Who doesn’t love monkeys? These primates are close cousins to humans and have been on earth as long as the sun has been shining. While the majority live in jungles around the world and the rest in zoos, a few of these fascinating creatures have also made their presence felt in pop culture. Throughout the decades many of these famous monkeys have made their mark on the big screen or become internet memes. 

After Albert II became the first monkey in space, these lovable primates have been the focus of movies, TV shows, books, and other mediums. To celebrate these tree-dwelling simians, we have compiled a list of the most famous monkeys of all time. Some of these are real-life monkeys, while others are animated creations that are well known by the public. We are also cheating a little by including some famous monkeys that arent actually monkeys. Chimps, apes, and gorillas all get a look in as we use the term ‘monkey’ very loosely.

With that said, here are the 14 most famous monkeys in modern pop culture. 

1. King Kong

YouTube/Balot music studio

King Kong is arguably the greatest and most well-known primate in the world. The misunderstood gorilla has been the focal point of many interpretations of the original 1933 movie King Kong. The large beast is living drama-free on Skull Island when he is suddenly captured by men, chained, and taken to New York to be put on show. It’s no wonder Kong gets mad and goes a little crazy. While he does find some solace in Ann, Kong’s fate is always the same; falling to his death after being attacked while scaling the Empire State building. 

2. Clyde

YouTube/Mga Pelikula at Mga Palabas

Clint Eastwood gets overshadowed by an orangutan in the late 70s comedy Every Which Way But Loose. Eastwood’s trucker and bare-knuckle fighter teams with the primate Clyde as they encounter a cast of colorful colors and find themselves on the run from a biker gang. Not only is this one of Eastwood’s highest-grossing movies, but the film turned Clyde (real name Manis) into a star. There is a strange chemistry between the two, with Clyde’s left hook quite memorable. Although he didn’t feature in the sequel, Any Which Way You Can, Clyde went on to be a big star in Las Vegas.