Monkey Movies motion pictures using non-human primates to brainwash you!!
This is it: The List, our fecal roster of monkey movies. Call some of the simian appearances coincidental if you wish, but note the recurring pattern of use in movies and media. Don't let Hollywood manipulate you!

Have you seen a case of manipulation through monkeys? 
Add to the list of offenders!   Email us at thelist@monkeyconspiracy.com

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Movies are listed in alphabetical order. Scroll down or click on a letter below.

# A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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12 Monkeys (1995)
Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis star in this box office smash about a crazy dude. The movie's title is everything in Hollywood, and they knew how to market this one.

28 Days (2000)
Sandra Bullock is sent to an alcohol and drug recovery program for, you guessed it, 28 days. While she is there she has a roommate who is a heroin addict. On the roommates last day as she is leaving she is given a monkey doll. The stuffed monkey contains heroin and a needle with which the roommate promptly overdose's. I think the not so subtle role of the monkey as the harbinger of death is frightening. Long live the human race as the only pure species of bipeds! I'm out.

28 Days Later (2003)
British horror monkeys everywhere! Do all movies containing the words "28 Days" require a simian? There's a spooky monkey/fertility cycle message in all this, I'm sure.

40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

Poor Josh Hartnett must be celibate for a whole forty days. Whoopty freakin' doo. In the struggle against the forces of evil some of us are not afforded the luxury of erotic engagement. There are bigger issues at hand. If he really wanted to last that long he should join the fight and try to beat the monkey, a much worthier cause that would take his mind of his silly problems. Forty days, honestly. If sex were food and water, then I'm a camel and he's a hummingbird. Oh, did mention the proliferation of monkeys in this movie? --Andre

1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)
Columbus discovers the unusual creatures of the new world (order). Monkeys galore in several scenes. Moxica states: "Savagery is what monkeys understand." Too true, my friend. Too true.

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
You can call them proto-humans if you like, but Kubrick's oeuvre rests on a simian foundation.

About a Boy (2002)
Explicit monkeys in a cage at the zoo function as background to a discussion about sex. Hugh Grant's production company is called Simian Films, by the way. Coincidence?

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994)
The origins of the "Rally Monkey" lie here: the video clip that will live in California Angels infamy . . . You're telling me Disney had nothing to do with that one?

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1996)
More of the same from Jim Carrey and co. Isn't that just so funny . . .

Adaptation (2002)
One of the precious flowers masks as a monkey.

Addicted to Love (1997)
A monkey squirts perfume on the virile French chef. This is a meta-organ grinder, i.e. an organ grinder monkey within a movie that uses the monkey to pull in the public. 

The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai (1984)
"Monkey boy"

Africa Express (1975)
John Baxter (Giuliano Gemma) is a freewheeling trader of goods in Africa with a pet chimp and one dream: to save enough money to buy his dream gas station in Detroit. Madeleine Cooper (Ursula Andress) is the lady of mystery he runs into as she flees from big game hunter Jack Palance.

Aladdin (1992)
Aladdin is a street-urchin who lives in a large and busy town with his faithful monkey friend Abu. When Princess Jasmine gets tired of being forced to remain in the palace that overlooks the city, she sneaks out to the marketplace, where she accidentally meets Aladdin. What would this movie be without the monkey?
Sequels:
The Return of Jafar (1993)
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996)

Alakazam The Great (1961)
A Japanese-made animated children's film about the exploits of a magical monkey's adventures.

Amadeus (1984)
Milos Forman’s biography of Amadeus (“loved of God”) was loved of audiences and the Academy alike, no doubt do to monkey references, midgets, and, possibly, the beautiful score by some guy named Wolfgang.

American Wedding (2003)
Andre, who apparently has deep monkey issues, emailed us about this offender: "Last night I saw a clip from American Wedding: the girl that plays 'Willow' on 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' says, after observing some extremely awkward teen-courting behavior, 'It’s like watching monkeys use tools for the first time.' We all know monkeys can use tools--all too well. Yeah, tools. It starts with a bone used to kill a pig-thing and then next thing you know they’re scrubbing our minds with incredibly unsubtle ‘comedies’ like this one. If I were to infiltrate the Hollywood screenwriting syndicate I would write Andre the Monkey Slayer. First, Andre would use his special skills to slay Andy Garcia, not because he has much more to do with monkeys than the rest of Hollywood, but because, hero or villain, every character he plays licks. Then I would beat the hell out of Jerry Bruckheimer, because he sucks too. Most importantly, I would pull the handle off an organ-grinder, track down Vin Diesel, and RUIN HIS SH*T! I could go on (Kevin Costner, that punk ass Freddy Prinze, Jr., Justin Timberlake while I’m at it, and Tobey McGuire, naturally). They’re all guilty, so why not start with these? I would spare Matthew McConaughey so he can spend the rest of his life musing about how he ruined his career starring in drippy romantic comedies. Sean Connery would be left to think about his recent ‘extraordinary’ activity as well."

America's Sweethearts (2001)
“The monkey’s in day care.” Radio code talk. John Cusack (again), and Julia Roberts.

Anaconda (1997)
Monkey used to fish for big snake. Big snake eats monkey and the Jon Voight. Big snake spits them both out at unwary characters. This brief narrative provides an excellent analogy of Hollywood practice of regurgitating both the Midnight Cowboy and the Monkey and spitting them at the public in mindless dribble.

The Animal (2001)
Rob Schneider is implanted with animal parts, some of them simian. Don't laugh, it could happen to you.

Animal Behavior (1989)
Monkey/Sex connection. The beautiful biologist Alex Brisco develops a new method to communicate with chimpanzees: instead of machines she uses a simple sign language. Her research and competition with ignorant colleagues lets her overlook the amorous approaches of cellist Mark. She accepts his help, but no more, believing he's married.

Animals Are Beautiful People (1974)
Jamie Uys's documentary about the unusual behavior of wildlife in Africa's wilderness. Monkeys = People??? How insidious is that?

Anger Management (2003)
Adam Sandler's character tries to defuse his psychiatrist's suspicions by stating, "The anger monkey is off my back. I fed the anger monkey a banana."

Any Given Sunday (1999)
Fan in gorilla suit in stands. The sports connection is pretty obvious here. Phoenix Suns gorilla beware!

Any Which Way You Can (1980), etc.
Some might say Clint Eastwood's career survived these films. Others might say they made him a star.

A*P*E (1976)
In a plot reminiscent of "King Kong," a 36-foot gorilla winds up in Korea where he wreaks havoc while enamored with a visiting American actress.

The Ape (1940)
Dr. Bernard Adrian is a mad scientist who seeks to cure a young woman's polio. He needs spinal fluid from a human to complete the formula for his experimental serum. To accomplish this, Adrian sneaks through the night wearing the pelt of a missing circus ape.

The Ape Man (1943)
Conducting weird scientific experiments, crazed Dr. James Brewster, aided by his colleague Dr. Randall, has managed to transform himself into a hairy, stooped-over ape-man. Desperately seeking a cure, Brewster believes only an injection of recently-drawn human spinal fluid will prove effective. With Randall refusing to help him, it falls to Brewster and his captive gorilla to find appropriate donors.

Armageddon (1998)
Two of the heroes are arguing which one of them is Han Solo and which is Chewbacca. Saving the world, man and space-ape! 

Apollo 13 (1995)
Stuffed monkey in Jim Lovel’s son’s room; Gorilla attacks suitcase on TV commercial. Looks like little Ronny Howard took some career tips from Don Knotts.

Apocalypse Now (1979)
Upon the arrival of what is left of Capt. Willard’s crew at this cinematic Heart of Darkness and Kurtz’s prehistorical realm, a crazed Dennis Hopper warns them, “Don’t let the monkeys bite you.” There are some visual simian sightings as well. The Horror. The Horror.

At The Circus (1939)
A wealthy young man (Kenny Baker II) forsakes the fortune of his rich aunt (Margaret Dumont) to run the circus in which his sweetheart (Florence Rice) & he perform. But when the evil owner (James Burke) steals the money to pay off the mortgage, the only people who can help are the strongman Goliath's assistant Punchy (Harpo Marx), circus hand Antonio Pirelli (Chico Marx), & Antonio's shyster friend, J. Cheever Loophole (Groucho Marx). Oh, and there's a gorilla named Gibraltar.

The Attic (1979)
A librarian devotes her life to caring for a wheelchair-bound tyrannical father after being stood up at the altar. She fantasizes about his death and finds joy only with her pet monkey. When the monkey disappears, a shocking past is revealed.

Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)
Chimp drinks his own urine, “Monkey nuts,” and the obligatory midget.

Away All Boats (1956)
The ship's captain has a pet monkey.

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B. Monkey (1998)
Italian film. When you're trying to market a foreign film in the tough U.S. market, what's rule number one? Use the simian.

Babe: Pig in the City (1998)
Chimpanzees are among the animals staying at the animal hotel. The gratuitous monkey shots are unreal. Do they expect us to believe monkeys are city animals? Maybe they want us to believe so.

Bachelor Party (1984)
Monkey wrenches (and Hookers!)

Back to School (1986)
Rodney Dangerfield makes a quick monkey reference. The movie also features Kurt Vonnegut, author of the well known short story collection "Welcome to the Monkeyhouse."

Bad Boys (1995)
James Z. emailed us the following: "About 30 minutes in to 'Bad Boys,' the original, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence talk over how best to protect witness Tea Leone. Learning that Lawrence stashed her in Smith’s apartment, Smith says something to the effect of: 'You left two dogs and a hooker in my apartment. Why not just get some chimps in there too?' I’m sure you could give Smith a litany of reasons why not, but he’s obviously on the other side of the conflict."

Balaoo ou des Pas au Plafond [aka Balaoo the Demon Baboon] (1913)
An ape, turned near human by Dr. Coriolis and given the name 'Balaoo', is smitten by the beauty of Coriolis' niece, Madeleine. Being inquisitive, though, he runs off, getting into mischief, and falls in with a poacher who saves his life. Acting now as his slave Balaoo kills a man for the poacher, but balks on his orders to kidnap Madeleine, deciding instead to set a trap for the poacher.

