20th Century Studios
Planet of the Apes is one of the most unbelievable film enfranchisement in Hollywood history . The 1968 archetype is a social sci - fi idea experiment best remembered for its shameful twist end . But rather than simply becoming one of cinema ’s most ubiquitous spoilers , the revelation that the Planet of the Apes was Earth all along opened the threshold to a variety of new account about power , oppression , pity , hubris , societal self - death , and salvation .
Now , over half a century later , the saga of a mankind whose evolutionary ladder turned upside down is still in top flesh , turn in its most intriguing and compelling installation yet . They may not all be winners , but fromChimpan - A to Chimpan - Z , almost all of them are interesting .
20th Century Studios
10. Planet of the Apes (2001)
Yes , despite the existence of four , increasingly punk sequels from the 1970s , theTim Burtonremake is still the worstPlanet of the Apesmovie . Though the special makeup effect lend oneself to Helena Bonham Carter , Tim Roth , Michael Clarke Duncan , Paul Giamatti , and company are marvelous and the product fashion designer understandably put their core into design the anthropoid city and civilisation , it ’s all in the service of an awful script and loathsome characters .
It is a remake of a splendidly thought - provoking sci - fi classic , and yet it is brainless . It is an escapade movie starring first - rate role player as very convincing talk apes , and yet it is joyless . There ’s no demand to even get into specifics about the plot or the weird braid cease — this one ’s a stinker .
9. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
Compared to the crush disappointment that is Burton’sPlanet , Battle for the Planet of the Apesenjoys the benefit of crushed expectations . At least , in hindsight — Battlewas conceived as the epic finale of the initial Apes cycle , tying together thread from the entire serial publication and offering a satisfying ratiocination .
Unfortunately , the production was cursed with a shoestring budget anda handwriting that no one involved seemed happy with . Despite fulfilling the hope of its title , with receptive warfare break out between the nascent Ape City and the mutant survivors of the nuclear apocalypse , Battlestill manage to be boring . To its reference , it ’s less sharply unpleasant than the Burton remake , as well as a half - hour myopic .
8. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
The first subsequence toPlanet of the Apesstarts out as a transparently lazy retread of the original , consummate with bargain bin Charlton Heston look - likewise James Franciscus as bland astronaut Brent . Midway through , however , Beneathgoes from boring to bizarre . In gain to the Bronze Age simian civilisation that Hunt and enslaves humankind , the titular major planet turns out to put up an underground commune of superhumans who literally worship the nuclear turkey .
After another 40 minute of broad social commentary and some shockingly violent images , Beneathmore or less forgets about the satellite ’s titular ape altogether , then closes with an conclusion so cutting and abrupt that it ’ll leave behind you wonder how it could possibly have a direct sequel . Is it good ? No , but it ’s too weird to detest .
7. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Released just one year afterBeneath the Planet of the Apes , Escapeemploys a very commodious plot machine to salvage two of the series ’ most darling characters from the aper - ocalypse and get them to the contemporary U.S. Essentially flipping the premise of the original on its head , Pan troglodytes scientists Zira ( Kim Hunter ) and Cornelius ( Roddy McDowell ) become celebrity overnight , but their arrival in our clock time has connotations that the authorities can not ignore .
get away the Planet of the Apesbegins as a fish- out - of - water funniness that embraces and amplifies the camp and caustic remark of the original , but then swing wildly into tragedy to wield the franchise ’s custom of bare twist finish . It remains one of the unknown first appearance in the Apes saga , as well as one of its most sincere , endearing , and heartbreaking .
6. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
fit years after the events ofEscape of the Planet of the Apes , Conquesttakes place in a fascist , dystopian America where human beings have domesticated and then enslave millions of imitator . lead by Caesar , the superintelligent offspring of the metre - journey Zira and Cornelius , the apes stage a violent revolution against their oppressor , and frankly , it rocks . For about 85 moment , Conquest of the Planet of the Apespulls no punches , depict the terrible consequences of exploiting any category of organism deem to be less or expendable .
