Planet of the Apes is one of those franchises that won’t go away. The first entry hit theaters like an atomic bomb in 1968 and spawned four sequels, two television series, and a remake steered by director Tim Burton in 2001. More recently, the Planet of the Apes reboot movies kicked off with 2011’s successful Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which paved the way for Matt Reeves’ critical and commercial smash Dawn of the Planet of the Apes in 2014 and War for the Planet of the Apes in 2017.
Now, nearly 60 years after the original, Wes Ball continues the saga with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, chronicling a new generation of apes long after Caeser’s death in War. Yes, you can believe the critics. Kingdom is really good. How good? Well, check out the list below to see where it ranks alongside the other Planet of the Apes reboot movies, then feel free to check out the original 1968 classic (and the entertaining, though campy sequels) to determine how it stacks up.
4) War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
Let me preface this by saying none of the Planet of the Apes reboot movies are bad. War drops below the others mainly because it doesn’t land as well, but Matt Reeves’ third installment (and the Ceasar trilogy capper) is still a damned good film, if not a little too slow for my liking. The special effects and Andy Serkis’ performance as the world-weary Ceasar continue to dazzle. There’s plenty to admire here, particularly in the first hour, but a lengthy middle section set in a labor camp knocks the pic down a peg. Reeves goes a little too hard with the drama but manages to end his finale on a powerful note, finally allowing our beleaguered hero, Ceasar, to rest in peace.
3) Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Director Rupert Wyatt gives the Apes franchise a much-needed facelift with this requel that focuses on Ceasar’s ascension from domesticated chimp to full-blown leader/warrior. While the story sticks to the formula established by other reboots of the era, Rise sticks out thanks to some truly incredible visuals and Andy Serkis’s go-for-broke performance. The finale set on the Golden Gate Bridge still packs a punch, while the numerous references to the original 1968 feature will make series fans happy. Rise is a solid setup for a spectacular trilogy of Planet of the Apes reboot movies.
2) Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
Wes Ball assumes control of the Apes franchise and delivers a captivating adventure that never fully justifies its existence. Set “many generations” after Ceasar’s death (when the apes still refuse to wear pants), the film follows Noa (Owen Teague) as he attempts to rescue his clan from a dangerous ape species that worships Ceasar. Along the way, he meets a human girl (Freya Allan, somehow stunning in a future lacking food and resources) with a personal agenda and the fearsome Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), who seeks the weapons and knowledge possessed by humans.
The fourth film in the rebooted saga moves at a nice pace and engrosses with its lavish visuals, stunning performances, and awe-inspiring CGI. I was never bored. Still, for all of its technical prowess, the picture doesn’t tackle any new ground and instead is content to lay the groundwork for another apes vs. humans smackdown. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was satisfied with the results, but Ball and writer Josh Friedman must be more daring if the Apes franchise wants to remain relevant.
As continuations go, Kingdom does the job well. This fourth quest is more exciting than War and sharper than Rise. In short, I’m excited to see where this story goes.
1) Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Matt Reeves takes over from Rupert Wyatt and delivers a spectacular sequel that’s as contemplative as it is thrilling. Ostensibly focusing on the last days in which humans and apes successfully lived side-by-side, this jaw-dropping follow-up to Rise boasts stunning special effects, heartfelt performances (particularly by Serkis and human actors Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, and Keri Russell), and hard-hitting action. Some may contend that the story offers nothing new to the franchise—you know where it’s headed from the onset—but Reeves and Co. are so competent at their craft that it hardly matters. You may have seen this picture before, but rarely done this well. For that reason, Dawn towers above all the other Planet of the Apes reboot movies.
