Recent Monkey Movies: From Horror to Musical Biopics
Lately, it seems like films about monkeys are popping up everywhere, doesn’t it? As if evolution has taken a U-turn, dragging us back to our primal roots—at least on the silver screen. The modern monkey, it appears, descends from humans and Hollywood, swinging across the branches of various genres: horror, action, fantasy, and even musical biopics. Our ancestors take center stage in this roundup of recent monkey-themed releases.
The Monkey, 2025
Scientists keep reminding us that primates aren’t to be taken lightly or seen as harmless—not all of them can even be tamed. Especially not a cursed toy monkey that brings death with the flick of its mechanism. Director Osgood Perkins decided to have a blast, crafting a dark comedy about life’s final curtain. This devilish drumming toy, with its wicked grin, has its own plans for everyone, and predicting the next victim is a fool’s game: people get shot in the head, trampled by a herd of horses, or beheaded at the most unexpected moments—think Final Destination vibes. In response, the toy just stares coldly at its owner, who’s probably cursing the day they rummaged through the attic junk.
Monkey Man, 2024
Young Kid (Dev Patel) steps into underground fights, gearing up to take on the mafia responsible for his mother’s death. Monkey Man, an American action flick steeped in the vibrant hues of Mumbai, joins the primate parade. Here, though, the monkey motif is symbolic: the hero performs at the Tiger’s Temple club, donning a monkey mask for his bouts. The primate image bridges his past—his mother once shared tales of Hanuman, the monkey-like Hindu god. The criminal underworld of Monkey Man, a sort of John Wick reimagined by Patel, is so perilous that fleeing Mumbai for the tropics with some furry friends might feel safer.
Robbie Williams: Better Man, 2024
Being bold, brimming with raw energy, and standing out from the pack—that’s the creed of both a monkey alpha and a rockstar. At least, that’s how the filmmakers saw singer Robbie Williams, pulling off a dazzling visual stunt by turning the British crooner into a quirky CGI primate for this biopic. Better Man didn’t rake in big box office bucks or win over every viewer—Williams’ talent remains a mystery to many. But it’s rare for an artist to dare to step back and see themselves in a light that isn’t entirely flattering. The parallel holds firm: from musicians and monkeys alike, we crave nothing less than a circus spectacle.
