects at the time. In this 2005 version of King Kong, the visual effects and action sequences still hold up today as I still feel my heart racing in all of the big set pieces (in particular the bug fight sequence). The anchor to this film, however, is the relationship between Kong and our heroine, Ann Darrow. It gives the film the heart it needs by giving us a quasi Beauty and the Beast relationship between the two. If you haven’t seen King Kong, I recommend it for the T-Rex fight scene alone. (Ben Davis)
When discussing the cream of the crop Disney Animated Films, there is one movie that is left out of the conversation. That film is the lush and beautiful world of Tarzan. The main factor that makes this tale so delightful is the strong thematic build around found family. The film promotes that family is deeper than being biologically linked to one another. This is best illustrated between Tarzan (Tony Goldwyn) and his benevolent adoptive mother, Kala (Glen Close). Kala, who had lost a child previously to the vicious Sabor, accepts the task with open arms to embrace Tarzan as her son. Even when Tarzan realizes that Kala isn’t his “real mother,” that bond is stronger than ever despite that bit of information. Phil Collins’s beautiful soundtrack/score further accentuates the loving nature of this relationship and the film in general. The viewer can’t help but be moved by their familial bond as the film progresses. On the other side of the coin, there is the opposing opinion of Tarzan’s adoptive father, Kerchak (Lance Henriksen). He is shallow minded and can’t see past their obvious physical differences. Kerchak sees weakness in Tarzan, he feels Tarzan endangers himself and the rest of the gorilla troop with his very existence. Tarzan through tireless effort earns a bit of the acceptance that he has always yearned for. Through his actions Tarzan can stand proudly as Kerchek’s son and be seen as a protector of his troop. This film is perfect for children and adults alike as it concerns learning acceptance and embracing our differences. I believe more than ever this is a valuable lesson and we have to learn to love others’ distinct qualities. Tarzan is a film that is highly revisitable not only due to its gorgeous animation, but for its warmth that stays with you long after its conclusion. (Joe Vargas)
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise (at least the original trilogy) is criminally underrated. But it wouldn’t have gotten off to the quality start that it did without the first movie, The Curse of the Black Pearl. It’s full of swashbuckling action, an all-time score, and of course, Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Plus, it has a lot to say about morality with Jack being a morally ambiguous character. It’s one of my favorite movies all time and it is endlessly watchable. Also, the monkey’s name is Jack… (Robert Bouffard)
Writer-director David Cronenberg is a leading filmmaker when it comes to body horror, such as with films like Videodrome, Scanners, and Rabid. This couldn’t be more evident than with his 1986 masterpiece, The Fly, a remake of Kurt Neumann’s 1958 film, which was based on George Langelaan’s short story. The movie follows brilliant scientist Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum), who begins to turn into a human-fly hybrid after an experiment goes disastrously wrong. Goldblum gives what may be his best performance to date, bringing us a character whose scientific optimism soon turns into desperation as the effects of his work become more and more severe. Geena Davis, who plays a journalist, Veronica, has superb chemistry with Goldblum, making their relationship all of the more heartbreaking as the film gets closer to its shattering conclusion. Aside from the tremendous acting, Cronenberg’s film displays unforgettable practical effects, such as the grotesque makeup from Chris Walaas and Stephan Dupuis that’s used on Goldblum during his transition into a fly. There’s also a memorable and unsettling practical-effects scene in which Seth tries to teleport a baboon between two pods, which results in grave complications that cause the primate to be turned inside out once it reaches the second pod. Cronenberg makes a great achievement in having his audience feel disgusted, and then moved by what they’re experiencing, which results in The Fly being a movie that deserves every bit of the positive buzz that it receives. (Vincent Abbatecola)
One of my all-time favorite Disney animated features, Aladdin, has pretty much everything you could hope for as a kid growing up at the time. Beautiful animation that still holds up today, an amazing performance by the late Robin Williams, and a monkey, oh yes, there’s a monkey. Abu is Aladdin’s first–and only– friend starting out and has been by Al’s side at his lowest lows and highest of highs. I probably don’t need to go far into the story, who hasn’t seen this flick? Funny thing, I also wrote about Aladdin a few years ago for the Elephant films (my first ever BEC!), which is also Abu for a time! Abu is not a one-trick pony, though for a moment he was… alright guys. Can next week’s topic be horse movies? I have an idea of what to write about. (Evan Lucken)
There are apes…riding into battle on horses…with machine guns…and fighting in a tank with a sweet rotating tracking shot. Argument over. I need not say more. I do? Fine.