Bandwagon (1996)
They name the band Circus Monkeys and want to get famous and rich.

Bangkok Dangerous (1999)
A deaf and mute hetman takes his new girlfriend to an arcade with a menacing King Kong figure. Not surprisingly, it is juxtaposed with shots of Godzilla. The dragon is still privileged in the Far East, but, as always, beware the simian!

Baraka (1992)
Opening scene. Japanese snow monkey in hot pot.

Barbarella (1968)
Amid the mild nudity and incoherency of Jane Fonda’s cult picture lies a hidden monkey in the George Seurat painting A Sunday on the Grande Jatte, the only real art in this campy classic. Ted Turner is further implicated in conspiracy, having married this space-traveling, clothes-shedding vixen.

The Barefoot Executive (1971)
Classic Disney offender. This is an early version of the "bread and butter" Disney monkey movie. TV network executives discover that a chimpanzee can accurately predict which TV programs will be ratings winners in this Disney comedy.

The Beach (2000)

Beast of Borneo (1934)
A mad scientist named Boris Borodoff conducts experiments using man and ape. He and his beautiful assistant go deep into the jungle to round up a live ape for further experiments.

The Beast That Killed Women (1965)
Sex/Monkey connection. A gorilla terrorizes a nudist camp.

Beavis and Butthead Do America (1996)
The general silliness of this movie includes a King Kong parody and, not surprisingly, other references.

Bedtime For Bonzo (1951)
It made a President and thus gave us ___doo economics? Anyone? Voodoo economics.
Professor Peter Boyd's engagement to the Dean's daughter is upset by the revelation that his father was a habitual convict. To prove the Dean's genetic theory of inherited traits as wrong, Boyd starts a 'secret' experiment. He borrows the science department's chimpanzee with the goal of showing that it is one's environment that affects your reaction to right and wrong.

Being John Malkovich (1999)
"You're lucky you're a monkey, because consciousness is a curse." Cameron Diaz has a pet chimpanzee named Elijah that suffers from ulcers. The chimp later rescues Diaz after she is tied up by her husband. We actually approve of this movie. It seems to be a sharp satire of the normal "monkey function" in other Hollywood exploits. Good on you, Spike Jonze.

Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla (1952)
Two entertainers parachute onto a Pacific island where they encounter natives, evil scientist Bela Lugosi and a gorilla.

Best of Times (1986)
(Robin Williams and Kurt Russell) Gorilla neon sign outside favored bar.

The Best Man (1999)
Someone says "monkey ass."

Better Luck Tomorrow (2003)
Red monkey on Virgil's shirt.

Big (1988)
Stuffed monkeys behind Tom Hanks in toy store

Big Daddy (1999)
Adam Sandler

Big Top Pee Wee (1988)

Bikini Beach (1964)
A millionaire sets out to prove that his pet chimpanzee is as intelligent as the teenagers who hang out on the local beach, where he is intending to build a retirement home and throw the kids off.

Biloxi Blues (1988)
In what seems to be a mandatory boot camp topos, Sergeant Toomey (Christopher Walken) refers to his recruits as “a bunch of gorillas.”

The Birdcage (1996)
Nathan Lane character calls man who assaulted Robin William a "Big Gorilla." There may very well be more monkeys scattered among all the paraphernalia in the house, but do we really want to examine that stuff too closely?

Black Rain (1989)
"Who's the monkey?"

A Blind Bargain (1922)
Lon Chaney does double duty as an experimenting scientist and the scientist's apelike assistant created by a monkey gland transplant.

Boiler Room (2000)
"He's a chimp..."

The Bone Collector (1999)
Monkey hanging from dashboard movie (in the trailer). There may be more, but it was there to get you into the theater.

Bonzo Goes To College (1952)
Bonzo runs away from a carnival sideshow, landing in the college town of Pawlton where he is adopted by the granddaughter of the college football coach.

Born To Be Wild [aka Katie] (1995)
Rick Heller is a juvenile delinquent who keeps getting himself into trouble. To keep him out of trouble his mother puts him to work cleaning the cage of a gorilla named Katie which she is teaching to communicate through the use of sign language. When the owner of the gorilla takes her back to become a flea market freak Rick takes it upon himself to break Katie out and take her on an adventurous journey to get her out of the country.

Brain Dead (1992)
In 1957 a zoologist traps a rare rat monkey on Skull Island and brings it back to New Zealand with the local aborigines hot on his trail. Later, a young man falls in love and takes the young woman to the zoo. His overbearing and disapproving mother follows them and gets bitten by the rat monkey. The monkey's bite turns her into a zombie, and her doting son has to keep her (and the others she's bitten) tranquilized in the basement while trying to preserve his love life.

Breakfast Club (1995)
80s monkeys. There is simian representation in the "Breakfast Club". At one point, Anthony Michael Hall says to the others, "Hey you guys, quit monkeying around!". -RP MR

Breathless (1961)
Frenchman plays with a monkey toy. We should expect better from Godard.

The Bride and the Beast (1957)
Laura was the Queen of the Gorillas in a previous incarnation.

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Garnering several Academy Awards, this film adaptation of the novel by Pierre Boulle (author of Planet of the Apes [La planete des Singes 1963]) contains, naturally, a monkey. 

Bride of the Gorilla (1951)
Raymond Burr is the subject of a voodoo curse that turns him into a gorilla -- or is it only in his mind?

Bring It On! (2000)
Cheerleaders, cleavage, and an obvious monkey reference. As Kirsten Dunst has "cheer-sex" with a male admirer watching her from the stands, he raises the book "The Naked Ape" to hide his face.

Bringing Out the Dead (2000)
UB40's version of Red, Red Wine (...the monkey get choked...). Nice try Marty, but this is not your first offence, and I doubt it will be your last.

Bruce Almighty (2003)
Talk about a monkey reference. Jenny F sent in this email adroitly summarizing the offending scene: "Yes, we know that Jim Carrey movies are one of the many masterminds behind this out of control monkey craze. The scene goes as follows: Jim (Bruce), follows these gangstas down an alley way because a few days earlier he saw them harassing a poor old homeless man. The gangsta boys threaten to beat Bruce up if he doesn't leave, but Bruce retaliates by saying that he wants a piece of them instead and he will beat them up. The main gangsta says  something to the effect of 'Oh yeah, I'll believe that when a monkey crawls out of my butt.'  And then you have it....a monkey crawls out of his butt." Yeah, and then it's forced back in. Think about that one. Ahh, the allegory of it all.

Buddy (1997)
Rene Russo plays a socialite who raises a gorilla as a family member. Wouldn't every guy love to be that monkey. Typical monkey-envy manipulation movie.
Related link: Buddy (Sony Pictures)

A Business Affair (1993)
In this French film, a man buys a monkey for his wife after she loses a baby. How much more subversive can a movie be? They'd love you to replace your children with the monsters!

Bye Bye Monkey/Ciao maschio (1977)
Sardonic, bleak comedy about a group of misfits in a decrepit area of Manhattan where rats seem about to displace humanity in all the buildings. Depardieu, irresistible to women as always, prefers the company of a chimpanzee.
Related link: DVD cover

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Cabin Boy (1994)
"Gosh you're cute. Wanna buy a monkey?" As a matter of fact, no we don't.

Caddyshack (1980)
Carl Spackler: Oh Mrs. Crane, you're a little monkey woman. Yeah, you're lean, mean, and I bet you're not too far in between, are ya? How'd you like to wrap your spikes around my -

Captive Wild Woman (1943)
Early monkey/sex connection movie. A mad scientist turns an orangutan into Paula, a beautiful woman.
Sequels:
Jungle Woman (1944)
Shot after killing her creator in "Captive Wild Woman," Paula the ape is turned into a woman once again.
Jungle Captive (1945)
Dr. Stendhal retrieves Paula's corpse and revives her. Mentally subnormal, she reverts to ape form to save a girl's brain from the scalpel.

Carry On Up The Jungle (1970)
A comedic takeoff on Tarzan by the "Carry On" cast.

Cats and Dogs (2001)
An unimaginative movie targeted at an age group difficult to determine, this film features a talking pet accusing another of driving "like a chimpanzee."

Chang (1927)

Charlie Chan at the Circus (1936)
When a circus co-owner is found dead with a broken neck in a locked wagon, the circus ape, Caesar, is suspected of killing him.

Chasing Amy (1997)
Holden: "That chick could be a bigger disease carrier than the monkey in outbreak."

Chicago (2002)
Six Oscars, including Best Picture. Roxie's diary refers to her husband as a "baboon." While it's not clear if this passage has been altered by her lawyer for theatrical effect in the courtroom, it is clear that the line was added by the screenwriter for greater appeal, as if burlesque women in prison weren't enough. 

The Chill Factor [aka A Cold Day's Night] (1972 TV-movie)
Two scientists working with primates in a polar research station discover they may not be alone.

The Chimp (1922 short)
In lieu of back wages, the defunct circus that Laurel and Hardy have been working for provides them with a flea circus and a trained chimpanzee named Ethel. Unfortunately, that's also the name of their landlord's wife, and after the boys sneak the ape into their room, the jealous man draws some unfortunate conclusions when he overhears Hardy ordering Ethel to "come to bed."

Christmas Vacation (1989)
During Clark Griswold's rant after receiving the "Jelly of the Month" (or the "Gift that keeps on giving" according to cousin Eddie) he says, "Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey sh** he is! Hallelujah!

Citizen Kane (1941)
#1 on the American Film Institute's 100 movies. Just before the opening "Rosebud" scene, there is a vivid shot of two monkeys on the steps of the gate to Xanadu. The scene could be read parabolically as suggesting that the necessary initiation into the Hollywood wonderland of fame and fortune is mediated by the gate-keeping simian. Ironically, Welles's use of the simian did not save him from being blacklisted by the monkey-infested Hollywood juggernaut that would later claim his film as America's greatest cinematic influence. 

