Planet of the Apes is a legendary media franchise that started in the 1960s and has given us nine incredible films. All movies in the franchise have received accolades for their incredible VFX, emotional aspect and gripping storyline. If you are just starting out with the Planet of the Apes movies, these are all the movies you have to watch before Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, which is releasing this week in theatres.
Planet of the Apes Movies in Release Date Order
Even though the franchise started way back in 1968, it rebooted in 2011. So, if you’re wondering if you have to go through the older movies to watch the Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, well, you don’t. Nonetheless, if you want to revisit the older movies, here is the list of all Planet of the Apes movies in release date order.
- 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)
Planet of the Apes Movies in Chronological Order
We’ve mentioned the movies in chronological order, so that’s the order you have to follow while watching the Planet of the Apes movies.
1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes
- Release Year: 2011
- Director: Rupert Wyatt
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
The first element that makes Rise of the Planet of the Apes worth watching is the impeccable VFX. To be honest, there are very few film/TV show franchises that can make every viewer a fan of their VFX, and this movie is one of them. The story revolves around a chimpanzee named Caeser, who has been brought home by a scientist who conducted an experiment on his mother to find the cure for Alzheimer’s. The drug made Caeser’s mother extraordinarily intelligent, and that somehow became the reason for her death. Well, Caeser inherits the intelligence from his mother, and he never fails to surprise us throughout the series. Apart from the CGI, the connection between the humans and the apes has been the highlight of the film from the very beginning.
2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
- Release Year: 2014
- Director: Matt Reeves
- IMDb Rating: 7.6
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where we again get to meet Caesar in his new habitat. It’s worth mentioning that the CGI gets even better than the previous installment. Sometimes, it might also make you forget that you aren’t watching the real apes on the screens. Moreover, for the unacquainted, the celebrated American filmmaker Matt Reeves took over the directorial duties from the director of the 2011 film. So, it’s Reeves who needs to be praised for the masterclass direction that made the film an all-time classic.
3. War for The Planet of the Apes
- Release Year: 2017
- Director: Matt Reeves
- IMDb Rating: 7.4
Matt Reeves again direct this film, and as expected, we were left with no complaints. This installment gives us an experience of a full-fledged war between two different kinds. On one side is a potent army of humans headed by a cruel colonel, and on the other side, we have the Apes. However, Caesar gets provoked to unleash his full potential after losing some of the apes. So, this film teaches us what usually happens when you start seeing yourself as superior to everyone around you. The film not only surpasses the previous ones in terms of narrative, but you will also get to see the out-of-this-world cinematography and perfect CGI. Well, what else do you expect from a flawless film?
4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
- Release Year: 2024
- Director: Wes Ball
The Maze Runner film trilogy director, Wes Ball takes the directorial responsibilities from Matt Reeves for the upcoming Planet of the Apes movie. Not spoiling much for the fandom, I would only reveal that a new chimpanzee named Noa takes center stage in this film. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes premieres on May 10, 2024, in worldwide theatres, so if you are an eager fan, you must visit your nearby theatres to watch the fourth installment of the rebooted franchise.
