'Rise of the Planet of the Apes' Too Scary? Here Are Memorable Monkey Movies for Your Kids

If there's one durable truism in cinema, it's this: Kids love monkeys. That said, this week's new primate prequel, 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes,' may not be the most kid-friendly monkey movie. The PG-13 flick's ape-ocalypse, in which super-smart simians escape from the lab and make war on humanity, may be too scary for some children. But if your kids are jonesing for some monkeyshines, there are plenty of moppet-friendly monkey movies on disc. Here are some of the most memorable films featuring primates with banana appeal. (We tried to keep the list kid-appropriate, so no 'The Hangover Part II.') Let us know if we forgot any that are favorites of your little boys and gorillas. For Younger Kids: 'Bedtime for Bonzo' (1951): One of the most famous human-chimpanzee bonding movies is this underrated comedy about a college psychology professor who raises a chimp as if it were a human child. Adults will be amused by the fact that the professor is played by Ronald Reagan, who comports himself with the same grace and good humor he displayed in dealing with the jungle of Washington politics three decades later. 'Curious George' (2006): Very young children will be as enchanted by the adaptation of the popular children's book series, in which we learn how the trouble-prone chimp came to live with the Man in the Yellow Hat (voice of Will Ferrell). Parents will be charmed by the old-school animation (meant to resemble the simple style of the books' illustrations) and the acoustic soundtrack by Jack Johnson. 'Dunston Checks In' (1996): Orangutan trained to steal jewelry wreaks havoc in a luxury hotel. Kids will appreciate the monkey mayhem, but there isn't much here for grown-ups, though they may enjoy the clowning of pros like Jason Alexander, Faye Dunaway and Rupert Everett. And Sam the Orangutan is surprisingly convincing in Dunston's more emotional moments. 'George of the Jungle' (1997): Adults who remember the old cartoon about a dim-witted Tarzan type should enjoy the live-action version. Sweet, simple George (Brendan Fraser) has lots of simian pals -- well, sort of pals, though they make fun of him behind his back. One is a capuchin monkey (played by a capuchin monkey), and one is an animatronic ape named Ape (voiced with his usual exasperation and hauteur by John Cleese). 'Mighty Joe Young' (1998): The original 1940s version of this girl-and-giant-gorilla saga always seemed a knock-off of 'King Kong.' Still, we prefer the 1990s remake, in part for the human talents of Charlize Theron and Bill Paxton, and partly for the impressive effects work that makes Joe both a soulful simian and a destructive force of nature. 'Monkey Trouble' (1994): Another movie, like 'Dunston,' about a light-fingered primate (in this case, a capuchin monkey) torn between a life of crime and going straight. Battling for the monkey's soul are his Fagin-like master (a menacing Harvey Keitel) and a little girl (Thora Birch). Beware: The film may make your kids beg you for a capuchin for a pet. 'MVP: Most Valuable Primate' (2000): Chimp learns to play hockey. What more do you need to know? Followed by a sequel, 'MVP: Most Vertical Primate,' in which the chimp takes up skateboarding. 'Tarzan and His Mate' (1934): There are countless Tarzan movies, of course; we picked this one because Johnny Weissmuller is still the definitive Lord of the Jungle and because this film has a heroic role for Cheeta, with the chimp nursing an ailing Tarzan back to health. A good way to introduce kids to the Tarzan character and the dozens of movies about him. For Older Kids: 'Buddy' (1997): Based loosely on a true story, 'Buddy' stars Rene Russo as a socialite whose house is a menagerie, including chimps and a large gorilla that she tries to raise as humans. This doesn't turn out well, and what started as a comedy takes a darker turn. 'Every Which Way But Loose' (1978): This movie is full of brawlin,' boozin' and other behavior you wouldn't want your kids to emulate. Still, this PG-rated comedy is pretty mild and enjoyably low-key. At its heart is the friendship between Clint Eastwood's bare-knuckle boxer and Clyde, an orangutan with a powerful right hook of his own. 'King Kong' (1933): With all due respect to Peter Jackson's impressive 2005 remake, it's not as satisfying as the imaginative original. Even your youngest kids may already know the story, but the surprisingly scary middle section, full of giant monsters and violent deaths, may put the movie out of bounds for small children. 'Outbreak' (1995): Here's Rene Russo again, in a story that, for all its epic disaster-mongering, centers on a capuchin monkey. In this case, the adorable little guy is the carrier of an Ebola-like virus that threatens to wipe out a small California town -- and then all of America. There are some really disgusting scenes of stricken people turning into mush as the disease takes its course, but what may be harder to swallow is the notion of Dustin Hoffman as an action hero. Fortunately, the always-reassuring Morgan Freeman is along for the ride. 'Planet of the Apes' (1968): For all the sequels, remakes, reboots and TV series, there's still no topping the original. For all the scenery-chewing of the incomparable Charlton Heston as the stranded astronaut, there's actually a lot of subtle satire (in the depiction of the stratified society of chimps, orangutans and gorillas) that will go over the heads of younger kids. 'Project X' (1987): Matthew Broderick and Helen Hunt have a couple of their earliest adult roles as military types working with smart chimps who can communicate via sign language. They plot to free their furry friends from the lab before the primates can be irradiated in an experiment. Action-comedy monkey business ensues. Broderick and Hunt acquit themselves, but the movie is stolen by Willie the Chimp, who plays the intelligent Virgil. Watch for a conclusion that evokes Broderick's 'WarGames,' with the monkeys nearly causing a nuclear meltdown. Had things taken a darker turn, this could have been the original 'Rise of the Planet of the Apes.' Follow Gary Susman on Twitter: @garysusman.