Primate (film)

Primate is a 2025 American natural horror film directed by Johannes Roberts and written by Roberts with Ernest Riera.

Primate is a 2025 American natural horror film directed by Johannes Roberts and written by Roberts with Ernest Riera. The film follows an adopted chimpanzee named Ben who contracts rabies and becomes violent, trapping a group of friends in a survival ordeal. It premiered at Fantastic Fest in September 2025 and was released theatrically by Paramount Pictures in January 2026.

Premise

Primate follows a group of friends whose tropical holiday or secluded stay is disrupted when a pet chimpanzee becomes rabid and violent. Sources describe the story as a creature-feature and survival horror scenario focused on confinement and escape.

Production

The film was directed by Johannes Roberts, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ernest Riera. Available sources also identify Paramount Pictures as distributor and 18hz Productions among the production companies.

Release

Primate premiered at Fantastic Fest in September 2025 before reaching U.S. theatres in January 2026. International release listings also place its theatrical rollout in January 2026.

Reception

Published reviews were generally mixed to positive, with several critics characterizing it as a gory, straightforward creature feature. Rotten Tomatoes lists a theatrical release and genre classification, while review outlets note the film’s violent content and short runtime.