Clerks (1994)
"doing a job a monkey wouldn't want" = The nuance that would explode into full-blown manipulAPEtion in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
Spielberg throws a gorilla toy into his sci-fi classic. Even the best often prostitute themselves early in their careers.

Cobra Woman (1944)
The hapless Jon Hall keeps getting captured by natures. It's Coco the chimpanzee to the rescue!

Coming to America (1988)

Congo (1995)
One of the movies that tipped us off to the conspiracy. A megalomaniacal C.E.O. sends his son into the dangerous African Congo on a quest for a source of diamonds large enough and pure enough to function as powerful laser communications transmitters (or is it laser weapons?). They find talking monkeys, white monkeys, all manner of monkeys. No major stars, thin plot, and lame special effects, BUT a huge summer blockbuster that year. How was the financial success possible? Need you ask?

Cow Monkey (2001)
Roy and Gil are pretty sure that Big Foot killed their dog Wanda II. They want revenge. Sydney, an anthropology student, wants to teach it sign language. And a hirsute local named Grover spotted one last week, just over that ridge . . . Guess what it looks like?

Cradle 2 the Grave (2003)

Jet Li beats up a cage full of Ultimate Championship Fighters with a midget.

Crazy/Beautiful (2001)
Kirsten Dunst plays a troubled teen with a big rack, a substance-abuse problem, and a senator for a father. Her liberal dad's office is decorated with a poster that features a chimp and reads "Eventually, everyone needs the ACLU." Freedom of speech for apes? Ha. Freedom to silence the monkeys! Join the rebellion.

Crocodile Dundee in L.A. (2001)
Aussie hero played by actor in desperate need of work exercises his special control of animals on a simian in Southern California. Damn that's good cinema!

Crooklyn (1994)
A Spike Lee joint with monkey references.

Cure (2001)
Japanese thriller. Mesmerism, murder, and monkeys. Note the clever alliteration of the preceding abbreviated summary.

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Days of Thunder (1990)
That grumpy old southern Senator that played in Hunt for Red October ?) is the head of professional racing and is chewing out Tom Cruise and his meat head competitor for their childish antics on the track. He tells them..." If you wanna (drive crazy) on some greasy Georgia back roads, fine. But you two monkeys ain’t gonna do it on my race track."-RP

Deep Rising (1998)
(Fortunately I didn’t have to watch the movie to see the monkey. I happened to turn it on as one of the brutish rogues was saying ...) Movie quote: “...I want to eat a cup of greasy pig with pickled monkey brains...”--RP

Deuce Bigelow: Male Gigolo (1999)
"...he-monkey..."

Devil in a Blue Dress (1995)
Denzel Washington says "monkey ass."

Diamonds are Forever (1971)
James Bond sees a Gorilla at a circus. Other monkey references and some disturbing villains complete the show.

Die Hard (1988)
John McClane: Just a fly in the ointment, Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the ass.

Dinosaur (2000)
Typical Disney offender. A dinosaur is raised by a family of lemurs. #1 at the box office. I guess the dinosaurs wouldn't be extinct if every one of them had a family of monkeys to teach them the value of team work. What kind of propaganda do they want us to swallow? The name itself is evidence of deceit. The movie was really about monkeys. As always Disney’s gravy train. More monkey than lizard.
Related link: Walt Disney Pictures presents Dinosaur

Doc Hollywood (1991)
Mayor (David Ogden Steirs of M*A*S*H fame) says monkey.

Doctor Dolittle (1998)
Eddie Murphy stars as a veterinarian who discovers he can talk to his animal patients.
Related link: Movie poster (in German)

The Doctor's Experiment; or Reversing Darwin's Theory (1908)
The doctor turns his victims into apes. Upon discovering he can't change them back, he puts them on display. Hey, doesn't this sound like a real life plan?

Dr. Jekyll & Ms. Hyde (1995)
"Monkey man wants to play"

Dr. Renault's Secret (1942)
A sound remake of the silent "Balaoo." A young man visits his fiancé in a remote French villa where her scientist father (George Zucco) resides. There he meets Noel (J. Carrol Naish), Dr. Renault's mysterious assistant, who has a strange attraction to Renault's daughter. Soon he learns Noel's true identity: he is an ape that was turned into a man by Renault's bizarre experiments!

Dr. Strangelove (1963)
Kubrick offended again with a character named Major TJ “King” Kong.

La Donna Scimmia [aka The Ape Woman] (1963)

Don't Lie (1942)
A big monkey has escaped from the circus, and Buckwheat sees it enter the neighborhood "haunted house." Buckwheat tries to tell his friends, but they don't believe him because he has been fibbing lately. To teach him a lesson, the gang dress Froggy up in a monkey suit and have him posted inside the "haunted house." They take Buckwheat inside, but the joke backfires when the Our Gang are pursued by the real monkey...

Don’t Say a Word (2001)
Girl likes two words: ‘Sally’ and ‘monkey’. Naturally.

Double Take (2001)
Orlando Jones. "monkey"

Drive Me Crazy (1999)
Monkey video clips shown in school.

Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
For her talent in a beauty contest, a cheerleader shouts “Go Monkeys!” to cheer on two boys wrestle on a mat in front of her. Some girls will do anything to win.
UPDATE: Kathleen emailed us the following: “She doesn't say ‘go monkeys’, she says ‘go muskees!’ Just thought you might wanna take that one off.” Very astute, Kathleen, but we’ll leave it on simply because the subliminal effect of the cheer remains.

Drunken Monkey (1979)
Jackie Chan

Dumb and Dumber (1994)
"...hey they have the Monkees!" 

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (2003)
The lunch lady (Cheri Oteri) calls her lover, the school principal (Eugene Levy), her "monkey." Also, Lloyd tells Harry that a hot girl will be "all over [him] like a barrel of monkeys." You could see the typical monkey/sex innuendo coming from a mile away. The only things more predictable in this movie were the rehashed plot and telegraphed jokes.

Dumbo (1941)
Monkeys are Disney's gravy train. Always have been, and I don't foresee any change.

Dunston Checks In (1996)
In this slapstick adventure, a jewel-thief orangutan named Dunston causes chaos as he makes his way through a swanky Manhattan hotel to rob the guests. Dunston's master is the film's meanie, so the ape befriends the two young sons of the hotel's manager. The human is the monster.
Related link:20th Century Fox: Dunston Checks In

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Ed (1996)
A chimpanzee, billed as his minor league baseball's team's mascot, turns out to be the best third baseman since Brooks Robinson. Consigned as his roomie is pathetic pitcher Matt LeBlanc. Note the gratuitous 20 minute set up for a simple spank the monkey joke. Also note the LeBlanc involvement: first Friends, which featured Marcel the monkey, now this. He's in up to his eyeballs!

Emperor's New Groove (2000)
Disney again. David Spade supplies the sarcastic voice of Cuzco, emperor of the Incan empire. At one point during the movie, a chimp appears out of nowhere and eats a bug. The narrative voice of Cuzco asks why a random monkey eating a bug just appeared on screen. We all know the answer: monkeys = $$$ and mind control.

The End (1999)
Skateboarding film featuring the Birdhouse skate team (Tony Hawk's company). A young skater gets intoxicated with an orangutan, which ultimately becomes violent and breaks beer bottles over the skater's head. Watch out, my friend. It could happen to you. Tony Hawk + monkey = most recognized name in action sports.

Entrapment (1999)
Ricky: one monkey mask front and center please!

E.T. (1982)
"Maybe he's some animal that wasn't supposed to live. Could be a monkey or an orangutan." One of the top grossing films of all time. Spielberg all but tells you he based the character on a monkey.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

There’s hardly a Jim Carrey movie not on the List. Look for the monkey next to Clementine on the couch.

Every Which Way But Loose (1978)
The travails of a bare-knuckle boxer (Clint Eastwood) and his traveling companion, an orangutan named Clyde.
Sequel: Any Which Way You Can (1980)

Evolution (2001)
In what may have been one of the dumbest movies I have ever seen, a simple reference in the form of the insult “monkey turd” only foreshadowed the evolution of a menacing race of alien simians toward the end of the film. It took much less time to realize that the movie had evolved into the other half of the insult.

The Eye (2003)
A wooden monkey appears on a wall in Thailand hospital. This movie, similar to, but a little deeper and more disturbing than, The Sixth Sense, reveals the fact that ghosts are all around us, causing mischief and evil. So are cinematic monkeys. Truth is spooky.

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The Fakir's Spell (1914)

Falling Down (1992)
"Take out a jumbo jet with one of these monkeys" (this was the TV version so the monkeys may be substituting for F-bomb) Also, wife of Robert Duvall says Mr. Peepers (?--a little ahead of her time I guess).

Farewell My Concubine (1993)
Monkey character in opera. Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film. Of course, in China, it’s just considered a film.

Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
Golde: "A poor girl without a dowry can't be so particular. You want hair, marry a monkey."

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Jesse sent this one in via email. He didn’t include content, however. While this one goes unverified, we’ll include because it should be obvious that a drug induced frenzy would only conjure visions of the wicked monkey.

Fierce Creatures (1997)
Film sequel to "A Fish Called Wanda." Features ring-tailed lemurs.
Related link: Fierce Creatures Matinee Room

The Fifth Monkey (1980) AKA "O Quinto Macaco"
A Brazilian snake hunter, trying to make enough money to marry the woman he loves, finds four mysterious chimpanzees. He embarks upon a journey to sell them in the big city, and learns about himself and the world around him on the way there.

Fight Club (1999)
As the fight club grows, its misdeeds spread to the zoo. Brad Pitt's character (or is it Ed Norton's?) pins up news headlines about his anarchist accomplishments. Several of them deal with monkeys: freeing them, shaving them, etc. "First monkey shot into space….Missing monkeys found shaved….Monkey ready to be shot into space," etc.

Fire Down Below (1997)
Jack Taggert: If your daddy knew exactly how stupid you were, he'd trade you in for a pet monkey.

First Born (1989 TV mini-series)
Edward Forester is a genetic researcher, intent on breeding primate hybrids. But his experiments take a strange turn when he succeeds in breeding a human/gorilla hybrid. He hides the results of the experiment, adopting the child, and helps Gor to speak and blend into society. But Gor can't help being what he is, and tragedy and revelations are the ultimate result.

