The “Planet of the Apes” movies are a mix of science fiction, action, and adventure, set in a post-apocalyptic world where intelligent apes have risen against humans.
The first original series began with its 1968 movie, which shows a future Earth dominated by apes.
The Planet of the Apes is all about smart apes, survival, and a flow of emotions provided to the viewers so that they can connect to every character.
The latest Planet of the Apes sequel, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, surprises viewers by changing the direction of the movie’s story about apes fighting humans.
Buckle up! I’ve got a quick and fun recap of all the “Planet of the Apes” sequels from the 2000s.
5. Planet of The Apes (2001)
| Director | Tim Burton |
| Writer | William Broyles Jr, Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal |
| Cast | Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter |
| Release Date | July 27, 2001 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
Planet of the Apes is another version of 1968, the same movie but with special effects and a better version.
In the movie, Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) travels to another planet through a wormhole and finds talking apes with human-hating attitudes.
The plot begins when Leo and Ari try to escape the Gorilla army and reach a sacred temple within the planet’s forbidden zone.
They find the most shocking secret of the human past and the key to their future.
This movie is worth watching for its highly realistic and detailed close-up shots of apes, an action that had yet to be achieved earlier.
4. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
| Director | Rupert Wyatt |
| Writer | Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa |
| Cast | James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow |
| Release Date | August 5, 2011 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the first prequel of its franchise sci-fi action movie.
This prequel introduced its legendary character Caesar(Andy Serkis), a chimp who gains intelligence and emotion like humans after an experimental drug.
The movie’s plot begins after an unfortunate accident in which Caesar is sent to jail with other apes.
Due to this, Caesar leads a horde of chimps to strike back at the human community, resulting in serious consequences.
If you are a fan of movies featuring emotional rollercoasters and amazing special effects, this movie is definitely worth watching.
3. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
| Director | Matt Reeves |
| Writer | Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa, Mark Bomback |
| Cast | Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman |
| Release Date | July 11, 2014 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
The movie continues 10 years after the deadly Simian Flu pandemic spread, which drastically reduced the human population.
The ape leader Caesar led the genetically enhanced intelligent chimps and established a Muir Woods National Monument colony.
The story unfolds as people step into the land of the apes. Caesar seeks friendship, offering peace if the humans agree to respect the apes’ rule.
But soon, Caesar’s plan starts to collapse as one of the apes, Koba starts a big fight by betraying the humans, and a battle for peace begins between them.
The movie trailer showed humans as the villains, whereas the actual movie was full of surprises. It felt like an exciting adventure with lots of suspense, making it fun to watch.
2. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
| Director | Matt Reeves |
| Writer | Mark Bomback, Matt Reeves |
| Cast | Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn |
| Release Date | July 14, 2017 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
War of the Planet of the Apes is another sequel movie that follows the story left on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
The movie continues after two years of the unfriendly Koba attack, which humans survived.
The plot begins with Caesar, the intelligent leader of the apes, searching for a safe home for his family.
Trouble arises when humans attack and injure their ape companions. Fueled by anger, Caesar resolves to confront the cruel human Colonel, leading to a massive battle.
This amazing movie is a must-watch because it’s a tale of survival and bravery.
1. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
| Director | Wes Ball |
| Writer | Josh Friedman |
| Casts | Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand |
| Release Date | May 10, 2024 |
| IMDb | IMDb |
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the fourth and latest installment in the Planet of the Apes franchise.
The movie is set almost 300 years after the war, following the unexpected death of Caesar, the ape’s leader. It shows that chimps are still a dominant species compared to humans.
In the film, apes are in charge of the planet instead of humans. But the movie shows how a human girl becomes a key person.
A courageous ape, Noa, travels to discover what he’s meant to do and what will happen to both apes and humans.
His journey is full of danger, friendship, big decisions, finding balance, and living together in peace.
This movie is a thrilling ape adventure with bold leaders, epic showdowns, and a twisty plot that keeps you guessing.
| Movie Name | Box Office Collection |
|---|---|
| Planet of the Apes | 362.2 million USD |
| Rise of the Planet of the Apes | 481.8 million USD |
| Dawn of the Planet of the Apes | 710.6 million USD |
| War of the Planet of the Apes | 490.7 million USD |
| Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes | 131.2 million USD (First Week) |
