When discussing blockbuster franchises, the likes of Star Warfares, Marvel, and Jurassic Park are inclined to dominate the dialog. However you needn't look additional than the business and significant success of current Planet of the Apes films to appreciate these simians can maintain their very own in opposition to Jedis, superheroes, and bioengineered dinos.

Because the 2011 blockbuster Rise of the Planet of the Apes, followers have been handled to common installments of the sci-fi franchise for practically 15 years. And with 2024's Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes kicking off a model new storyline, the favored primates aren't going anyplace.

However the sequence started pounding its chest way back with the 1968 unique, lengthy earlier than a mo-capped Andy Serkis led an evolutionary leap as Caesar. When you're craving some historical past on one in every of Hollywood's longest-running movie franchises — or just need to atone for all 10 installments — learn on for the right way to watch the Planet of the Apes films in chronological order.

01 of 10

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Rise of the Planet of the Apes got here lengthy after the unique 5 films and an earlier misbegotten try to reboot the franchise. However it’s the primary installment to inform a full origin story from the start — and it lastly options phrases spoken by an ape on the tail finish.

Set within the aughts, the movie particulars a younger chemist’s (James Franco) try to develop a treatment for Alzheimer’s by testing an in-progress drug on a younger chimpanzee named Caesar. It really works… solely much better than supposed. Fairly than merely curing degeneration, it improves brainpower exponentially, thus stitching the seeds for a planet dominated by apes.

Where to watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes: Max

02 of 10

Daybreak of the Planet of the Apes (2014)

Rise efficiently rebooted the Planet of the Apes franchise, however this even higher sequel solidified the simians’ return to popular culture prominence. Set a couple of decade later, Matt Reeves’ follow-up movie catches up with Caesar in his established group of superior apes close to San Francisco.

Whereas the chimps' modest colony is simply starting to coalesce, a population-wiping plague has put the primates on a degree taking part in area with the human race. Elevated by Toby Kebbell’s stellar mo-cap flip because the bitter, villainous chimp Koba — to not point out the sturdy human performances by Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, and Keri Russell — Daybreak deftly explores the fragile, uneasy dynamic between man and ape as they attempt to peacefully coexist, however in the end grease the gears of the approaching conflict.

Where to watch Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Hulu

03 of 10

Warfare for the Planet of the Apes (2017)

As this trilogy capper's title suggests, makes an attempt at peace between apes and people have failed miserably. However the battle works within the finale's favor, fueling an epic conclusion that mixes all of the thrills of a high-octane blockbuster with the nuanced characterizations and considerate storytelling that beforehand distinguished Rise and Daybreak out of your typical action-movie fare.

Reeves and Serkis each return on the high of their respective video games, whereas Woody Harrelson joins War for the Planet of the Apes' ranks as a terrifying, Caesar-torturing baddie dubbed "The Colonel." Arguably the very best entry of the superb reboot trilogy, Warfare not solely spins a improbable standalone story but additionally serves up the proper ending to Caesar's arc.

Where to watch War for the Planet of the Apes: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

04 of 10

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

Given how effectively the earlier movie tied up the reboot trilogy, this most up-to-date installment might have felt extra like a money seize than a creatively pushed contemporary begin. However Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes — helmed by Maze Runner trilogy director Wes Ball with a brand new forged of people and chimps — stunned followers and critics alike, taking the sequence in a unique route whereas efficiently setting the stage for future installments.

Kingdom unfolds in the identical continuity because the earlier three movies however picks up 300 years later when the planet has lastly been claimed by the apes.

Where to watch Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: Hulu

05 of 10

Planet of the Apes (1968)

The unique Planet of the Apes film’s setup is eerily easy: An astronaut and his crew crash-land on a mysterious planet and journey over 2,000 years into the longer term. They launched their voyage in 1972 and it’s now, of their phrases, the 12 months 3978. They uncover, to their horror, that the planet is populated by clever, civilized speaking apes who’re equally stunned to see a human who can converse.

The Charlton Heston-led traditional is remembered for its quotable traces — "Take your stinking paws off me, you damned, soiled ape!" — and a twist ending that most likely taught M. Night time Shyamalan a factor or two. Past these enduring parts, the film is a sci-fi sensation that fueled an ongoing franchise.

