Who would win in a fight between 100 men and one gorilla?

David vs. Goliath. Theseus vs. Minotaur. Perseus vs. Medusa.

Myths and legends are full of stories of one brave warrior emerging victorious in battle against an epic creature.

Judging by the latest social media frenzy over who would win in a fight between 100 humans and one gorilla, humanity still has an unhealthy fascination with such legendary confrontations.

Of course, there is no zoo in the world that would agree to host a fight of 100 people against a gorilla, so instead, simulations and endless speculation and memes are used to try to predict the outcome of the fight.

Surprisingly, this issue has been discussed longer than its current popularity would suggest; someone already raised a similar question on the r/whowouldwin subreddit in 2020.

Perhaps due to boredom during the coronavirus lockdown, the highly detailed question outlined the rules and rounds, including a ban on weapons and a stipulation that none of the 100 men had any training in martial arts or similar disciplines.

In the comments to this post, most people concluded that the men would win, as the gorilla would be able to knock down several men before he ran out of strength.

Fast forward to 2025, and the debate reignited when X user @DreamChasnMike wrote: “I think 100 people can beat 1 gorilla if everyone sets their minds to it.”

The post was viewed millions of times and sparked heated debate about who would actually win in a fight.

While some are confident they can easily take on the gorilla, others joke that they don't stand a chance, with one user stating: “My friends and I are going to fight a gorilla but we're going to wear funeral suits.”

Others have compared the fight to a grown man fighting 100 younger children (don't try this at home, guys) – but while the gorilla may have a significant advantage in physical strength, the humans could probably pool their efforts for a more strategic approach.

Adult male silverback gorillas weigh approximately 430 pounds (195 kg) and have incredible strength, as they can lift over 1,700 pounds (800 kg) of their own weight.

Their bite force is impressive – around 1,300 pounds per square inch, significantly more than a lion's, and their long arms allow them to strike much more powerfully and reach greater distances than humans.

Moreover, they are excellent climbers and can run short distances at speeds of 20–25 miles per hour, their skin is thick and their muscles are strong.

So it all depends on who exactly those 100 people are. If they are untrained civilians, most of them will be physically weaker than a gorilla, but if they are trained fighters or soldiers, their ability to develop tactics increases their chances of success.

This hypothetical battle is the subject of much debate, with two simulations posted on X's @DramaAlert account showing vastly different results.

In the first simulation, the gorilla completely destroyed 100 people, knocking them down with one swing of his huge arms and sending them flying with his sheer force.

However, in the second simulation, the humans organize themselves into a tighter formation, and although the gorilla manages to overpower 62 humans by throwing them into the air, the remaining men manage to wear him down enough to eventually overpower him and win.

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1. Sourse: metro.co.uk