Project X(1987) (2024)

: Directed by Jonathan Kaplan and written by Stanley Weiser, based on a story by Weiser and Lawrence Lasker. The score was composed by James Horner.

: Shortly after release, the film was hit by allegations of animal abuse during filming, championed by TV host and activist Bob Barker . While Barker claimed trainers used "blackjacks" to beat the chimps, the filmmakers and the American Humane Association (AHA) denied these charges; the AHA eventually won a defamation settlement against Barker. Project X(1987)

The story follows (Matthew Broderick), a young Air Force pilot assigned to a secret project as punishment for a minor infraction. He is tasked with overseeing a group of chimpanzees being trained on flight simulators. Jimmy bonds with a chimp named Virgil , who was previously taught sign language by graduate student Teri MacDonald (Helen Hunt). : Directed by Jonathan Kaplan and written by

: The film received generally favorable reviews, holding a 74% score on Rotten Tomatoes . Critics praised the performances of the chimpanzees, particularly "Willie" as Virgil. While Barker claimed trainers used "blackjacks" to beat

Released on April 17, 1987, is a science-fiction comedy-drama starring Matthew Broderick and Helen Hunt that explores the ethics of animal testing within the military. Plot Summary

When Jimmy discovers the "Bavarian Room"—where chimps are exposed to lethal doses of radiation to simulate pilot performance in a nuclear war—he realizes the military's plan is to kill the animals. He enlists Teri's help to rescue Virgil and the other chimps from the facility.