Planet of the Apes is one of the biggest and most complex sci-fi franchises in Hollywood’s history.
Spanning across multiple movies, TV series, books and even comics, it is rich in thought-provoking themes and metaphors — a blend of race and class coupled with intricate existential and philosophical questions that speak to the very essence of the human race, its origins, its quest for power and its subsequent corruption.
Based on French author Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel La Planète des singes, the first film, titled Planet of the Apes, came out in 1968. Now, 56 years later, the latest movie in the franchise, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, is set to release in May 2024.
Apes will reign.
Get tickets to #KingdomOfThePlanetOfTheApes. Experience it in theaters May 10. https://t.co/Plo17NWPwL pic.twitter.com/Py2XOnZkFQ
— Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (@ApesMovies) April 25, 2024
Even after half a century, this sci-fi movie franchise remains beloved across generations. Want an Apes marathon before the latest release? Take a look at the Planet of the Apes movies list in order.
How many ‘Planet of the Apes’ movies are there in total?
Canonically, there are 10 Planet of the Apes movies. The original series had five films, released from 1968 to 1973. After that, the franchise died because the last outing failed at the box office.
Then in 2001, Tim Burton revived the franchise with a re-imagined iteration that took place in an alternate timeline. But that didn’t do well commercially with many labelling it as the worst film out of all of them.
However, Tim Burton’s failed reboot managed to light a spark that burst into flames when Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) was released as the first movie of the reboot series.
And now that we know how many movies there are on the list, let’s look at their order of release.
‘Planet of the Apes’ movies in order of release:
- Planet of the Apes (1968)
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
- Planet of the Apes (2001)
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
A Complete Guide To Watching Every ‘Star Wars’ Show And Movie In Chronological Order
How to watch the ‘Planet of the Apes’ movies in chronological order
1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
The first block that built a world of anthropomorphised apes was the 2011 film Rise of the Planet of the Apes. While this was the first instalment of the reboot series, it acts as a prequel to the original film series — answering questions about how exactly the evolved apes came to be and how the world became dystopian.
Set in 2016, the narrative follows Dr Will Rodman (James Franco) who is trying to discover a cure for Alzheimer’s for his father. However, when a young chimpanzee is exposed to the drug during gestation, the repercussions set into motion the events that shape the entire franchise.
The plot further unravels as Caesar who grows up with heightened cognition and intelligence, begins gaining consciousness. He grapples with existential questions, wondering about his origin and place in the world. The film here highlights the metaphor of race through Caesar’s introspection, as he explores his ‘otherness’.
As Caesar rebels, stealing AZ-113, the new variant of the drug, he gathers all the apes, chimpanzees and orangutans from captivity, leading to a battle and their subsequent retreat into the forest. Will tries to bring Caesar home but the former refuses, saying that he already is home.
The film ends with a virus being spread around the world accidentally, leading to a pandemic that sets up the sequel.
Directed by Rupert Wyatt this is the first film in chronological order of the Planet of the Apes universe and the seventh film overall.
2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
This Matt Reeves directorial is set 10 years after the events of the first film. The year is 2026 and the Simian Flu pandemic has drastically reduced the human population. While only 1 in 500 humans are genetically immune to the virus, unable to adapt or evolve; the apes have set up a colony in the Muir Woods National Monument near San Francisco.
Led by Caesar, the ape colony is flourishing with equality and justice until humans begin interfering. It is here the movie begins tackling the age-old theme of Man vs Nature and excessive human interference.
As the plot advances, expanding and contracting with a kind of narratorial tension that is the mark of good writing, the audience gets to explore the emotional bond between the apes and humans through Malcolm (Jason Clarke) and his family’s bond with Caesar.
But as the film progresses, Koba (Toby Kebbel), a human-hating ape betrays Caesar to take over the colony, thus establishing the corruption of nature that was inevitable.
The tensions between apes and humans increase. Malcolm warns Caesar about the human military as Caesar addresses the apes to prepare for war.
3. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
With a two-year time-jump, the third movie in the Planet of the Apes chronological order is War for the Planet of the Apes. It takes place in 2028, continuing its emphasis on the psychosocial relationships between the apes and the humans. Also directed by Matt Reeves, the film explores the final curve of Caesar’s character arc as a burdened leader.
Here, Caesar’s character mirrors that of Moses as he strives to lead his people out to the Oasis, a safer home for the colony away from all the war and destruction. Meanwhile, humans, still contemptuous of the apes, form a militia to hunt and kill Caesar.
As the plot progresses, it is revealed that the Simian Flu virus has mutated, thereby devolving humans into primitive animals. In this haunting yet poetic revelation, the audience is forced to speculate the possibility that one day humans might not be the most dominant species on the planet.
Caesar’s arc comes to an end with his death. And, the third film of the series winds up with the rest of the apes living in a new home, leading life by Caesar’s values and teachings.
