In the Planet of the Apes film series, Apes are the dominant species while Humans grovel for scraps. The tables have turned, but it only gets more shocking when it is revealed that the world is actually Planet Earth thousands of years in the future.
The Apes franchise has been rebooted twice with a multitude of stories ranging from the Simian uprisings, a worldwide pandemic, and even stranger plot twists fans still aren’t sure about to this day. So, which films were the most compelling and which ones made the fans cry out “They blew it up?" Here is every Planet of the Apes Movie ranked.
10 Planet Of The Apes 2001
Bad Remake But A Fantastic Ending
The 2001 Remake of Planet of the Apes is a divisive film. On the one hand, the make-up is fantastic, but the acting is underwhelming or downright annoying at times. Meanwhile, the writing, while a bit rough, does have moments of genuine intrigue that make you wonder just what would have come next if there ever was a sequel.
The ending alone, however, is enough of a saving grace to warrant giving the film a watch. The time travel elements and rules also play out differently from the original chronology, resulting in plenty of material for film discussion.
9 Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes
The Apes Rise
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes takes place after a mysterious virus wipes out all cats and dogs. This leads to Apes being used as replacement pets and slave labor. While a little tongue-in-cheek about the social commentary, it does offer a much darker look into how Apes rise above humanity.
Conquest also has two different endings. One where Caesar destroys humanity and one where Caesar spares them. Not the best film in the franchise, but one that is vital towards understanding the new branching timeline of the original film.
8 Battle For The Planet Of The Apes
The Final Battle
At the time of release, Battle for the Planet of the Apes left fans exhausted with Apes in general. The budget kept getting lower with a plot line that dragged out longer than necessary. While not the flashiest of the Apes films, it does throw some thought-provoking questions around.
For starters, the film shows a deviated timeline. The hero Ape Aldo from the original timeline is now considered the villain of the film, while this timeline’s version of Caesar takes the steps towards leading the Apes and Humanity towards a shared future. If anything, the story implications are worth watching.
7 Escape From The Planet Of The Apes
An Ape Sitcom
After blowing up the Planet in the previous film, you will need to suspend your disbelief a little to swallow the premise. Somehow, Zira and Cornelius managed to take flight just as the Earth exploded. Getting sent through a wormhole, they end up in 1970s America where they must manage a very sitcom-style life.
While the entry is a bit silly, the film does capture how humanity can be so quick to destroy that which it does not understand. It is also interesting to see the advanced Apes experience what Human civilization was like during its prime.
6 Beneath The Planet Of The Apes
More Action, Fewer Brains
Beneath The Planet Of The Apes was an odd sequel. It turns out humanity survived the nuclear holocaust that brought down their civilization. Now living underground, these mutants form a society worshiping an atom bomb.
The sequel to the original film is less nuanced and includes more action. However, it lacks the true magic of what came before even if it does pose some interesting worldbuilding. Ultimately, the destruction of the Planet Earth is an explosive way to end a franchise. That is until the film got a sequel.
5 Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes
Can Humans And Apes Coexist?
After the pandemic hit and humanity pretty much died out, Caesar and his Ape troop made a home for themselves in the Redwood forest. However, they soon realize that not all humanity is gone, and they form a short-term treaty to provide power.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes has a compelling conflict that pits the ideology of Apes against Apes. It goes to show that even with increased intelligence, so do complex ideals that are destined to clash and prove that Apes might be more like Humans than they anticipated.
4 Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
Dawn Of A New Era
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes takes place 300 years after the death of Caesar. With humans essentially wild animals, Apes have split into different tribes. The teachings of their original leader are also muddled, showing that time affects everyone’s history.
It is entertaining to watch the Apes rediscovering Human technology. Seeing mundane objects treated with such mysticism is always welcome in post-apocalyptic fiction stories. It’s also fascinating to watch the Apes learn to understand their place in the universe, setting the stage for even more stories.
3 War Of The Planet Of The Apes
The Death Of Caesar
War of the Planet of the Apes is the final film in the first trilogy of rebooted Ape movies. Now that humanity is almost gone due to the virus, Caesar must lead his tribe to safety. What makes the film so compelling is how far both Humans and Apes have come.
Apes have become more humane, while humans have not only begun to devolve physically but mentally as well. Characters are more complex than they have ever been, and the conflict is both tragic and fascinating to watch.
2 Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
The Rise Of Caesar
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is the definitive reboot of the Apes franchise. It introduces a new hero in the form of Caesar, who is infected with a virus meant to cure Alzheimer's. This, instead, improves cognitive abilities, making Apes intelligent.
The film’s greatest strength is portraying Caesar’s rise to power and his fight against the worst of humanity. This compelling drama only gets better as one act of mercy causes a world-changing chain reaction that signals the dawn of a new era.
1 The Planet Of The Apes
The Best Planet Of The Apes
By far one of the best films in the franchise, the original Planet of the Apes has a twist that shocked fans just as hard as the reveal that Darth Vader was Luke's son. In a twisted timeline, humanity has blown themselves up, leaving Apes to become intelligent.
Unfortunately, Apes use their intelligence to dissect humans while claiming their superiority over them. Meanwhile, the secret of the planet is known only to some of the higher-standing Apes. This is one of the best science fiction stories ever told.
