The Original Planet of the Apes Series
The Planet of the Apes franchise has been captivating audiences since the release of the first film in 1968. The original series consisted of five movies:
1. Planet of the Apes (1968)
The first film in the series introduced us to the world of the apes, where humans are enslaved and treated as second-class citizens. The movie follows astronaut George Taylor (played by Charlton Heston) as he tries to survive in this new world and uncover the truth about what happened to his fellow astronauts.
2. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
The second film follows another astronaut, Brent, as he searches for Taylor and discovers an underground city of mutated humans who worship a powerful bomb.
3. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
In the third film, three intelligent apes (played by Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, and Bradford Dillman) travel back in time to present-day Earth, where they are initially welcomed as celebrities but soon face persecution.
4. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
The fourth film takes place in the near future, where apes have become slaves to humans. Caesar, the son of the apes from the previous film, leads a rebellion against their human oppressors.
5. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
The final film in the original series takes place ten years after the events of the previous film. Caesar is now the leader of the apes and must defend his people against a group of human survivors who want to take back the planet.
The Rebooted Planet of the Apes Trilogy
In 2011, the franchise was rebooted with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which was followed by two sequels:
6. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
The first film in the rebooted series tells the story of Caesar (played by Andy Serkis), a genetically enhanced chimpanzee who becomes increasingly intelligent and leads a rebellion against his human captors.
7. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
The second film takes place ten years after the events of the previous film, where the apes have established a society and are living in peace. However, a group of humans enters their territory, leading to a tense conflict between the two species.
8. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
The final film in the rebooted trilogy sees Caesar facing off against a ruthless human colonel (played by Woody Harrelson) who is determined to wipe out the apes once and for all.
What’s Next for the Planet of the Apes Franchise?
As of 2023, there are no official plans for a new Planet of the Apes movie. However, there have been rumors of a potential continuation of the rebooted series or a new spinoff set in the same universe.
Whatever the future holds for the franchise, one thing is for sure: the Planet of the Apes movies have left a lasting impact on pop culture and will continue to be beloved by fans for generations to come.
