Movies Like Going Ape! (1981)

Going Ape! is a 1981 comedy, crime, family film from Jeremy Joe Kronsberg with a MovieMagicScore of 4.3/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Every Which Way but Loose and Any Which Way You Can.

Comedy Crime Family

Every Which Way but Loose

1978

Philo Beddoe is your regular, easygoing, truck-driving guy. He's also the best bar-room brawler west of the Rockies. And he lives with a 165-pound orangutan named Clyde. Like other guys, Philo finally falls in love - with a flighty singer who leads him on a screwball chase across the American Southwest. Nothing's in the way except a motorcycle gang, some cops, and legendary brawler Tank Murdock.

6.1

MagicScore

Any Which Way You Can

1980

Philo takes part in a bare knuckle fight – as he does – to make more money than he can earn from his car repair business. He decides to retire, but when the Mafia come along and arrange another fight, he's pushed into it. A motorcycle gang and an orangutan called Clyde all add to the 'fun'.

5.7

MagicScore

Without Family

2000

Young Remi, a foundling, lives on the farm run by his impoverished foster parents. When their money runs out, unbeknown to his foster-mother, Rémi is sold by his hard-hearted foster father to an old street performer named Vitalis. Vitalis was once a famous opera singer, but became destitute after a tragic love affair.

6.8

MagicScore

Dunston Checks In

1996

Hotel manager Robert Grant is forced by his boss to postpone his family vacation when a hotel critic checks in. Trouble is, the critic is really a villainous jewel thief with an orangutan assistant named Dunston. When Dunston gets loose and tries to escape a life of crime -- aided by Robert's sons -- havoc, hijinks and lots of laughs abound!

5.4

MagicScore

Savages

2024

In Borneo, near the tropical forest, Kéria rescues a baby orangutang in the palm oil plantation where her father works. Kéria's cousin Selaï comes to live with them seeking refuge from the conflict between his indigenous tribe and the logging companies. Kéria, Selaï and the little orangutang, now named Oshi, will have to fight against their forest’s destruction.

7.0

MagicScore

Life of Pi

2012

The story of an Indian boy named Pi, a zookeeper's son who finds himself in the company of a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a Bengal tiger after a shipwreck sets them adrift in the Pacific Ocean.

7.4

MagicScore

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

2011

A highly intelligent chimpanzee named Caesar has been living a peaceful suburban life ever since he was born. But when he gets taken to a cruel primate facility, Caesar decides to revolt against those who have harmed him.

7.3

MagicScore

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

2014

A group of scientists in San Francisco struggle to stay alive in the aftermath of a plague that is wiping out humanity, while Caesar tries to maintain dominance over his community of intelligent apes.

7.3

MagicScore

War for the Planet of the Apes

2017

Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.

7.2

MagicScore

#10

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

2024

Several generations following Caesar's reign, apes – now the dominant species – live harmoniously while humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all he's known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

7.1

MagicScore

#11

Born to Be Wild

2011

Born to Be Wild observes various orphaned jungle animals and their day-to-day behavioural interactions with the individuals who rescue them and raise them to adulthood. The film unfurls in two separate geographic spheres. Half of it takes place in the rain forests of Borneo, where celebrated primatologist Dr. Birute Galdikas assists baby orangutans; the other half takes place on the arid savannahs of Kenya, where zoologist Dame Daphne Sheldrick works with baby elephant calves.

7.0

MagicScore

#12

Link

1986

Young graduate student Jane Chase becomes the new assistant to an eccentric zoology professor at the remote home he shares with two brilliant chimpanzees and an elderly orangutan butler named Link. But when one of the chimps is found dead and the professor mysteriously disappears, Link becomes dangerously aggressive towards Jane. Now, the time for “monkey business” is over and the true terror is about to begin.

6.1

MagicScore

#13

Vivo

2021

A music-loving kinkajou named Vivo embarks on the journey of a lifetime to fulfill his destiny and deliver a love song for an old friend.

7.3

MagicScore

#14

Curious George: A Very Monkey Christmas

2009

George and The Man In The Yellow Hat are having a merry time counting down to Christmas. But neither can decide what to give each other. Will they find the answers before Christmas morning?

6.8

MagicScore

#15

Dora and the Lost City of Gold

2019

Dora, a girl who has spent most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, now must navigate her most dangerous adventure yet: high school. Always the explorer, Dora quickly finds herself leading Boots (her best friend, a monkey), Diego, and a rag tag group of teens on an adventure to save her parents and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost Inca civilization.

6.6

MagicScore

#16

Curious George

2006

When The Man in the Yellow Hat befriends Curious George in the jungle, they set off on a non-stop, fun-filled journey through the wonders of the big city toward the warmth of true friendship.

6.5

MagicScore

#17

Madly Madagascar

2013

Your favorite Madagascar pals are back in an all-new adventure! Alex's favorite holiday, Valentine's Day, brings hilarious surprises and excitement for the entire gang. Melman plans a big surprise for Gloria, Marty tries to impress a new friend and everyone wants to get their hands on King Julien's love potion. You'll fall in LOVE with Madly Madagascar!

6.5

MagicScore

#18

Doraemon: Nobita and the Space Heroes

2015

One day Doraemon, Nobita, Shizuka, Gian and Suneo were shooting a film as space heroes. When they were shooting the film in the open lot a boy called Aron comes and alerts them of aliens attacking his planet. They agree to help him by turning into real superheroes, but it isn't as easy as it looks.

6.2

MagicScore

#19

Funky Monkey

2004

A teen genius teams up with a super-talented chimpanzee and his caretaker to take down an animal testing lab. In exchange, the scientist gives the teen some pointers on the girl of his dreams.

6.1

MagicScore

#20

Doctor Dolittle

1998

A successful physician and devoted family man, John Dolittle seems to have the world by the tail, until a long suppressed talent he possessed as a child, the ability to communicate with animals is suddenly reawakened with a vengeance! Now every creature within squawking distance wants the good doctor's advice, unleashing an outrageous chain of events that turns his world upside down!

5.7

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like Going Ape!?

The top films similar to Going Ape! by MovieMagicScore are Every Which Way but Loose (6.1), Any Which Way You Can (5.7), Without Family (6.8). Each shares comedy/crime/family themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is Going Ape! worth watching?

Going Ape! holds a MovieMagicScore of 4.3/10 from 18 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is Going Ape!?

Going Ape! (1981) is a comedy, crime, family film directed by Jeremy Joe Kronsberg, starring Tony Danza, Jessica Walter, Stacey Nelkin.

Where can I find more recommendations like Going Ape!?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more comedy recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Every Which Way but Loose Movies like Any Which Way You Can Movies like Without Family Movies like Dunston Checks In Movies like Savages Movies like Life of Pi

About movies like Going Ape!

This ranked list pairs Going Ape! (1981), a comedy and crime and family film from Jeremy Joe Kronsberg, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Tony Danza take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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