The initial Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes reviews have turned out to be great, aggregating to a ‘Fresh’ Rotten Tomatoes score. As far as the critics are concerned, the franchise returns to its former glory, as the reviewers have loved the franchise’s extension past War for the Planet of the Apes.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes reviews start strong
With the review embargo lifted, Wes Ball’s latest Planet of the Apes outing earns the respect of many critics. Among the positive reviews, it has been called an “intriguing addition to the franchise” and “a great cinematic experience” among other things.
A snippet from Simon Thompson’s review on The Playlist reads:
“Where the film requires intimacy and contemplative introspection, Wes Ball delivers.”
Johnny Oleksinski’s full review in the New York Post adds:
“As much as “Kingdom” borrows from the 1968 film, Ball has also clearly been influenced by what’s come since in the genre.”
Meanwhile, Kevin Maher from Times (UK) gave it a rare bad review and wrote:
“The final act is a mess and juggles four or five plot lines before settling on a dire jump-the-shark moment featuring Noa and a troop of warbling monkeys.”
But overall, the critics have enjoyed the film, leading to a commendable Rotten Tomatoes score.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Rotten Tomatoes Score is the franchise’s third-best
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes currently stands at an 84% Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score. With 110 reviews in, the film is likely to be reviewed by dozens of other reviewers. They could change the aggregate percentage of reviews. But the overall score is still expected to be in the 80s.
Here’s how Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Rotten Tomatoes score compares with the past trilogy:
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011): 82% Fresh
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014): 91% Fresh
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017): 94% Fresh
While the critics loved the last two entries more, the latest outing does well to hold its own.