With Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes about to storm into theaters (get your tickets right here!), it's a great time to get caught up on the popular sci-fi series. But catching up on a long-running series can be as daunting as outsmarting a talking simian, especially when the franchise features three distinct eras over 50-plus years.
In addition to the recent reboot trilogy – which kicked off with 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes – there's also the 1968 original movie and its four sequels. Of course, completionists may also want to check out Tim Burton's 2001 reboot attempt, also titled Planet of the Apes. So whether you want to start with the Charlton Heston classic, begin with the recent trilogy or binge all nine films in the five decade-spanning franchise, we've got you covered with a breakdown of all entries in the Planet of the Apes saga by release date.
Too Long, Didn't Read summary:
• Released in 1968 and starring Charlton Heston, the original Planet of the Apes was a surprise success that spawned four sequels: Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and Battle for the Planet of the Apes.
• After the series lay dormant for over 30 years, director Tim Burton attempted to revive it with 2001 remake Planet of the Apes, starring Mark Wahlberg and Helena Bonham Carter.
• Where Burton's reboot failed to reignite the series, 2011's Rise of the Planet of Apes succeeded in bringing it back with a vengeance. More than just making the franchise relevant again, the film spawned two sequels – Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes – to ultimately deliver one of contemporary cinema's best trilogies.
1. Planet of the Apes (1968)
87% on the Tomatometer
Famed for its twist ending and iconic, quotable lines, the original Planet of the Apes is an undisputed science fiction classic. But while it's most remembered for that indelible image of the washed-ashore Statue of Liberty and for a captured Charlton Heston spewing, “Take your stinking paws off me, you damned, dirty ape!," it deserves equal recognition for fueling a blockbuster franchise long before Steven Spielberg and George Lucas mastered the art. After 55 years and 10 films, the series is still going strong as not only one of Hollywood's biggest sci-fi properties, but one of its best.
2. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
37% on the Tomatometer
The only problem with the original Planet of the Apes being a surprise, sequel-spawning hit was that Hollywood wasn't prepared for its enormous success. As such, its fast-tracked follow-up, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, felt like a rushed, shoddy affair lacking much of the magic of the original. While its quirky plot – involving telepathic humans literally living beneath the titular chimps – held some potential, it never really delivered on its promising premise. Toss in the fact Charlton Heston's astronaut protagonist only appeared briefly, while his co-star Roddy McDowall was entirely absent, and you can probably skip this sequel during your re-watch if you're short on time.
3. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
76% on the Tomatometer
If Beneath the Planet of the Apes felt like Hollywood's hasty attempt to quickly cash in on an unexpected hit, Escape from the Planet of the Apes seemed more of a measured course correction. Forgoing the “bigger and better” approach that led to its predecessor's critical failure, the third, lower-budget entry spins a smaller, more personal tale focused on the first films' fan-favorite primate pair, Cornelius (Roddy McDowell) and Zira (Kim Hunter.)
The story finds the couple traveling back in time to the early 1970s, where they're initially celebrated and embraced by humans, but are soon feared and imprisoned. Centered more on social and political commentary and themes than action and special effects, the entry is a quirky, dark, sometimes campy chapter that's worth a watch.
4. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
52% on the Tomatometer
As the fourth franchise entry in as many years, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is a bit of a mixed bag. Set after the events of its predecessor – but hundreds of years before those of the original film – it attempts to explain the uprising that eventually led to the smart simians ruling Earth's civilization. The plot, which sees apes replacing dogs and cats as family pets, focuses on racial inequality and, ultimately, sees the intelligent primates enslaved by humans. The narrative is pretty uneven and the social commentary very heavy-handed, but Roddy McDowall – who returns as Cornelius and Zira's son Caesar – turns in a stellar performance as the leader of the primate rebellion.
5. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
36% on the Tomatometer
Widely considered the worst of the original films, Battle for the Planet of the Apes again sees Roddy McDowall return as ape leader Caesar. The actor turns in another terrific performance, as his increasingly complex character organically evolves over the course of his rule, and up to the titular war with the humans. But despite McDowall doing much of the heavy lifting, the film's low budget – as well as fans and critics beginning to suffer franchise fatigue – led to it being the last of the original five films in the sci-fi series.
6. Planet of the Apes (2001)
43% on the Tomatometer
Following a fantastic run of '80s and '90s hits (Batman, Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands), Tim Burton set his sights on reviving the Apes franchise with a loose remake of original movie. But despite the director's considerable chops and star Mark Wahlberg coming in hot from hits Three Kings and The Perfect Storm, the potential-packed project failed to relaunch the series.
While the movie scores big points for its strong production values, slick practical effects, cool make-up and immersive world-building, its story is overly long, poorly placed and, crucially, lacks Burton's signature style. Toss in the fact it attempted – and failed – to one-up the original's twist ending, and this one isn't exactly required viewing. Still, it's a bridge between the original and current sets of movies, so it's worth a watch to pave your way for the transition.
7. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
82% on the Tomatometer
A decade after Tim Burton's 2001 remake failed to revive the intelligent-primate property, Rise of the Planet of the Apes rebooted it and then some, spinning it into the blockbusting success we know today. In this telling, the downfall of humans and the rise of the apes were the result of genetic experiments with major unintended consequences. The first film in this revitalized franchise stands out for setting up the new entries as not another campy, B-movie action series, but smart, science-based dramas.
Significantly elevated by Andy Serkis' stellar motion-capture performance – as well as a solid supporting cast (including James Franco, Brian Cox and John Lithgow) – Rise kicked off a killer trilogy that can proudly stand among the genre's best.
8. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
91% on the Tomatometer
Similar to the Mission: Impossible movies, the rebooted Apes franchise is the rare series that seems to get better with each new installment. This is arguably the case with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, a superb sequel that retains what worked so well in the previous film while significantly building on its predecessor's rock solid foundation. After 10 years of being ravaged by simian flu, the human population is down to a tiny fraction of what it once was. Can apes and humans live side by side, or are they headed towards a clash that will rock the foundations of the world?
On top of another acclaimed turn from Andy Serkis as ape leader Caesar, the sequel hands the reins over to The Batman director Matt Reeves. The supporting cast inclues the likes of Jason Clark, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell and Kodi Smit-McPhee. The result is a brilliant blend of character-driven drama, white-knuckle action and absorbing storytelling that stands alone, but also perfectly sets up the next film.
9. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
94% on the Tomatometer
With Matt Reeves back in the director's chair and Serkis turning in his best performance of the series, War for the Planet of the Apes concludes its trilogy on a high note. Once again, the franchise delivers the sort of high-octane action and nail-biting thrills you'd expect from a summer blockbuster, but deftly does so without ever overshadowing its deep characterizations and nuanced storytelling.
This approach is exemplified by Woody Harrelson's the Colonel, an incredibly layered, complex antagonist who terrifies and engages in equal measure. Serkis delivers another outstanding performance, bringing Caesar's story to an emotional conclusion. Often cited as the best entry in the rebooted series, War sets an extremely high bar for the upcoming Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
10. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
The next entry in the Planet of the Apes series hits theaters May 10. What can we expect? Here's the official synopsis:
"Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike."