Jackie Chan's First Strike (1997)
MA; "that guy moves like a monkey!" Jackie Chan = top grossing actor in the world.

Fletch (1995)
Gorilla suit

Forrest Gump (1994)
Curious George book in the opening scene, et al.

Freaky Friday (2003)
Disney again, with the "surprise hit" of the summer of 2003. The grandfather calls his grandson (what else?) monkey.

Frequency (2000)
Boy carrying monkey toy.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)
"The year of the monkey"

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George of the Jungle (1997)
Forget about it! Brendan Frasier is in up to his eyeballs.

Ghost in the Darkness (1996)
Monkey tied to stake as bait. I'd take those predatory lions any day over the subliminal predation being performed by the monkeys.

Ghost in the Shell (1995)
Anime landmark. Monkey included.

Gildersleeve's Ghost (1944)
Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve (of radio fame) is running for police commissioner against incumbent Haley. The ghosts (!) of his ancestors Randolph and Jonathan decide to help him get elected, but succeed only in getting him mixed up with mad scientist John Wells, an escaped gorilla, and an intermittently invisible showgirl...

Gladiator (2000)
Gratuitous monkey scene. Several Oscar nominations, pulling in a Best Picture, among others. 'nuff said.

Go and Get It (1920)
An intrepid newspaper reporter attempts to solve a series of murders committed by a gorilla carrying the transplanted brain of a human. 

The Godfather (1972)
Rojas Valdez tipped us off to this big time offender via email: "The Godfather monkeys around . . . and dies for his efforts. Can't believe nobody has mentioned Brando's magnificent performance with the orange peel in his month and the simian movements. No wonder he won best actor and best picture Oscars." Good eye, man. Keep those emails coming.

Going Ape (1981)
When his father - who owned a circus - dies, Oscar inherits 5 million dollars - and 3 orangutans. However there's a condition connected to the money: if he gives away the apes or just one gets sick or dies during the next 3 years, the zoological society will get all the money. He not only has to deal with 3 apes and an annoyed girlfriend, but also with a greedy zoological society's president.

Going Bananas (1988)
Jimmy Walker, Dom DeLuise

Good Advice (2002)
HBO original movie starring Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards, & Angie Harmon (I think its pronounced, muh-nojh-ah...heh heh) Anyway, George Costanza's mother (playing Angie Harmon's receptionist) asks Charlie Sheen if his business with Angie is official or monkey business.  RP

Good Will Hunting (1997)
monkey/leprechaun joke. "retarded gorillas"

The Gorilla (1927)

The Gorilla (1930)

The Gorilla (1939)
When a wealthy man is threatened by a killer known as The Gorilla, he hires the Ritz Brothers to investigate. A real escaped gorilla shows up at the mansion just as the investigators arrive.

Gorilla (1956)
A hunter travels deep into the jungle to hunt down a killer ape, but his efforts are hampered by a pesky female journalist.

Gorilla At Large (1954)
At sinister carnival The Garden of Evil, the main attraction is Goliath, "world's largest gorilla...cost the lives of 1,000 men before his capture." Barker Joey Matthews is about to enter the gorilla act, teamed with seductive mantrap Laverne, the owner's wife. Then a man is found dead of a broken neck. Was it Goliath or someone wearing Joey's gorilla suit? Detective Sgt. Garrison finds four interlocked romantic triangles among the suspects...

Der Gorilla von Soho [aka The Ape Creature] (1968)

Gorillas in the Mist (1988)
Sigourney Weaver stars as Dian Fossey, in this true story about Fossey's study of gorillas, and her efforts to stop the decimation of the endangered apes. You don't see many movies about the tuna-safe dolphin efforts, do you?

The Graduate (1967)
Dustin Hoffman takes Elaine Robinson to the Monkey House at the zoo.

Grease (1978)
As Sandra Dee and Bobarino (ok, Danny Zuko) are dancing around the carnival at the end of the movie (good Olivia Newton-John-in-tights action), a couple of their cohorts are standing behind one of those painted caricature stand-ups (where your heads replace the heads of the characters painted on the stand-up) that is a painting of an ape and a woman.-RP

The Great Dictator (1940)
Chaplin. “Monkey Business”

Grosse Point Blank (1997)
Pixies song "This Monkey’s Gone to Heaven." Also, when Blank is backing out of diner after knocking his egg-white "omelet" on the ground: he backs up while Oo-oo-ooing like an ape.

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Half-Human (1955)
This film of Japanese origin follows a Yeti-like creature and offspring. The American version is interrupted by inserted footage of John Carradine and Morris Ankrum.

Hanoi Hilton (1987)
"The Cuban will go ape"

Heart & Souls (1993)
Baboon reference

He Got Game (1998)
Denzel walking around with stuffed monkey toy.

Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)

High Fidelity (2000)
"It's half past a monkey's ass." Name of the band at the end of the movie is Sonic Death Monkey.

Hillbillys in a Haunted House (1967)
Country singers on their way to Nashville have car trouble, forcing them to stop at an old haunted mansion. Soon they realize that the house is not only haunted, but is also the headquarters of a ring of international spies after a top secret formula for rocket fuel.

Hit The Deck (1957)
Sailor Russ Tamblyn has a brief interaction with a capuchin monkey at a carnival.

Hollow Man (2000)
Monkeys, apes in research lab. One degree of Kevin Bacon.

El Hombre y la Bestia (1962)

Home Alone (1990)

Home Alone 3 (1997)
monkey toy

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
Jim Carrey again. The Grinch looks simian/feline. Plus, monkey bangs a cymbal. 

Human Behavior (2002) 
Being John Malkovich screenwriter Charlie Kaufmann puts more simians in his new, acclaimed picture about a man raised a monkey and a subplot concerning a body hair dysfunction. A cursory review of many films will reveal that many feral children have found work in Hollywood. What was Howie Mandel’s last picture? 

The Hulk (2003)
Rob R. wrote us an email about this offender before the movie even came out. We've got people on the inside now! His advance screening review alerted us to many monkeys in the opening scenes. I guess superhuman powers come only through the simian. Hey, and let's face it, the whole Hulk thing is just green King Kong.

The Hustler (1961)
Bert Gordon: You've the best excuse in the world for losing; no trouble losing when you got a good excuse. Winning. That can be heavy on your back too, like a monkey. You'll drop that load too when you got an excuse. All you gotta do is learn to feel sorry for yourself. One of the best indoor sports, feeling sorry for yourself. A sport enjoyed by all, especially the born losers.

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Identity (2003)
Ray Liotta's character, Rhodes says, "now they are all coming back to life like sea monkeys, huh?" Radskeeter, thanks for yet another submission, while your identity is a source of speculation for us, your devotion to the cause is not.

I'm a Monkey's Uncle (1948)
The Three Stooges at their best! As if their slapstick weren't enough, they've got a fourth stooge: the simian.

In God’s Hands (1998)
Surf Movie. Monkey Mask in Bali.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)
Unforgettable scene: Indy and Willie are served chilled monkey brains as a delicacy while in India. So unforgettable that it is unforgivable that this film eluded inclusion on The List for so long. Thanks to Tracy for her correction of this glaring omission!

Ingagi (1931)
An expedition enters an area of the Congo jungle to investigate reports of a gorilla-worshipping tribe. After many dangerous adventures, they come upon the tribe they sought, only to watch as a virgin is sacrificed to a huge gorilla, who takes her away. The expedition follows the gorilla in an attempt to save the woman.
Related link: Movie poster

Instinct (1999)
Duh. Anthony Hopkins stars as a primatologist who has studied and lived among African apes for several years. Affected by years of living among the wild, Hopkins develops a brutal ape-like persona and is charged for three murders in Rwanda. Psychiatrist Cuba Gooding Jr. attempts to find out the truth behind Hopkins' transformation.
Related link: Instinct (Buena Vista)

The Intruder (1933)
A grisly murder is committed on board a cruise ship. Before an investigation can really get started, the ship is wrecked in a storm and the survivors find themselves shipwrecked on a mysterious jungle island. The survivors are terrorized by weird sounds from the jungle and are horrified when they discover a cave full of skeletons. After another murder occurs, several of the survivors flee into the jungle only to encounter a fanatical wild man and a killer gorilla!

In The Shadow of Kilimanjaro (1986)
Due to a serious drought, hordes of African baboons suddenly begin attacking humans and eating them alive. A game warden pleads with the African government to evacuate everyone in the area, while a ruthless businessman refuses to clear out his workers, leaving them as unknowing targets for the starving primates.

Independence Day (1996)
Here's a classic example of how sneaky these buggers are getting--the stripper girlfriend of hero Will Smith, while crawling out of the rubble climbs in a flatbed truck saying, "C'mon keys, c'mon keys!". No, she does not annunciate them separately, she says "kuh monkeys." Fargin sneeeeeeaky bastages!

I.Q. (1994)
Meg Ryan and Tim Robbins. The long and the short of it is that Meg Ryan is the niece of Albert Einstein and she is engaged to a psychologist that is at the same university as Einstein. However, Einstein and his cronies want her to shack up with Tim Robbins. So in an effort to distract the fiancé so that Ryan can spend time with Robbins the old men let out all the lab animals which include a large number of monkeys. There are also other references throughout the movie like the nicknames that the "boys" have for the psychologist that contain references to simians.

Iron Monkey (1993)
Donnie Yen’s Kung Fu classics re-released in the U.S. in 2001. Hong Kong knows what will sell here.

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JFK (1991)
"You’re like a mouse fighting a gorilla." ‹Joe Pesci They managed to squeeze monkey and mafia into the same show. That Oliver Stone is one sneaky bastage!-RP

Jackass (2002)
Johnny Knoxville and Co. knock over a plastic gorilla with golf carts. There is enough here to make anyone sick even without the wholly predictable ape. The ‘film’ also stars Jason ‘Wee Man’ Acuña, a mischievous midget.

Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
Jay and Bob liberate an orangutan named Suzanne. Kevin Smith is bright, but he may be ambiguously involved in the conspiracy. Miramax has been a holdout, but as they become bigger they may be selling out to the simian mind trap. 

Johnny Dangerously (1984)
(the first PG-13 movie) "kid is like a monkey!"

Jumanji (1995)
One of the movies, together with Outbreak and Congo that tipped us off to the conspiracy. If Hollywood is going to be this explicit someone is going to catch on.

Jungle Book (1942)

The Jungle Book (1967)
Monkeys kidnap young Mowgli and carry him off to King Louie, an orangutan who wants to learn the secret of making fire.

The Jungle Book (1994)
A faithful live-action adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's classic tale of Mowgli, the jungle boy who is raised by wolves.

Jungle Book 2 (2003)
A lame sequel to the animated classic, featuring Mowgli and whole bunch of monkeys. Disney knows it can cook a steak a million different ways for billions and billions of dollars . . . as long as that steak is a prime cut of monkey!

Jungle Jim (1948)
Sequels:
Captive Girl (1950)
Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land (1952)
Jim and his chimp Tamba stumble into a land of giant creatures and giant people.
Killer Ape (1953)
Mark of the Gorilla (1950)
Nazis dressed as great apes are looking for gold. It's up to Jungle Jim (Johnny Weissmuller) to stop them.

Jungle Master (1982)
Lord Carter finances an expedition hoping to capture Karzan (that's what he's called in this one) for scientific study. They get more than they bargained for when they capture Karzan AND his mate, Sheran. With some help from Cheeka (Karzan's chimp companion), Karzan escapes. Later, Sheran escapes but Karzan is recaptured. Ultimately, Lord Carter decides it would be wrong to take Karzan from his jungle home - so he releases him.

Junior (1994)
"... a chimpanzee in labor..."

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Karzan, il favoloso uomo della giungla [aka Karzan and His Mate] (1972)
This Italian version of Tarzan starred Johnny Weissmuller, Jr.

Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)

In a scene reminiscent the Gimp and Zed, a man is warned: "no monkey bites." I swear the blood was going to spurt on me just sitting in the theater watching this movie.

King Kong (1933)
It's not far off to say that the conspiracy began with this movie, the granddaddy of all monkey movies, as one critic notes, "It's probably an understatement to say that human beings have a lot to thank their primate relatives for. Movies are a good example. A big ape literally saved Hollywood in 1933. The early talkies were dreadful films: stage actors emoting into not-so-hidden microphones! Then along came King Kong, battling the U.S. Army Air Corps from atop the Empire State Building. The Hollywood epic was reborn!" (Read full text here.) 

The plot itself reveals the recognition of the simian's money-making potential. It's a metamonkey movie: While scouting locations for filming a movie, a shipload of moviemakers stumble upon Skull Island, home of a gigantic ape called Kong. Natives kidnap the actress traveling with the crew, and offer her as a sacrifice to Kong. The moviemakers manage to rescue the girl and capture the ape, hauling him back to New York City where they exhibit him as the "eighth wonder of the world." Kong breaks loose. Smitten with the actress, he carries her to the top of the Empire State Building. Trapped at the summit, Kong is shot down by strafing airplanes, falling to his death. Director: Ernest P. Schoedsack. (Starring: Fay Wray, Bruce Cabot, Robert Armstrong, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy, James Flavin, and, oh yes, Noble Johnson.)
Sequels/remakes:
Son of Kong (1933)
King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962)
King Kong Escapes (1967)
King Kong (1976)
King Kong Lives (1986)

King of Kong Island (1968)
A group of mad scientists use brain implants on Kong Island in an attempt to create a gorilla army. Out to stop their nefarious ways is a descendant of King Kong.

King of the Kongo (1929)
A Secret Service agent searches the jungle for his missing brother, also an agent. He encounters a young woman there who is also searching, but for her missing father. They encounter a gang of ivory smugglers who hold a prisoner who knows the secrets of the missing people and a lost treasure. The pair are also menaced by a giant gorilla which guards the temple which is the smugglers' lair.

Konga (1961)
Dr. Decker comes back from Africa after a year, presumed dead. During that year, he came across a way of growing plants and animals to an enormous size. He brings back a baby chimpanzee to test out his theory. As he has many enemies at home, he decides to use his chimp, Konga to "get rid of them". Then Konga grows to gigantic proportions and wreaks havoc throughout the city of London.
Related link: Movie poster

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The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)
Completely out of context, a baboon runs across the screen during a scene in the temptation sequence.

Law of the Jungle (1942)
A fugitive from justice and an outlaw scientist are chased through the jungle by Nazis and a killer gorilla.

Life, or Something Like It (2002)

Link (1986)
Student Jane works as an assistant for the animal researcher Phillip in a lonesome old house. They life alone except for the chimpanzees and butler Link: a 45 years old very intelligent orangutan. Phillip wants to put Link to death. However before Phillip can do this he vanishes without a trace. Link begins to behave more aggressive and prohibits Jane from using the phone or reaching the next village. When she punishes him by locking him out, he becomes violent.

The Lion King (1994)
A Disney biggie. Rafiki is the annunciatory being who introduces the young lion king and then prophecies his return. The wise man, "high councilor" motif is solidified by Disney in this one. This motif is repeated in Mulan.
Related link: Lion King Archive: Rafiki

A Little Princess (1986 TV-movie)
Sara Crewe is the pampered darling of her father, an army colonel, and the Victorian London girls' school where he places her. But when her father dies, penniless, Sara becomes a skivvy in Miss Michin's school, befriended only by the scullery maid, Becky, her friends Ermengarde and Lottie, a little monkey, a lascar, and the mysterious man next door.

The Little Rascals (1994)

Lord of the Rings (2001)
Goblins climb, screech, look like monkeys. Several Oscar nominations, including Best Picture.

Lorraine of the Lions (1925)

Loser (2000)
Monkey sticker on bunk bed.

Lost in Space (2000)
William Hurt, Mimi Rogers, and Matt LeBlanc. The cute little alien creature they find aboard the abandoned ship is basically a chameleon-like monkey, complete with long tail and big ears. (Thanks for the email Un-Soo!)

Lost in Translation (2003)

The Lost Jungle (1934 serial)
Clyde Beatty leads an jungle exploration that uncovers a lost city guarded by a giant, killer gorilla.

The Love Light (1921)
Roguish merchant Tony has a pet capuchin who helps tip the scales in Tony's favor by pulling down on the scale with its tail.

Lt. Robinson Crusoe, U.S.N. (1966)
Dick Van Dyke plays an astronaut stranded on an island with a chimpanzee traveling companion.

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Madeline (1999)
Disney (of course) cartoon. Monkey dressed as bell-hop.

The Majestic (2001)
Jim Carrey (of course). Monkey in the preview. "I can't stand the constant nagging. I'm leaving you, Jerry. I'm leaving you -- and I'm taking the monkey with me."

Major League (1989)
monkey in Jobu's alter

Malibu's Most Wanted (2003)
How does Jamie Kennedy break into the Hollywood big time? By playing violent white rapper "White Kong." Other monkey references abound.

Mallrats (1995)
Brodie states: "Why don't they ever bring back or remake good shows, like 'BJ and the Bear.' Now there's a concept I can't get enough of, a man and his monkey." Additionally, at the end of the movie, Jay and Silent Bob walk down the street holding an orangutan. This monkey scene sets up "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," which is ambiguously connected to the Conspiracy. Thanks for the submission Radskeeter!

Man on the Moon (1999)
Andy Kaufmann (Jim Carrey) mimics an Ape in the ring. Chimpanzees on the wall.

The Man from Snowy River (1982)
Curly the stable hand speaking to young Jim Craig, "...last time I saw that was at the circus, a monkey was..."

The Man Without a Body (1957)
A wealthy business man discovers he has a brain tumor and seeks medical help. The business man finds a scientist experimenting with transplanting monkey heads on different monkey bodies.

Masque of the Red Death (1964) – Roger Corman’s adaptation of two Poe tales features an evil prince set aflame while masquerading in a gorilla suit.  - The burning is an act worthy of symbolic emulation. Down with sovereign devils in the guise of simians! 

Master of Disguise (2002)

The preview with Dana Carvey spouting "turtle, turtle" should be enough to keep you away, but if not, the monkey is not incognito amidst the barrage of stupid, unendearing jokes and incredulous disguises that comprise this cinematic attempt.

Master of the Flying Guillotine (1975)
“It’s a mean machine – cuts your head off clean.” One of the greatest kung-fu movies of all time begins with the titular blind master and weapon ripping the tops of posts and statues as a chained monkey paces nearby. Later a monkey-boxer gets his clothes ripped off in a fight with pig-tailed girl.

The Matrix (1999)
Neo’s simian walk while escaping from cubicles. Monkey flashes on a computer screen.

Max, Mon Amour (1986)
A diplomat's wife takes a chimpanzee as her lover.

McHale’s Navy (1997)
Not just Ernest Borgnine, but some very literal monkey antics.

Medicine Man (1992)
Sean Connery in the jungle.

Men of Honor (2000)
As a racial slur, Bob DeNiro's character calls Cuba Gooding Jr.'s character an "organ grinder monkey." 

Message in a Bottle (1999)
Paul Newman says "like a go**amned ape" (hey, this is a family website).

Mickey Blue Eyes (1998)
As is well known, Hugh Grant is a major player in the Conspiracy. In this feel-good, mafioso movie, he pours on the charm, giving Jean Triplehorn the gift of a lifetime: a stuffed monkey toy. One reviewer notes: "An on-going joke involving a talking, stuffed monkey also is comic gold." If that's comic gold, I can only imagine what the reviewer thinks of Clyde in the "Any Which Way" movies. When will it end?

