Monkeys, gorillas, mandrills: the movies feature all these primates and many more. Of course, primates include humans, but since weโre in virtually every movie out there, we decided to focus on the bonobos, lemurs, and chimpanzees that populate pop culture instead, especially since your Sunday night movie this weekend, War for the Planet of the Apes, is full of them.
- Aladdin
Mischievous monkey Abu was a definite scene-stealer in this โ90s classic from Disney. From hair-raising magic carpet rides to an elephantine transformation, Abu stuck with Aladdin through thick and thin.
- Gorillas in the Mist
A stirring tale thatโs sure to tug at your heartstrings, this remarkable movie follows legendary real-life primatologist Dian Fossey in her struggle to save gorillas in Rwanda.
- The Jungle Book
In Disneyโs 1967 adaptation of Rudyard Kiplingโs The Jungle Book, Mowgli runs into a spot of bother when he is kidnapped by a troupe of monkeys. They take him to their leader, King Louie the orangutan, a character who does not appear in the book โ thatโs because orangutans are not native to India, where the story is set. This anomaly was rectified in 2016โs live-action adaptation when King Louie was depicted as a gigantopithecus. Learn more about the Disney versions of this story here.
- King Kong
The ape of all apes! This magnificent beast first appeared on screen in 1933. Since then he has been variously reincarnated on screen, with his most recent depiction released in 2017, in Kong: Skull Island. Watch the LallaLand interview with the movieโs cast here and learn more about the different versions of Kong here.
- The Lion King
One of the most memorable characters in this Shakespearean Disney classic is the mandrill Rafiki, voiced by Robert Guillaume. A live-action version is slated for release next year. Sadly, Guillaume passed away last year, but filling his vocal shoes is none other than South African acting legend John Kani. Watch him talk about the role here.
- Madagascar
Lemurs are native to Madagascar, unlike Alex, Marty, Melman, and Gloria, who find themselves stranded on this beautiful island. During their attempts to get back to Central Park Zoo in New York, they meet the native wildlife, most memorably the ring-tailed lemur King Julien. Our favourite, however, is the latterโs minion Mort, the mouse lemur.
- Mighty Joe Young
Featuring another ape and another primatologist is this early Charlize Theron flick, which sees her raising a massive gorilla after both their mothers are killed by poachers.
- Planet of the Apes
This franchise dates all the way back to 1963 (you can read about it here). But from the mind-blowing twist of the first film to the dubious Tim Burton remake to the much-lauded reboot series starring Andy Serkis, the franchise has endured. Will War for the Planet of the Apes be the last in line? We donโt know, but we certainly hope not. Whatever its fate, make sure you watch the latest instalment this Sunday at 20:05 on M-Net.
- Rampage
Another primatologist comes in the form of Dwayne Johnson in this creature-filled feature starring a gargantuan silver gorilla. The movieโs on circuit right now, and LallaLand headed to London recently to interview the cast. Check it out here.
- Tarzan
We couldnโt end our list without the man raised by apes, Tarzan aka John Clayton aka Viscount Greystoke. Like Planet of the Apes, it started with a book and has a long list of adaptations to its name. From the silent films of the early twentieth century to the TV shows to last yearโs The Legend of Tarzan, thereโs an endless array and we think itโs safe to say, Tarzan is here to stay.
Join the apes for an uprising in War for the Planet of the Apes, your #SundayNightMovie on 6 May at 20:05 on M-Net channel 101.