4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Set to be released this May, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is an upcoming movie of 2024 that will take place nearly 300 years after the events of the previous film, in the year 2328. The premise will deal with a divided society post Caesar’s death that is corrupted by power, riddled with slavery and feral humans who have regressed to a primitive state.
The film will follow protagonists, chimpanzee hunter Noa (Owen Teague) and a human girl Mae (Freya Allen), on their journey for the future of humans and apes and find out if there will be coexistence or extinction.
You can watch the trailer here.
5. Planet of the Apes (1968)
By order of release, Planet of the Apes is the first film of the franchise. However, chronologically the events of this movie happen much later in the Planet of the Apes universe’s timeline; specifically in the year 3978.
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, the premise follows George Taylor (Charlton Heston) who crashes on an unknown planet only to be shocked by the revelation that it is ruled by highly intelligent ape overlords. Humans, however, have insignificant cognitive abilities and hence serve as pets to the apes.
But as the plot unfolds, the movie in a hauntingly despairing sequence reveals that Taylor is not on another planet but a post-apocalyptic earth. He discovers a half-buried Statue of Liberty and curses humanity for bringing the world to an end.
The film was a critical and commercial hit, setting up the perfect opportunity for a sequel that happened two years later.
6. Planet of the Apes (2001)
In 2001, Tim Burton attempted to revive the franchise with a remake of the 1968 Planet of the Apes movie starring Mark Wahlberg. The film takes place in an alternate timeline in 2029 when an astronaut gets stuck in a space storm and crashes on a planet.
There he discovers that the year is 5021 and the planet is ruled by humanoid apes. Upon further exploration, he realises that they have domesticated horses and keep humans as slaves.
Planet of the Apes (2001) wasn’t well received by both critics and the audience. While the make-up and costume were praised, critics expressed concerns over the writing and storytelling of the narrative. The fandom, too, considers this film as the worst film of the franchise, with some not even considering it canon.
7. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
Following the events of the 1968 film, Beneath the Planet of the Apes takes place one year later in 3979 when another spacecraft arrives on the planet in search of Taylor (Heston).
Even though the Ted Post directorial did not perform commercially or critically, failing to match up to its predecessor, it did end up having many comic adaptations to its name. In the same year of its release, Gold Key Comics produced the first-ever comic adaptation of the Planet of the Apes franchise.
Then, Marvel Comics also produced two versions, a black-and-white comic series from 1974 to 1977 and a coloured comic series from 1975 to 1976. Later in the ’90s, Malibu Comics reprinted the Marvel series.
8. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Departing from formulaic time travel, Escape from the Planet of the Apes took a unique turn by sending its characters to the past instead of the future. Set in the year 3981, the movie sends the apes, Cornelius (Roddy McDowall), Zira (Kim Hunter) and Dr. Milo (Sal Mineo) back to 1973 in one of the cleverest and most interesting narratorial manoeuvres. But because of the past time travel the film is technically set much earlier in the Planet of the Apes universe’s timeline.
Directed by Don Taylor, the film was loved widely by the audience and hailed as a significantly close match for the original in terms of excitement, plot and writing. So much so that in 2014-2015 a comic book series with a Star Trek crossover was released titled, Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Detective.
9. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Set in 1991, 18 years after the events of the last film, Conquest of the Planet of Apes retells Caesar’s rebellion. In this film, Caesar, the son of the futuristic Apes, Cornelius and Zira who were killed in 1973, aims to liberate the ape population.
Moreover, the continued metaphor of race and themes of psychosocial bonds between apes and humans come out in the film. For instance, the sequence between Caesar and Macdonald (Hari Rhodes), an African American man establishes deep empathy and emotion between the characters.
Although this J. Lee Thompson directorial was considered average, it serves as integral groundwork for Caesar’s character arc in the 2011 movie Rise of the Planet of the Apes; adding a mystical, messiah-like aura around him.
10. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
The last film in the chronological order of the Planet of the Apes movies is Battle for the Planet of the Apes. It is set in the 21st century in the aftermath of a nuclear war that has all but destroyed humanity. It follows Caesar’s journey to establish peace and coexistence between apes and humans. The film ends with Caesar sparing humans with the two races happily coexisting. However, it was considered an unsatisfying conclusion as it lacked high stakes and tension that could have made the narrative gripping.
Also directed by J. Lee Thompson, this movie was considered one of the worst in the franchise. With sloppy writing and lazy character arcs, the franchise almost died after this film. That was until 2001 when Tim Burton tried to revive it with his remake, which then went on to gain the title of the worst retelling.
How To Watch All ‘The Matrix’ Movies In Correct Chronological Order
How To Watch All ‘Mad Max’ Movies In Chronological Order Including The ‘Furiosa’ Prequel
(Header and feature image courtesy: IMDb/Rise of the Planet of the Apes)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– Which Planet of the Apes movie should I watch first?
Chronologically, you should watch the 2011 movie, Rise of the Planet of the Apes. However, if you want to watch by order of release, then you should watch the 1968 movie, Planet of the Apes.
