The Planet of the Apes franchise has seen multiple films, and we’ll focus on all nine cinematic entries as we rank them from their worst to the best. Not every piece is a gem, but sometimes when the pressure is on, this franchise can present a diamond among the rough.
We’re going to dive into the plot, the metaphors that the films have presented, and how important each film stands in the franchise’s legacy. Many standout, emotional moments ring throughout the franchise’s 50-year history. From the astronaut’s fateful journey into a bleak future to the Simian Flu that ravaged the Earth, we will glimpse into a world eerily similar to our own and determine which film stands among the rest.
9 Planet of the Apes (2001)
20th Century Fox
A science-fiction film with the magnificent Tim Burton in the director’s chair. Action-packed scenes featuring Mark Whalberg, Tim Roth, & Helena Bonham Carter. And a built-in audience that had gone 28 years without a new entry into their beloved franchise. All of these were great ingredients in the recipe for success. But somewhere along the way, we were given Planet of the Apes (2001) instead.
With the various avenues of cross-promotion available, 20th Century Fox Studios sought to capitalize on the passionate fanbase behind the franchise by rebooting the series. But the film hit many roadblocks along the way, with multiple visions failing to come to fruition. While many loathed the film’s retread time travel plot and its twist ending featuring the Lincoln Memorial being changed to the image of an ape, the biggest positives to the film are what didn’t happen. We had almost seen a cheesy Planet of the Apes film where Arnold Schwarzenegger helped teach the apes how to play baseball, taking them to Yankee Stadium.
8 Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
The first sequel to come would fail to continue one of the most compelling plot threads. Charlton Heston didn’t want to return to the series and had agreed to return only if his character was killed off. To appease the demand, the team had featured the character Taylor in the opening scene, just to write him off until the film’s climax.
We then are treated to a retread of the first film’s events, with another astronaut being captured after the death of his crew and discovering what life is like on this future Earth. The intrigue in this film wouldn’t come until the third act, where we are treated to the reveal that there are mutated humans who have survived underground all this time. The humans are determined to wipe the apes out and begin to set off a doomsday bomb. This decision would shape the future of the franchise. And the franchise’s future lay in the apes’ paws.
7 Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
This film would call forth an end to the franchise. Long after the apes’ initial takeover of Earth, Ceasar has formed a family and become a robust and diplomatic leader in the wake of the seizure. This film begins with a callback to Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), with the reveal of scarred, mutated humans living within the Forbidden City.
Calling back to a less than ideal film may not have been the nail in the coffin, but the film would begin dragging its feet. Human characters had lost all interest and the only positive message to come out of the film was that it remains possible for people to coexist peacefully, though a great effort must be made. This message also comes with a sad footnote that the apes never truly gave up their weapons, even 600 years after the film’s events.
6 Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
The first sequel to the reboot trilogy would continue the trend of dropping any human characters that may have provided interest and maintaining focus a on Caesar. Malcolm would be the new human protagonist attempting to fix a hydroelectric dam to restore power to the city populated by humans. Caesar would diplomatically allow this to happen as long as the humans surrendered their weapons in the ape territory.
Koba would disapprove of this and commit treasonous actions to provoke the fires of warfare. While Caesar would ultimately help Malcolm and his family survive Koba’s rage, the damage had already been done. Caesar would disown Koba and allow him to fall to his death. Before leaving Malcolm and his family behind, Caesar would warn them that humans wouldn’t forgive the apes for Koba’s actions. And while he does not want war, it is coming.
5 Escape From the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Writing a way to continue the franchise after literally nuking it, audiences face the revelation that the apes Cornelius & Zira had escaped right before the planet’s destruction and traveled back in time to 1973. Facing the judgment of humans who cannot understand the advancement of these intelligent simians, Cornelius and Zira would face prejudice.
When it’s discovered that Zira is pregnant, humanity grows afraid and insists on aborting Zira’s baby. Zira & Cornelius would escape. Upon being discovered, Zira & Cornelius would flee to a ship but would be gunned down along with the child Zira was carrying. It would be revealed that Zira had swapped her baby with a circus ape’s baby. Initially named Milo, the circus owner would rename the child in the next film as Caesar.
4 Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
This film would show Caesar being raised in a world where apes were enslaved. But it would also provide significant historical events within the franchise’s lineage, depicting Lisa as being the first ape from this timeline to speak. It would also show Caesar finally determining that enough was enough, and that the apes needed to take a stand.
His call was supposed to lead to the murder of soldiers. When this cut was shown during a film preview, audiences were turned off by the graphic displays of violence and the bleak ending. Thanks to editing, after Caesar calls for humanity’s death, Lisa speaks her first word, “No!” Caesar would hear this and call for his army to stand down, declaring that they were not human, but could afford to be humane.
3 War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
The most recent entry into the franchise would see the Simian Flu evolve. While initially, the disease that had given the apes their intelligence would wipe out large swaths of humanity, throughout the film, it is discovered that the humans who did survive are now being turned mute. There would be multiple callbacks to the franchise’s past, with the first mute woman the apes meet, being named Nova.
Seeing challenging subjects such as the fight for freedom and the fear of an ever-encroaching disease, this film would prove to be one of the darkest entries in the franchise. With Caesar having to contend with losing one of his sons and his wife, his resolve is strengthened as he leads a search for an oasis. Having succumbed to injuries during warfare, Caesar would finally be laid to rest with the promise that his young son, Cornelius, would know his father’s stories.
2 Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
This entry has a firm grip on second place, largely thanks to its place as the beginning of a new trilogy. Releasing almost 40 years after the original film, Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) would serve as an introduction to a whole new generation. Telling an original story about the rise of apes and the beginning of humanity’s downfall, audiences got to experience iconic moments for the first time, as their parents had done before.
One of the best moments to be featured is when Dodge Landon (named after Taylor’s fellow astronauts killed in the original film) attempts to harass Caesar with a stun baton. Caesar would become the first ape capable of speech after he stood against Dodge. While Dodge would recite the classic line, “Take your stinking paws off me, you damn, dirty ape.,” Caesar would shout out, “No.” The powerful message would be spread, and humanity would begin to be infected when the Simian Flu, which is fatal to humans, is circulated worldwide when a carrier enters a crowded airport.
1 Planet of the Apes (1968)
The original film that started it all. As astronauts travel on a voyage to discover what is truly out in the galaxy, they are taken to a planet where intelligent apes, capable of speech, rule the Earth, enslaving mute humanoids. Only one astronaut would live through this perilous journey. Taylor would be captured by the apes and questioned, as a human of his intellect was foreign to this world. Taylor would befriend chimp scientists, Corneilius & Zira, who believe that there is evidence in the Forbidden Zone that human civilization predated the apes’ time on this planet.
After a short standoff with Dr. Zaius, Taylor is allowed to leave with Nova, a mute woman he had befriended along the way. But before he goes, Dr. Zaius warns Taylor that he may not like the answers he seeks. Not far from the ape city, Taylor would discover the Statue of Liberty, buried in the sand. Finally realizing his circumstances, Taylor begins to lament humanity’s foolishness. In an infamous scene that sent chills down the audience’s spines, Taylor would cry out, “You maniacs! You blew it up! Damn you! God, damn you all to hell!” With multiple quotes and scenes parodied to this day, the original film cemented its place at the top of the franchise.