This is the film that fired up the, “Give Andy Serkis an Oscar!” train, and with good reason. The performance is a masterclass and having Toby Kebbell as Koba to play off of as a complex villain seems to push him to another level.
In fact, everything about this movie takes what was done well in Rise of the Planet of the Apes and improves upon it. We can see the advancements and increasing complexity in the ape culture. The film has a more epic scope and feel and the visual effects were groundbreaking. It’s the best entry in one of the best trilogies in cinema. Hail Caesar! (Jake Bourgeois)
I don’t think I have to go too in depth here. Everyone knows The Wizard of Oz as one of the ultimate classics. With some of the most iconic songs of all time, and quotes that people have mimicked for almost a century, it’s no wonder this movie deserves a place on this list. But we’re here to talk about the primates present in this picture, and by primates I mean flying monkeys. Slightly traumatizing in their appearance, the monkeys are the hench-animals of a renowned villain, the Wicked Witch of the West. Always causing trouble for our heroes in the form of sabotage and just general villainy, they’re as integral a part to this story as the ruby red slippers. I can’t imagine that anyone reading this hasn’t had a gander at the story over the rainbow, but if for some reason it’s passed you by, I highly recommend this technicolour adventure for a blast from the past and, honestly, so you can have just a jolly good time. (Alice Micheli)
Where is a better place to look for non-human primates than “The Dawn of Man”? Kubrick’s premiere sci-fi classic 2001: A Space Odyssey begins in a time before humanity has graced the planet with its presence. The audience follows the lives of a group of primates who spend their days yelling at rival gangs and running from predators. But what happens when a mysterious black monolith shows up and blares extremely unnerving music? Evolution jumps as they stand tall and wield weapons against each other. And BAM! The stage has been set for a space journey that will take humanity “Beyond the Infinite.” Enjoy the ride! (Shane Conto)
Okay, so hear me out. The monkey from Raiders of the Lost Ark may only have a few minutes of on-screen time, but he is so darn cute and memorable! He even has his own spot on the poster. This little no-name monkey also gets to play a villain–or an accessory to a villain– because look at his little face and tell me he doesn’t have a heart of gold? He also meets an untimely end, but in an act I’m going to claim as redemption because it ends up saving Indy’s life in the end. Also, fun fact, this little Capuchin is voiced by Frank Welker, the same voice as Abu from Aladdin (which is somewhere on this page thanks to yours truly), which can mean only one thing… Abu and this monkey are cousins and Indiana Jones and Aladdin are in the same universe. Let’s get that crossover going. Indiana Jones and the Cave of Wonders! Trend it on Twitter! Let’s get this giant ball rolling!
