The Naked Ape (1973): cast, story & where to watch
1973 · Film · ★ 4.3
Released in 1973, The Naked Ape is a comedy, war and animation film directed by Donald Driver, running about 85 minutes. “The naked ape is only human.” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Somewhat based on Desmond Morris's fascinating book of pop anthropology, this partially animated satirical docudrama produced by Playboy Magazine publisher Hugh Hefner, traces the evolution of human kind and offers insight into the reasons why we behave the way we do. Though often dealing with sexuality, nothing in the film is terribly offensive or graphic. A prime example of mainstream experimental film-making from the early 70's featuring a young and breathtakingly lovely Victoria Principal.
Who’s in it. The Naked Ape stars Johnny Crawford as Lee, Victoria Principal as Cathy, Norm Grabowski as Sargent and Diana Darrin as Fat Woman, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.3/10, The Naked Ape has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Naked Ape page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Naked Ape tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Naked Ape (1973)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The Naked Ape change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The Naked Ape worth watching?
- The Naked Ape holds an audience score of 4.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, war and animation. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Naked Ape?
- The Naked Ape stars Johnny Crawford, Victoria Principal, Norm Grabowski, Diana Darrin and Robert Ito.
- When was The Naked Ape released?
- The Naked Ape was released in 1973, with a runtime of about 85 minutes.