Congo

Michael Crichton’s 1980 novel Congo was praised for its engaging storyline. Its 1995 film adaptation, however, wishes it gained the same love. Crichton originally pitched Congo to studios but left the project after learning he couldn’t use a real gorilla. “There are some gorillas used in research. We attempted to hire them and we couldn’t. Gorillas aren’t like chimps at all. They are an endangered species,” Crichton told Starlog in 1984. Congo still managed to make a profit with $152 million earned against a $50 million budget.