Seriously though, Raiders is Spielberg at his best and with all the adventure and suspense and action anyone could ask for. The cinematography, acting, and John Williams’s amazing score is something that is worth returning to over and over. And it has that gosh darn adorable monkey. (Evan Lucken)
While the film centers around lions, The Lion King does surround itself with a fantastic cast of different walks of life. And of all the animals they could look to, it’s Rafiki the Mandrill to hold their newborn over Pride Rock for all of its inhabitants to see. That’s a pretty important stature. Rafiki is hilarious, thought-provoking, and boy does he know his way around a stick. The film is beautiful, awe-inspiringly, has amazing voice acting, and music that will stay with you for a lifetime because it’s done by Elton John and scored by Hans Zimmer. The animated Lion King is perfection and it’s the timeless story that has so many moments that make the complexities of humor, heartfelt and dramatic, look so easy and impossible to replicate. (Evan Lucken)
Honorable Mentions:
Planet of the Apes (1968)
I just recently watched Planet of the Apes for the first time a few months ago, along with Soylent Green in what has to be one of the oddest double features any person has ever watched. Astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston) leads a team on a mission to a planet many light years away from Earth believed to be habitable. After losing the ship in a sea and a crewman (the one woman in the crew) to a cryopod failure, they soon learn that the planet is ruled by sentient apes. Taylor is captured, loses his voice, and becomes the subject of Zia (Kim Hunter), a scientist who believes humans can talk. She is supported by her initially sceptical fiancé Cornelius (Roddy McDowall), an archeologist who has found something in the forbidden zone, while being opposed by Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans) who knows what Cornelius has found and believes it will be the end of their civilization as they know it. While some of the scenes feel outdated (unlike fellow 1968 release 2001: A Space Odyssey), and part of the plot leaves a question I don’t feel is answered properly, this movie’s narrative holds up very well for its age and has a very compelling story that holds the attention of the viewer. It also has many moments that have become iconic in the history of film. That, coupled with one of the most iconic twist endings in film history makes this movie one of the cornerstones of cinema. It also served to kick off a film series that has continued with a series of films both during the ensuing years of its release and in the modern era, proving just how versatile and expansive the Apes universe has become and how compelling the story is. (Joseph Davis)
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
THE SIGN on the back of the car said “Critters OF HOLLYWOOD!” Let me tell you about one of the funniest movies of this century and my personal favorite Kevin Smith movie. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is an instant classic and a true treasure. When Kevin Smith Askewniverse legends Jay and Silent Bob find out that a movie is made about their fiction superhero counterparts, Bluntman and Chronic, without their consent, they travel all the way from New Jersey to Hollywood to get it shut down and along the way encounter many odd situations, including a group of females breaking animals out of an animal testing facility and a monkey joins their escapade. If that doesn’t make you want to watch this movie, I don’t know what will. Maybe the fact that many great comedic actors appear along the way including Ben Affleck, Shannon Elizabeth, Eliza Dushku, Ali Larter, Will Ferrell, Jason Lee, Judd Nelson, George Carlin, Carrie Fisher (as a nun nonetheless), Sean William Scott, Jon Stewart, Mark Hamill, and seriously a dozen more at least at that caliber. Be prepared for some incredibly vulgar language, but this is a movie that I’m sure you’d love if you check it out! (Aaron Schweitzer)
Kung Fu Panda
Who can’t relate to feeling “not good enough” at oh so many things in life: sports, grades, friends, careers, loves. Whether too big, too slow, or not strong enough, I am sure everyone has heard it at some point, some of us more than others. That emotion is at the heart of Kung Fu Panda, and I think that is a big reason why it is such a great film. Jack Black voices Po, an enthusiastic fanboy obsessed with the Furious Five, a group of various heroes. That obsession leads to Po being revealed as “The Chosen One!!!”, and hilarity ensues. The voice casting is top notch (Ian McShane was a stroke of brilliance as the villain), the film is gorgeous, but Po’s heroes’ journey is much more involved and nuanced than a children’s cartoon has any right to be. In short, if you need something lighthearted, but want to feel good about the kid always picked last, this needs to be in your short list of films. (Donald Skidmore)
The Jungle Book (2016)
Why would I be discussing the live action remake of a Disney classic instead of the original? That is because The Jungle Book is one of the rare instances where the remake actually improves upon the original. Jon Favreau is able to bring the jungle and all of the animals to life…from one of the nicest studios in LA. You heard that right. A film that is almost completely CGI, each animal is brought to life so well by the incredible cast. Bill Murray as a big lazy bear? Yes. But my personal favorite just might have to be Christopher Walken himself as the Gigantopithecus, King Louie. Walken balances a fun rendition of “I Wan’na Be Like You” and a pretty terrifying gangster persona. Great cast, impressive visuals, and plenty of thrills, The Jungle Book is the standard for live action Disney remakes. (Shane Conto)