Mighty Joe Young (1949)
Jill Young has brought up her pet gorilla since she was a child. When the gorilla is full grown, Hollywood promoter Max O'Hara travels to Africa and convinces Jill to bring the gorilla, Joe, back to America. When in Hollywood, Joe is used in a stage production and is exploited to no end. It doesn't take long until Joe is sick of being mistreated and he escapes to run loose in civilization.
Related link: Movie poster
Related link: Movie poster #2

Mighty Joe Young (1998)
How many ways can Disney cook a steak? Just look at this nugget starring Charlize Theron. Deep in the heart of Africa, a 15-foot gorilla lives far secluded from the prying eye of man, protected by a young woman named Jill who has known him all her life. Joe, as she calls him, is a kind, gentle creature. When a zoologist discovers the two, he convinces them to move to a California preserve with him so that the miracle of Joe's unusual size can be studied. Unfortunately, there are poachers who want Joe for the black market and pursue him to California. When an accident frees Joe into downtown Los Angeles, the confused gorilla goes on a rampage. Note the difference in plot between the Disney version and the original (noted above)! Disney wouldn't want to incriminate itself, now would it? We all know what's up.

The Miser's Reversion (1914)

Mission Impossible 2 (2000)
Starring Tom Cruise in his returning performance as secret agent Ethan Hunt is, with little or no surprise, a monkey movie. (Comparison of women to monkeys, they "swing from vine to vine"). Dissemination of the simian is imminent. 

Mom, Can I Keep Her? (1998)
Timmy Blair (played by Justin Berfield from "Malcolm in the Middle") is a modern-day, male Cinderella: his father is always at work, his new stepmother loads him with chores, and school life is as difficult as ever. But when a buddy follows him home from school, Timmy is delighted. There's only one problem: His new friend is a 500lb. gorilla. Yeah, right. I bet you won't be laughing when the simian "friend" forces the broken glass slipper into little Timmy's vital organs.

Monkeybone (2001)
20th Century Fox is at it again in this tale about a cartoonist who is sucked into his own fictional world, where who else but a prankster monkey makes for good-hitting comedy.  Don't buy in!

Monkey Business (1952)
Chemist Barnaby Fulton is working on a youth formula, but is unsuccessful until lab chimp Esther puts her own additions to the formula. When the youth formula accidentally gets into the water cooler, the fun really begins. Carey Grant, Marilyn Monroe, and a freakin' chimp. That's entertainment!

Monkey Hustle (1976)
Blaxpoitation movie exploiting the monkey. Talk about whacked. Even Dolemite's TNT temper is no match for a chimp on film.

The Monkey Kid (1995)
The Monkey Kid focuses on the details of a nine year-old girl's daily life during the Cultural Revolution. In 1970 China's "intellectuals" had been dispersed to the countryside to "learn from the peasants." Their children remained in the cities to learn life on their own. Shi-Wei, the "Monkey Kid," is one of these children.

Monkey Love (1917) 
Monkey Love (1928) 
Monkey Love (1935) 
Monkey Love (1997) 
Monkey Love (2002)
A single title, many movies. No real connection between these films except the fact that the love of a simian is interesting enough to reel people in, year after blessed year. When will it end?

Monkey Melodies (1930)

Monkey Shines: An Experiment In Fear (1988)
Monkey/Horror connection. When Allan becomes a quadriplegic he loses all hope for living until he meets Ella - a monkey trained to fetch and carry for him around the house, obeying him in all things. But Ella is part of another experiment, and when she starts responding to Allan's underlying rage and frustration she has the ability to carry out her master's darkest wishes.

Monkey Trouble (1994)
Dodger the monkey runs away from an abusive street performer (Harvey Keitel) and is found by a troubled teen, whose parents forbid pets. The girl and the monkey bond. But she soon learns that Dodger has been trained as a pickpocket and keeps making off with watches and jewelry. Meanwhile, Dodger's owner has made a deal with the mob to use the monkey in a heist, and is desperate to get the monkey back.

Monkeys, Go Home (1967)
Monkeys trained to harvest olives upset the locals.

The Monkey’s Mask (2001)
Kelly McGillis, bad poetry, and naughty lesbians.

The Monkey's Uncle (1965)
Young scientist Merlin Jones is perfecting a method of sleep-learning using first, a chimpanzee, and then Annette Funicello, as guinea pigs.

The Monster and the Girl (1941)
Scot Webster tries to save his sister Susan from the clutches of gangster W.S. Bruhl. When Scot comes to Bruhl's rented room, one of the gangster's aides falls into his hands, killed by a gunman. The murderer tosses his gun to Scot and disappears, leaving Scot to take the fall. He is sentence to death, but a mad scientist retrieves his brain to transplant into a gorilla. After the operation, Scot wakes up in the body of a gorilla, eager to get his revenge.

The Monster Walks (1932)
People in an old dark house on a stormy night are menaced by a killer ape.

Mookie (1998)
A monk discovers a talking chimpanzee in Mexico. When scientists want to take away the chimp, the monk goes on the run to Mexico City with a boxer who is on the lam from Mafioso types.

Moon Pilot (1962)
Mona is the chimpanzee who accompanies an astronaut into space.
Related link: Brian Keith: Moon Pilot

Mother (1996)
Albert Brooks movie. 

Most Valuable Primate (1999)
Most Valuable Primate 2 (2002)
A chimpanzee used in a sign-language program escapes from the lab and winds up on a train bound for Canada. The ape befriends a deaf girl, and begins playing for a junior hockey team! Give me a break. A monkey on ice skates and a skateboard? Kids would just love to play their favorite sports with this chimp, that is until he gets pissed and rips their little arms off!
Related Link: Keystone Entertainment

Multiplicity (1996)
"Did you bring me a monkey?"

Murder by Numbers (2002)
Monkey in the trailer. There may be more. Many more.

Murders in the Rue Morgue (1914)

Murders in the Rue Morgue (1932)
In 19th Century Paris, the maniacal Dr. Mirakle abducts young women and injects them with ape blood in an attempt to prove ape-human kinship. He constantly meets failure as the abducted women die. Medical student Pierre Dupin soon uncovers Mirakle's work.

Murders in the Rue Morgue (1971)

Murders in the Rue Morgue (1986 TV-movie)

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Nabonga (1944)
A man, flying over the jungle with his daughter, is carrying a briefcase of diamonds when the plane crashes. Years later, treasure hunters make their way into the jungle to find the diamonds, encountering the daughter, now fully grown in the form of shapely Julie London. They also encounter her protector -- a large gorilla named Nabonga.

Naked (1993)
"I know it's a bit cheeky but, er, I'm a cheeky young monkey!"

The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking (1988)

Night at the Roxbury (1998)
"your dancing monkey brother"

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Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
“Monkey Business”

Office Space (1999)
Peter Gibbons lead character; "monkey" mentioned in Michael Bolton's rap song

Oh Brother Where Art Thou? (2000)
"Monkey," a midget (monkey appeal), and other references.

Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003)

Robert Rodriguez has definitely gone Hollywood. CIA agent Johnny Depp receives the final insult when, after being blinded and betrayed by a modern-day Mexican Delilah, she says: "you f%#@$ monkey." An unrelated complaint: five minutes of Salma in a movie is NOT enough. Or maybe too much. I'm not sure.

Onegin (1999)
Little monkey

Open Range (2003)
They managed to sneak the simian into this epic western. Robert Duvall's character, the ultimate grizzled cowboy, states: "If you're gonna pick your feet like a monkey, do it downwind."

Othello (1995)
The Bard was no stranger to the simian and its popular appeal. Most Shakespearian dramas include a monkey reference, thus entrenching him in the center of the western canon.

The Others (2001) - Stuffed animal

Outbreak (1995)
A deadly monkey-borne virus finds its way into the USA and starts killing off people at an epidemic rate. Col. Sam Daniels' job is to stop the virus spreading from a small town, which must be quarantined, and to prevent a zealous Army general from blowing up innocent people.

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A Pain in the Pullman (1936)
Dodger, a monkey, and Eva become close friends.

Paradise pour tous (1982)
Doctor Valois has invented the "flashage", a cure for depressed people. After having tested it on monkeys, he tries with a first human patient, Alain Durieux. This is great success, everybody's happy except may be Alain's wife, Jeanne, who's worrying about the changes in Alain's personality. Other patients use the treatment with similar successes, and Valois's happy about it. But the monkeys are changing: non-cured ones are made mad by the overstability and stereotyped behavior of the cured ones. So are the humans. When Valois realizes he can't stop the process, he decides to "flash" himself.

Patch Adams (1998)
Ricky: Patch Adams is a monkey movie! No, I’m not talking about the ultra swarthy Robin Williams, there is a monkey puppet carefully placed in one of the scenes. I’m on to their trickery.

Patchwork Monkey (2003)
The haggard Monkey/Horror connection played out again. A babysitter's gift of a patchwork monkey begins a disturbing evening for eight year old Tommy and his big sister Carol as they suspect the monkey is more than just a toy.

Payback (1999)
Monkeys on his back. Gangster/monkey connection/exception

Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Gorilla just outside novelty shop. Chimp helps save animals in pet store fire.

Sequel: Big Top Pee Wee (1988)

The Pest (1997)
John Leguizamo: I hope you get violated! ...By pig monkey men in the woods!

Peter Pan (1953)
Two animated apes try on the hat of a passing John Darling as he leads the Lost Boys in an attack against the Indians.

Phantom of the Rue Morgue (1954)
Karl Malden plays Dr. Marais, a zoo curator whose hypnotizes an ape to do his bidding. When the ape is sent to kill Patricia Medina, it refuses making off with her over rooftops.

Phenomena [aka Creepers] (1984)
Actress Jennifer Connelly plays Jennifer Corvino, an American teenage girl who is attending an all-girls school in Switzerland. As it turns out, Jennifer has a psychic link with insects. She uses her powers to help catch a deranged killer who is on the loose. Donald Pleasence plays a paralyzed entomologist who owns a chimpanzee.

Phone Booth (2002)
Collin Ferrell's character, in the stress of becoming a sniper target, asks about a monkey climbing a pole to "get a look at its ass." I guess even with the prospect of impending death, the monkey is supposed to be on everyone's mind.