Where to watch Planet of the Apes: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

06 of 10

Beneath the Planet of Apes (1970)

Given Planet of the Apes' huge success, it's no shock Hollywood shortly greenlit a sequel. Sadly, like so many fast-tracked follow-ups, Beneath the Planet of the Apes — which is about simply after the occasions of its predecessor — seems like a hasty, undercooked try to recapture the talking-monkey magic of the unique.

Heston seems solely in a small position, whereas Roddy McDowall — who earned approval for his portrayal of chimpanzee Cornelius within the unique — sits this movie out completely. Toss in a half-baked plot involving an apocalypse-surviving cult of telepathic people, and this sophomore effort is finest left buried in a '70s time capsule. The one factor that does set it aside is the explosive ending, which… effectively, doesn’t go away a lot room for sequels.

Where to watch Beneath the Planet of the Apes: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

07 of 10

Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)

Arriving only a 12 months after its commercially profitable (but critically panned) predecessor, Escape from the Planet of the Apes is usually thought of the second-best entry among the many unique 5 movies. Specializing in characters and narrative over senseless motion, it spins a smaller, emotional story with extra social commentary and fewer tacky particular results.

How does Escape even exist in continuity with the earlier film given Beneath’s ending? Time journey, in fact. It reveals us that, earlier than the final movie’s climax, Dr. Cornelius travels again to 1973 with spouse Zira (Kim Hunter). The couple's journey takes a darkish flip when the "present-day" people don't precisely welcome the sensible chimps with open arms. Their harrowing journey — by means of seize, persecution, and determined escape — works as a improbable standalone story.

In reinventing the franchise’s setting and focus, Escape basically launches a separate timeline from what got here earlier than it.

Where to watch Escape from the Planet of the Apes: Amazon Prime (to rent)

08 of 10

Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)

The fourth entry finds the sequence as soon as once more tackling a extra private story targeted on relatable social points. In exploring the origin of the apes’ rise up, rebellion, and eventual rule over the planet, Conquest — set primarily within the Nineteen Nineties — depicts the primates as household pets which are finally enslaved.

The narrative has its share of tonal inconsistencies that may make the movie really feel fairly preachy. Nonetheless, director J. Lee Thompson delivers an attractive yarn anchored by one other stellar flip from McDowall. Apparently, nonetheless, this time the actor dons the primate prosthetics as Caesar, Cornelius and Zira’s rebellion-leading offspring and the inspiration for Andy Serkis’ character within the current reboot trilogy.

Where to watch Conquest of the Planet of the Apes: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

09 of 10

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)

Whereas the sequence was manner forward of its time as a high-concept, time- and space-spanning franchise, it additionally received a headstart on franchise fatigue. Because the fifth movie in six years, Battle for the Planet of the Apes represented the model’s lowest level.

The film, which primarily takes place within the early twenty first century with a framing narrative in 2670, is regarded by many because the worst entry. It suffers from a restricted price range, lack of unique concepts, and an total sense that speaking apes have overstayed their welcome. Regardless of one other strong efficiency from McDowall — whose returning ape ruler Caesar now finds himself at conflict with the human race — Battle was the ultimate movie of the unique timeline and the final installment for practically 30 years.

Where to watch Battle for the Planet of the Apes: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

10 of 10

Planet of the Apes (2001)

Wedged between the unique pentalogy and the present sequence of Apes films, director Tim Burton's tried reboot is a little bit of an outlier. A sorta-remake of the unique, it appeared to have the appropriate elements, from the director himself to cutting-edge prosthetics, to a rising star in Mark Wahlberg, who had turn out to be a bankable main man (Boogie Nights, Three Kings, The Perfect Storm).

Regardless of that pedigree, Apes didn’t revive the franchise. Like earlier entries, the storyline includes time journey, taking off in 2029 and touchdown within the 12 months 5021. The movie is basically void of Burton’s unmistakable model and suffers from bloated pacing and a foul try to, er, ape the unique’s twist ending.

Where to watch Planet of the Apes: Hulu

The best way to watch The Planet of the Apes films in launch order:

1. Planet of the Apes (1968)
2. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
3. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
4. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
5. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
6. Planet of the Apes (2001)
7. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
8. Daybreak of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
9. Warfare for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
10. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

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