It ’s an intensely , unapologetically angry film — too angry for audiences , as it turn out . After a damaging reaction at test screening , the studio apartment hastily put together on a raw , flaccid ending . Though its societal emblem is clumsy and its runtime is shockingly abbreviated , Conquestcontributed characters and concepts that would go on to inspireRise of the Planet of the Apes . And , even on its own , it ’s some right agitprop .
5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Though ultimately overshadowed by its sequel , Rupert Wyatt’sRise of the Planet of the Apesdefied expected value , giving the dormant franchise a thrilling and thoughtful new rootage . While certainly not as radical or revolutionary as the original , Risetakes thematic cue and even a few story ideas sweeping from the classic picture series and reshapes them to accommodate a mod megahit .
Most of all , it proved that visual effect and execution capture technology had advanced to the head that a to the full computer - render chimp could convey all of the purity , vulnerability , and passion of their motion - captured histrion . WETA Digital and Andy Serkis ’ troupe of ape performing artist are the someone of this feature and have yet to be outdone , except by themselves .
4. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
The conclusion of the Caesar Trilogy takes the emotionally burdened anthropoid king ( Andy Serkis ) to a gloomy berth . When his overtures of peace with the humans are met with ferocity and tragedy , Caesar embarks on a quest for revenge against the frigidity and calculating Colonel ( Woody Harrelson ) .
The previous two films established Caesar as an idealist — first as a freedom belligerent for his kind , then as a struggling peacemaker — and now , we see him fighting against his inner demons , and the sentiency that his moral code has add him nothing but agony . But as heavy as this chronicle gets , there is so much joy in find out him carried through this tryout by his acquaintance , including some who have been with him from the very commencement . On top of this introspection , we get a lordly close in the anatomy of a top - tier cinematic jailbreak .
3. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
After a seven - class hiatus , the Apes saga continues with a new cast and creative team . The film is intended to set in motion a new planned trilogy dress centuries after the time of Caesar . While fresh lead chimp , Noa ( Owen Teague ) , is n’t as enamour as Andy Serkis ’s regal ape messiah , Kingdomexpands the world of the enfranchisement in exciting newfangled directions .
It ’s an adventure film that sets a immature man on a journey of ego - uncovering while also define up a complicated vane of moral dilemmas that dispute both the characters and the audience . Plus , it gives us Raka ( Peter Macon ) , the gentle orangutan philosopher who is just a pleasure to spend time with . We know you , Raka .
2. Planet of the Apes (1968)
The originalPlanet of the Apesremains one of the most innovational pic in Hollywood history . debut in the U.s . the same week asStanley Kubrick’s2001 : A Space Odyssey , Apeshelped to reshape the ecumenical world ’s opinion of science fable , demonstrate to those who were n’t already watchingStar TrekorThe Twilight Zonethat the genre had more to offer than spectacle and whimsey .
Thanks in no little part to John Chambers ’ groundbreaking makeup issue , Planet of the Apescaptured the cultural zeitgeist and put forth a challenging societal emblem that ’s no less affecting half a one C afterward . As long as there are group who take superiority over others , who exact a divine right to decree , or who use cultural or spiritual doctrine to justify their cruelty or ignorance , Planet of the Apeswill always pack a lick .
1. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
“ Shakespearian ” is an adjective that gets thrown around a bit too generously , especially by sports fan of musical style cinema looking to legitimize their beloved forStar WarsorBlack Panther . However , no sci - fi moving picture in history deserves that recording label more thanDawn of the Planet of the Apes , a character - focused epic poem about the burdens of power , the tragedy of going , the value of family , and the sting of betrayal . Caesar ( Andy Serkis ) , Koba ( Toby Kebbell ) , and the rest of the primate head are so compelling that not only can spectator forget that they ’re CGI , BUT we can easily block that they ’re nothuman .
This is the power of cinema , the groovy empathy machine operating at peak efficiency . Beautifully shot , brilliantly drop a line , and featuring Oscar - worthy performances by its unseen lead actors , Dawn of the Planet of the Apesis not only the best film in its franchise , but one of the best science fabrication films ever made .