Madagascar
Dreamworks was responsible for some of the most recognizable animated kids and family movies of the 2000’s, and of course they had a movie that was just for this topic. This story centers around a few animals that find themselves lost in the jungles of Madagascar after their ship that was headed to Africa was hijacked. Being lost in this environment means that they will have to learn what it’s truly like to be an animal living in the wild. I’d go as far to rank this on the same level as the first two Shrek movies, as well as How to Train Your Dragon. The only other thing that needs to work out in an animated feature other than the story and animation, are the characters, and these characters are enjoyable. Our main four leads are why I believe this movie works so well. Ben Stiller and Chris Rock have great comedic chemistry as these characters and you’re really able to buy into their friendship. These two interact and fight naturally as friends typically do, which makes their characters interesting. I should also mention David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith, who also do a fantastic job in their supporting roles. If you haven’t seen Madagascar, then maybe this should be next for family movie night. (Alex Henderson)
Grandma’s Boy
Frank here with the Best Ever Challenge. Grandma’s Boy is a movie that has a monkey in it for like a scene or two. Nothing to really do with the movie, but I effing love this movie and I take any chance I can to talk about it and plug it. Movie stars Allen Covert (A friend of Adam Sandler that he keeps on the payroll) and I saw it twice on opening weekend. Didn’t help it much because it bombed with 3 million that weekend and a lifetime box office of 6 million. It didn’t just crash, it effing cratered. It is a hilarious R rated comedy complete with Doris Roberts, the grandma of the title character who is forced to move in with his G-ma as he works as a video game developer. Standard romcom fair, but the jokes are solid. Trust me on this one. And again, there’s a monkey for a couple scenes so it technically fits in this article. (Frank Kemp)
Every Which Way but Loose
In 2005’s Our Very Own, a group of five teenagers aim to impress actress Sondra Locke as she returns to her hometown (funny enough, my hometown) for the premiere of her film with Clint Eastwood Every Which Way but Loose, which is what led me to this movie for this week. In this film we see Eastwood’s character Philo, a bare knuckle brawler, chase after Locke’s character, Lynn Halsey-Taylor, a musician and a woman with a trail of broken hearts, bringing along his brother Orville and pet orangutan Clyde. They leave behind their rattlesnake of a mother on her quest for a driver’s license as they brawl their way from LA to Denver dragging along Echo, Orville’s fast found girlfriend, an officer Philo bruised in a bar brawl, and the most incompetent motorcycle gang this side of the Mississippi (though, as they’re Nazi bikers, this is a good call). While Clyde provides funny moments and depth to Philo, along with solid performances by Locke, Beverly D’Angelo as Echo, Ruth Gordon as ma, and a soundtrack that I can jam to, this is a movie that honestly did not vibe with me. While I’ve read since watching this that it’s Clint Eastwood’s most successful film (counting inflation) and managed to break $10 million on opening weekend (the first to do so per IMDb) on its way to hit over $100 million in a $5 million budget (neither of these small feats), the cartoonish villains and the “monkey business” (in more ways than one) were just not what I was looking for this week. (Joseph Davis)
George of the Jungle
Sometimes you have a movie from your childhood that the mere mention of it brings back fond memories, and for me no movie fits this description quite like George of the Jungle. Starring Brendan Fraser as the titular George, this is like a children’s version of Tarzan, and it leans into it hard. George was adopted and raised by a sentient gorilla named Ape (John Cleese) as a child after a plane he was on crashed in Central Africa, where he lived for years with Ape, Tooki Tooki, and pet elephant Shep (who acts like a dog). He is found by Ursula Stanhope (Leslie Mann), her father Arthur (John Bennett Perry), her mother Beatrice (Holland Taylor), her evil fiancé Lyle Van Der Groot (Thomas Hayden Church) his team of poachers (Greg Cuttwell and Abraham Benrubi), and their guides (Richard Roundtree, Abdoulaye N’Gom, Michael Chinyamurindi, and Lydell M. Cheshierin as they just about steal this movie). They’re searching for the legendary white ape, suffering some pretty big boo boo’s along the way. This movie is part romantic comedy, part fish out of water, and partly a story of knowing where home is and who your friends are. While it may not hold up nearly as well as many other films this week, George of the Jungle will always hold a fond place in my heart, and is one I can’t recommend enough as a fun time to have with the whole family.
Just watch out for that- BANG! -tree. (Joseph Davis)
Also See: Congo, Ed, Gorillas in the Mist, Hollow Man, Instinct, Jumanji, Mighty Joe Young, Outbreak, Rampage, The Fountain, The Golden Compass, The Rundown