Actual chimps attend Dawn of the Planet of the Apes screening

Actual chimps attend Dawn of the Planet of the Apes screening
(Image credit: Facebook)

Vali and Sugriva, two chimps who live at the Myrtle Beach Safari, were taken to a screening of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes this weekend in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, reports ABC News.

The chimps, who are each two years old, have seen the film's predecessor, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and regularly watch television, The Daily Mail reports. The Daily Mail also reports — and has photos to prove — that the chimps bought their own tickets for the film and paid for their own popcorn.

According to ABC News, the pair expressed emotional responses to the film similar to their surrounding humans, "with Sugriva turning away during a dramatic scene and Vali clenching his companion's hand."

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Of course, some of the other audience members were concerned about the implications of the chimps watching the movie.

"A couple of people said very clearly, 'Are you sure they should watch this movie, won't they learn to take over the world?,'" Myrtle Beach Safari director Bhagavan Antle told The Daily Mail. "There were several people actually concerned about that."

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.