Pippi in the South Seas (1974)

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Monkeys have always gone with pirates . . . or have they? I wonder if this whole pirate thing is some additional form of manipulation. You're telling me a dude sailing in the tropical heat gets dressed up in several layers from the wardrobe of the artist once-again-known-as Prince, and then throws a patch on his eye and a monkey on his shoulder? I think the PETA people should protest: I'd rather go naked than wear a monkey.

Planet of the Apes (1968)
Three astronauts from Earth find themselves stranded on a planet where apes are the dominant society.
Sequels:
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1969)
Escape From the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
TV series: Planet of the Apes (1974)

Planet of the Apes (2001)
Tim Burton's Re-imagination: starring Mark Wahlberg, aka: Monkey Mark. When I heard who would star, my re-imagining was of hundreds of monkeys wearing nothing but Calvin Klein underwear. Regardless, this proved to be one of the biggest summer-blockbusters ever. Oh yes. The film, like many of the predecessors, also carries the powerful message that apes are scary. -Andre

Related link: The Actor's Life: Charlton Heston
Related link: Simian Arms
Related link: Spleenworld Presents Planet of the Apes

Platoon (1996)
"Drunk as a *#@!! monkey..."

Point Break (1991)
"You're not buying into Bodie's crap like these other monkeys are you?"

The Presidio (1988)
Sean Connery himself, "I don't like him, he's like a monkey." If only the rest of the world actually thought that way.

Primate (1974)

Project X (1987)
A young military inductee (Matthew Broderick) is given the task of tending to chimpanzees involved in "Project X," training chimpanzees to be pilots. After encountering the chimps' former owner, a young female language specialist (Helen Hunt), and discovering that radiation exposure is involving in the project, the inductee plots to help the chimps escape.

Proof of Life (2000)
Character called Mono (Spanish for "monkey"). Check the Credits. Nice try getting that past us, but it will take more than a simple linguistic movement hidden in the credits.

The Prophecy II (1998)
one of God's "monkeys" (a human woman - Valerie)

Psycho (1960) 
Norman Bates says "chimp"; His mother, however, makes no such reference.

Pure Country (1992)
"Doesn't matter if it's Dusty, Buddy or King Kong up on that stage."

Pushing Tin (1999)
Half man/half monkey arcade game.

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Quiz Show (1994)
“Television’s like a monkey on his back.”

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Marion Ravenswood takes a shine to a capuchin. The monkey is working as a spy, but is killed after eating poisoned dates meant for Indiana Jones.

Ransom (1996)
"ugly you wouldn't wish on an ape." Gary Sinise's character discussing the Morlocks (ironically the evolutionary descendants of present day humans) of HG Wells' Time Machine. --RP.

Remember the Titans (2000)
Bigot calls Denzel a monkey. Denzel gives him a banana.

The Replacements (2000)
"I've seen monkey-shit fights at the zoo that are more organized than this!"

Return of the Ape Man (1944)
Mad scientist Bela Lugosi transplants the brain of John Carradine into the body of a recently discovered Missing Link.

The Return of the Pink Panther (1974)
Blind beggar: I am a musician and the monkey is a businessman. He doesn't tell me what to play, and I don't tell him what to do with his money.

Return To Me (2000)
David Duchovny plays the husband of a veterinarian. Some scenes filmed at the Lincoln Park Zoo Great Ape House in Chicago. Celebrity ape doing sign language.
Related links: MGM's Official Site

The Right Stuff (1983)
"The issue here is not pussy, it's monkey!" I hope he's referring to felines. In any event, can they make a space movie without monkeys? 

Road Trip (2002)
Email submission from Jenny F: "Tom Green is sitting in his dorm room strumming happily on his guitar. He proceeds to sing about salmon swimming upstream and all about their happy home, when without warning, he breaks into making monkey noises. If I remember correctly his words were as follows: 'And the chimpanzee says....' and he begins making unruly monkey noises over and over, while innocent  people are forced to listen, myself included. Yet I found it to be somewhat enjoyable!!!!" Of course you did, Jenny. Just don't let yourself become addicted like so much human cattle. It was Karl Marx--or was it Ricky Platinum?--who said that monkeys are the opiate of the masses.

Roadhouse (1989)
Giant monkey painting in the background during the climactic fight scene.

Robinson Crusoe On Mars (1964)
Stranded on Mars with only a monkey as a companion, an astronaut must figure out how to find oxygen, water, and food on the lifeless planet.

Robot Monster (1953)
Ro-Man, an alien that looks remarkably like a gorilla in a diving helmet, has destroyed all but six people on the planet Earth. He spends the entire film trying to finish off these survivors, but complications arise when he falls for the young woman in the group.

Rocket Man (1997)
The adolescent comedy features an astrochimp with a bad attitude toward the wacky hero on the first manned flight to Mars in this Disney film.
Related link: Hollywood Online: Rocket Man

Rocky (1976)
“Fights like an ape.” Worth an Oscar, apparently.

Romeo Must Die (2000)
Stuffed animal monkey and a reference, not mention the kung-fu.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) 
Since most Shakespeare employs monkey references, it comes as no surprise that this film version of Tom Stoppard’s postmodern take on Hamlet follows suit. While flipping a coin that inevitably lands on heads in the face of the laws of probability, Rosencrantz (or was it Guildenstern?) wonders if monkeys would land on their heads or tails if flipped in the air. Presumably an allusion to the idea that, if given an infinite amount of time, monkeys typing randomly would eventually compose Hamlet. More importantly, would monkeys write screenplays about monkeys? The point here is that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s lives are intentionally scripted, and all those random monkeys in movies are also anything but random.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) 
Monkey shot in the closing sequences. Wes Anderson used to have integrity, then Rushmore, then this.

The Rundown (2003)

While caught and suspended upside down in some snares in the Amazon, the Rock and Sean William Scott hear the most ferocious sound imaginable. No kidding, for a moment it was scarier than Predator. Soon they are surrounded by a pack of monkeys. You think they're going to ripped to shreds by the their long teeth and claws. But no, one jumps on the Rock and humps him. That's right, the Rock gets humped by a monkey. Later in the show, our two heroes are paralyzed from eating some very powerful fruit and are once again the monkeys begin to circle. I don't even know where to begin with this rich allegory of Hollywood's abuse of its captive audience. It doesn't matter how strong you thing you are, everyone is at risk.

Rush Hour II (2001)
Jackie Chan told to “Chew that like a little monkey.”

Rushmore (1998)
A young man is referred to as a Gorilla.

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Sands of the Kalahari (1965)
A small plane crashes in the sweltering deserts of South Africa hundreds of miles from civilization. As parallels are drawn between the group of humans and a nearby pack of savage baboons, one of the men's survivalist nature gets the better of him, as he decides his chances of survival would be better if the others were eliminated one by one.

Savage Girl (1932)
Tale about a white jungle goddess who's protected by a giant, killer gorilla. What giant gorilla wouldn't protect a pasty, smaller animal with disproportionately large cleavage?

Scarface (1983)
"kick your filthy monkey ass"

Scary Movie (2000)

Secondhand Lions (2003)

What else would you expect from 'family' entertainment. This is anything but innocent.

Shadow of the Vampire (2000)
"Death of centuries! Moonchaser! Blasphemer! Monkey! Vase of prehistory. Finally to Earth, and finally born." Whoa. Scary.

Shakma (1990)
A laboratory baboon goes on the rampage against a group of medical students involved in a "Dungeons and Dragons" game.

The Shaolin Drunk Monkey (1985)
It appears that no one's kung fu is more powerful than the monkey's. There's no matching the simian pinch-a-loaf!!!

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
Hadley: What is your malfunction, you fat barrel of monkey spunk?

Sherlock Holmes in the Great Murder Mystery (1908)

Showgirls (1995)
Performing chimps run loose in the girls' dressing room--a motif picked up in Striptease, starring Demi Moore.

The Simian Line (2001)
William Hurt, Lynn Redgrave, Harry Connick, Jr., Cindy Crawford, etc.

Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)
A prince is transformed into a baboon.

Sixth Sense (1999)
School play; monkey toy in bedroom. #1 at the box office!

Smilla’s Sense of Snow (1997)
"monkey"

Some Kind of  Wonderful (1987)
"No monkey business alright?"

Son-goku sora [aka Magic Monkey Sky; Monkey Magic] (1959)
The mythical adventures of the legendary Chinese trickster Monkey, who must outwit a variety of wily demons who stand in the way of him and his fellow Buddhist travelers.

Sneakers (1992)
"Bad, bad Leroy Brown, baddest...badder than old King Kong..."

Spanking the Monkey (1994)
Indie flick about Oedipal desires.

Spook Busters (1946) The Bowery Boys get a job working as exterminators in a haunted house where Sach is kidnapped by a mad scientist who plans to transplant Sach's brain into a gorilla.

Spy Kids 3-D (2003)
At the climax of this summer cash cow, several giant robots go on a rampage. These robots, of course, resemble gorillas. And it's all in 3-D! If you're thinking of taking the kids to this movie, please heed the words of Obi Won Kenobi: "These are not the droids you're looking for . . . Move along."

Starship Troopers (1997)
Paul Verhoeven's satire of war propaganda films has an archetypal drill sergeant state, referring to his recruits as "a bunch of apes." What this movie actually had bunches and bunches more of were computer-generated giant insects designed to terrify the audience; not nearly as terrifying as hordes of monkeys, computer-generated or real, would have been, though. Terrifyingly profitable, too. Think Congo multiplied exponentially.

The Strange Case of Dr. RX (1942)

The Stranger (1994)
This feature follows the adventures of a cynical New Jersey bar janitor as he takes LSD, has nightmares, rides subway cars, yells at his pregnant girlfriend, and kills people. The film also features a cigar-smoking dwarf bar owner and a chimp wandering through a graveyard.

Summer of the Monkeys (1998)
Typical Disney. This straight-to-video release came out the same time Disney released Mighty Joe Young. A one-two monkey sucker punch.

Sunday Afternoon (2000)
An indie short about breakups that begins with two apes wrestling as a synecdoche of relationship tension. Thanks to Alice for outing this closet Hollywood film! http://atomfilms.shockwave.com/af/content/atom_355

A Summer to Remember (1985 to-movie)
A deaf-mute boy who has withdrawn from society finds a secret friend in an escaped orangutan who can communicate via sign language.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Woman buries a monkey.

Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
Disney + movie = monkey movie

Swordsman II (1991) 
Chinese swordsman classic. Jet Li, Brigitte Lin and a Chimp character.

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The Tall Guy (1989)
Ron Anderson:  And sort it out before I sack you and hire a lobotomized monkey to play your role. Okay?

Tarzan films:

Related link: Matt's Tarzan Movie Guide
Related link: Tarzan On Television
Related link: Tarzan of the Internet

Tarzan of the Apes (1918)
The Romance of Tarzan (1918)
The Revenge of Tarzan (1920)
Son of Tarzan (1920)
Adventures of Tarzan (1921)
Tarzan, the Ape Man (1932)
Tarzan The Fearless (1933 serial)
Tarzan and His Mate (1934)
The New Adventures of Tarzan (1935 serial) re-cut as "Tarzan and the Green Goddess" (1938)
Tarzan Escapes (1936)
Tarzan's Revenge (1938)
Tarzan Finds A Son! (1939)
Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941)
Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942)
Tarzan Triumphs (1943)
Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943)
Tarzan and the Amazons (1945)
Tarzan and the Leopard Woman (1946)
Tarzan and the Huntress (1947)
Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948)
Tarzan's Magic Fountain (1949)
Tarzan and the Slave Girl (1950)
Tarzan's Peril/Tarzan and the Jungle Goddess (1951)
The Tarzan's Savage Fury/Tarzan Hunted (1952)
Tarzan and the She-Devil (1953)
Tarzan's Hidden Jungle (1955)
Tarzan and the Lost Safari (1957)
Tarzan and the Trappers (1958)
Tarzan's Fight For Life (1958)
Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959)
Tarzan, The Ape Man (1959)
Tarzan The Magnificent (1960)
Tarzan Goes To India (1962)
Tarzan's Jungle Rebellion (1965)
Tarzan and the Valley of Gold (1966)
Tarzan and the Great River (1967)
Tarzans Kampf mit dem Gorilla (1968)
Tarzan's Deadly Silence (1970)
Tarzan, The Ape Man (1981)
Bo Derek
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)
Tarzan in Manhattan (1989 tv-movie)
Tarzan and the Lost City (1998)
Tarzan (1999)
Typical Disney stuff. Tarzan's peaceful and sheltered world is turned upside down by the arrival of a human expedition and the revelation that he is a human being. As he struggles to decide which "family" he belongs with, his dilemma is further complicated by his feelings for a beautiful young woman named Jane and the discovery that a trusted member of his new human "family" is plotting to harm the apes.
Related link: Tarzan

TV series:
Tarzan (1966)
Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle (1976 animated)
Related link: Pazsaz Entertainment
Tarzan (1991)
Tarzan: The Epic Adventures (1996)

Teenage Zombies (1958)
Four teenagers find themselves stranded on an island with a foreign power trying to develop a method for turning American citizens into easily controlled zombies.

The Ten Commandments (1956)

Countless screenings of “the greatest event in motion picture history” and somehow this one has gotten past us all. Just before the Exodus, a parade of Africans rolls by, sporting a monkey. The trajectory of Heston’s career goes from Pharaoh's favorite, God’s anointed, Ape fighter in the original Planet and finally to Ape himself in the 2001 remake. Would that he had been buried in the Red Sea…

The Testaments: of One Fold and One Shepherd.
LDS motion picture. It is the account of the life of the Savior in both in Palestine and the Americas. It has more monkey in it than it has the Man Himself! Could it be furthered revelation? Will the monkey theory soon be canonized? I'm getting a warm feeling in my chest...

That Thing You Do! (1996)
"They're treating us like chimpanzees"

Thirteen  Days (2001)
"They'll go ape..."

Three Men and a Baby (1987)
monkey statue in bedroom

Time of the Apes (1987)
In this Japanese film, a woman and her two kids are trapped in a cryogenic chamber and awaken in a future where apes rule over humans.

Toby Tyler (1960)
A runaway boy joins a circus and befriends Mr. Stubbs, a chimpanzee. In reality, of course, the runaway boy would get his arms ripped off by the chimpanzee. And there's no telling what the other carnies--defined as circus folk who smell like cabbage--would do to him.

Tootsie (1982)
Monkeys in a picture.

Tough Guys (1986)
(Kurt Russell, Burt Lancaster) "I’ll be a monkey’s uncle."

Toy Story (1995)

they use a barrel of monkeys to attempt to rescue Buzz. Slinky dog utters the ominous phrase "We need more monkeys!!" Of course you do.

Traffic (2000)
On a desk near the end of the movie, there is a simian type statue of the Thinker.

Training Day (2001)
Among other things, includes Denzel asserting that "King Kong ain't got nothin' on me!" A give-me-an-Oscar speech that worked.

Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)
MR. Also, director John Huston sported simian cosmetics in the final Planet of the Apes installment.

True Crime (1999)
I watched a fairly bad show tonight. It was "True Crime" starring Clint Eastwood—not exactly his best. However, during the movie he takes his daughter to the zoo and they first walk past the...you guessed it... the monkey cage.-RP

Twelve Monkeys  (1995)
Brad Pitt and simians. A winning combo every time.

Twins Dragons (1992)
Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung

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Underground (1995)
Magical realist film. The film's opening scene finds a zoo being torn to pieces by invading air fighters. Ivan (Slavko Stimac) and his chimpanzee emerge from the rubble, their bond instantly conveyed as inextricable. Kusturica's monkey is a metaphor of sorts, an alter ego of the human condition. The chimpanzee is trapped in the film's underground setting but serves as savior when he gets into an army tank and creates a hole in the basement's brick wall, freeing the entire family and allowing them to discover that they have been unjustly imprisoned by their kin. The monkey disappears through the underground tunnels of Bosnia as the family separates and adjusts to the country's present political landscape. Ivan, who is mentally-impaired, spends the duration of the film looking for his lost chimpanzee.

Unknown Island (1948)
A group of scientists searches for prehistoric creatures on a mysterious island.

Unknown Treasures (1926)

Untamed Mistress (1956)
Two adventurers go into the jungle to rescue a girlfriend, Velda, from the clutches of the killer gorillas that originally raised her. "The kind of woman man or gorilla would kill...to keep!"

The Usual Suspects (1995)
"you monkeys"

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Vegas Vacation (1997)
Monkey on the wall of the booth in the casino. Cousin Eddie: I haven't seen a beatin' like that since somebody stuck a banana in my pants and turned a monkey loose.

Vertical Ray of the Sun (2000)
“Monkey Face.” Other than this insult, a fine film.

The Waterboy (1998)
Gorilla at large. This is a good example of the monkey/mascot connection.

Way of the Gun (2000)
"Need is the ultimate monkey." They really want to believe the converse: that monkey is the ultimate need.

When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Pictionary game: monkey, ape, Planet of the Apes reference

White Gorilla (1947)
A white gorilla is snubbed by black gorillas because of his color. Cut off from his tribe he becomes lonely and angry. After troubling hunters and natives, the white gorilla fights the king of the black gorillas while we are told by a narrator that the fate of Africa hangs in the balance. The movie was made by editing some 1947 acting into footage from a 1927 silent serial, Perils of the Jungle.

White Pongo (1945)
A white gorilla may be the missing link.

White Witch Doctor (1953)
Ellen Burton arrives in Africa to join Dr. Mary as her nurse, bringing modern medicine to the native peoples. Lonni Douglas, an animal wrangler and fortune hunter, agrees to take her upriver, despite his misgivings about her suitability for Africa. They battle escaped gorillas, hostile natives, infected lion wounds, and hostile witch doctors to reach their destination and on the way, they fall in love. Will their contrasting interests doom their romance?

Who Killed Doc Robbin? (1948)
Another haunted house with a gorilla in it. How many of these places are there?

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)
George: It's a familiar dance, monkey nipples, they both know it.

The Wild and the Free (1980 TV-movie)
Researchers study chimps.
Related link: CinemaPop (Has entire movie available for free viewing)

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)
"Performing baboons" in girl's song

The Wizard (1927)
A remake of the 1913 film "Balaoo." An evil scientist creates a man-faced ape to destroy the judge who condemned the scientist's son to death.

The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Considered one of the most ground-breaking motion pictures of all time. The Wicked Witch of the West employs a band of Winged Monkeys to abduct Dorothy. Even if these things didn't freak you out as a kid, you should be very afraid now. Fly my prettys! 

Sequel: Volshebnik izumrudnogo goroda (1994)

Wolf (1994)
Jack Nicholson. Michelle Pfeiffer. monkeys at zoo.

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X-Men (2000)
The Toad was much more simian than amphibian. Swinging, climbing, jumping. I guess the producers were afraid the hard-core fans wouldn’t like it and neither would the uninitiated. The obvious solution: throw in a monkey.

X2: X-Men United (2003)
They killed off the toad and replaced it with a "teleporter," which is so obviously simian it hurts. Prehensile tail and striking likeness to a charred Pee-Wee Herman included; conclusion that character is a case of monkey manipulation sold separately. Opening scene includes assault by the monkey-like creature on the President of the USA. Fiction or prophecy? The character even gets slightly jiggy with Storm (Halle Berry's character). Yikes. That almost swayed even me into thinking it was good.

You Gotta Stay Happy (1948)
Dee Dee (Joan Fontaine) is a wealthy heiress who has just made the mistake of her life by marrying the wrong man. Looking to get away she hooks up with failing airline entrepreneur Marvin Payne (James Stewart), who reluctantly agrees to let her hitch a ride across the country in his cargo plane. The crazy flight begins when the co-pilot (Eddie Albert) has illegally booked a group of wacky passengers, including a cigar-smoking chimp.

Zamba (1949)
Adventure story of a boy raised by gorillas.

Zoolander (2001)
Parody scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey in which Hansel and Zoolander devolve into apes. The two heroes transform from dull-witted male models into tool-using apes. A scene not to be missed. It could happen to you.

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