Top 10 Movie Monkeys

Movie monkeys numbers 10-6! <<<<

5. DR. ZAIUS in PLANET OF THE APES
Tim Burton can 're-imagine' Planet of the Apes all he likes, but the 1968 original and the apes within are still the coolest chimps in cinema. He may be a damn dirty ape, but Dr. Zaius has got more smarts than your average poo-flinging primate and certainly more than Charlton Heston, his bemused human subject. With a posh accent, flowing golden locks (some definite product in there) and a healthy dislike for homo sapiens ("You are a menace! A walking pestilence!"), Zaeus is living proof that some apes are more equal than others. Dr. Zaius was last seen tossing away his trusty walking cane and doing the electric boogaloo in Planet Of The Apes: The Musical. Okay, that might have been on The Simpsons, but still.

Monkey magic: Locking Charlton Heston behind bars. What he'd have done for a rifle back then...

4. ROBIN WILLIAMS
Talk about evolution - this particular primate has managed to forge himself a career. Known as 'Robin', he first appeared making rudimentary jokes on TV sitcom Mork & Mindy, before he was catapulted into the limelight and started making movies. He walks on his two hind legs like a human, but still displays all the hallmarks of a monkey, namely hair on 95% of his body, a loud, squawking voice and a penchant for pulling silly faces. You might point and laugh at his hilarious antics on screen, but behind the scenes it's monkey business as usual - his trailer walls are coated in shit and he won't get out of bed for less than 8 bunches of bananas.

Monkey magic: Going ape in his brilliant (early) stand-up performances.

3. THE NAZI MONKEY in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK
The last person you'd expect to double-crossed intrepid adventurer cum archaeologist Indiana Jones would be a cuddly little monkey, but this back-stabbing little fucker answers only to the Führer. A playful little Capuchin, she gains the affection of love interest Marion Ravenwood thereby getting close to Indy - the couple even refer to her as "our baby". The Nazi Monkey then shows her true colours, giving away Marion's location when she's chased by the fuzz and then saluting 'Heil Hitler' to her commanding officer once the betrayal is complete. She might only be a tiny monkey, but if it wasn't for some dodgy dates then she may well have contributed to the Ark of the Covenant falling into extremely evil hands.

Monkey magic: The Nazi salute, one of Spielberg's favourite scenes from the movie.

2. CLYDE in EVERY WHICH WAY BUT LOOSE
Never come between a man and his ape. Clint Eastwood was the fast talkin', fist-fightin' trucker with Clyde his hairy companion, and together, they were the finest man/monkey double act cinema has ever seen. Clint's character Philo (not a pastry) won his orang-u-tan buddy in a bet and from then on they were inseparable. Why the strong friendship? Maybe it's because Clyde is one of the coolest primates in cinema history - if ever you need to flip off your enemy, slug a wise guy in the face or blow a giant raspberry, then Clyde is your monkey. He's cheeky, loveable and he might just shit in your car, but if you're looking for the missing link between man and monkey, look no further. Clint has never looked more manly than when acting opposite Clyde.

Monkey magic: Monkeys are funny. Monkeys flipping people off are even funnier.

1. KING KONG in KING KONG
There's no doubt who is the greatest movie monkey of all time - he's big, hairy and he's got his own island. Kong's been kicking it since the 30's and there's been heated debate ever since about which incarnation of the King of the jungle is the best. The original Merrian C. Cooper Kong scared audiences in 1933 (but then so did a TV showing an oncoming train) and 70's audiences were obviously terrified of Rick Baker's 'man in suit' Kong - so much so, they didn't bother showing up at the cinema at all. Peter Jackson's CGI Kong has to take the plaudits - he's terrifying in the flesh, takes on not one, not two, but three dinosaurs at once, and just like the rest of us, fancies Naomi Watts. Look, he thinks he's people! He does however die an ungraceful death in all three versions; despite what they say, it wasn't beauty that killed the beast, it was the fucking huge fall off the Empire State Building.

Monkey magic: Kicking the shit out of three V-Rexes in that awesome fight scene.