The Entire Planet of the Apes Franchise in 10 Infographics
For over half a century, audiences have been captivated by Planet of the Apes —a sprawling sci-fi epic spanning at least three timelines, 3,000 years of history, and a franchise that includes 10 feature-length films, two TV series, three video games, and dozens of comics and novels. Whether you’re a longtime fan trying to understand the story or a newcomer wondering how a talking chimpanzee led to a post-apocalyptic planet dominated by primates, I’ve compiled a list of Planet of the Apes episodes by release order, chronological sequence, critical and audience reviews, technological milestones of the ape civilizations, and more.
This is your illustrated guide to the rise (and fall… and rise again, and fall again, and more) of Planet of the Apes .
What is Planet of the Apes?
Planet of the Apes is one of the strangest, most ambitious, and longest-running film franchises in cinematic history. While the films vary widely in quality, ambition, craftsmanship, and style, every film in the series, from the original 1968 film to 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes , shares a common plot: a world-shaking conflict between humans and intelligent apes.
All Planet of the Apes films in chronological order
The Original Saga (1968–1973)
Planet of the Apes (1968): Based on Pierre Boulle’s 1963 science fiction novel Planet of the Apes , the 1968 film Planet of the Apes tells the story of astronaut George Taylor, who crash-lands on what he believes is a distant planet where apes are intelligent and in charge, and humans are dumb slaves.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970): Although star Charlton Heston appears briefly in the film, Beneath the Planet of the Apes is actually the story of Brent, the astronaut sent to rescue Taylor.
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971): You’d think the destruction of the entire planet would be the end of the Planet of the Apes series, but no: in “Escape,” Cornelius, Zira, and Dr. Milo manage to escape the planet in Taylor’s ship before the doomsday bomb detonates; the trio travels back in time to 1973.
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972): The last two Planet of the Apes films, in the old-school style, had a smaller budget than their predecessors, and it definitely shows. Plot-wise, Conquest offers a different approach to explaining the development of ape intelligence and other events.
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973): In the years since the ape uprising in Conquest , nuclear war has wiped out most humans; relations between humans and apes were fairly good, but the fragile détente was shattered by the misanthropic gorilla Aldo.
Burton Reboot (2001)
Planet of the Apes (2001): After a nearly 30-year hiatus, 2001’s Planet of the Apes is a thematically and tonally uneven summer blockbuster with a cliched plot, mediocre action, and an ending that leaves everyone baffled. (Though the makeup and production design are top-notch.)
Modern quadrilogy (2011–2024)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011): This film dusts off the grizzled apes and breathes fresh creative life into a moribund franchise. Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a film full of action and dignity.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014): Set roughly ten years after the events of the previous film, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes certainly takes center stage, offering the most nuanced (and most depressing) look yet at the conflict between species.
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017): If the message of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is that “war is inevitable…,” then the message of War for the Planet of the Apes is that “…and war is hell.” It’s a dark film.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024): Kingdom explores a world dominated by apes, where the few remaining humans are mindless scavengers (or so it seems). The film doesn’t break new ground like Rise , but it does pave the way for future Planet of the Apes sequels.
The geographic location of each Planet of the Apes movie
Over more than five decades of film adaptations, Planet of the Apes has transported audiences from a devastated New York City to the tranquil redwood forests of Northern California, and even to entirely different worlds (possibly). This map displays the main locations of each film, showing how the saga’s conflicts unfold on Earth.
Who traveled in time and where?
From astronauts flying millennia into the present to apes rushing back to the hippie era of the 20th century, time travel is an integral part of Planet of the Apes, so let’s take a look at the franchise’s main time tourists, noting when they left, when they arrived, and how far they jumped.
The complex timeline of Planet of the Apes
If you’re considering a Planet of the Apes viewing order, “chronological” is the worst option: the Planet of the Apes timeline is simply confusing. While there are a few moments in the modern quadrilogy (2011–2024) that hint at prequels to the original pentalogy (1968–1973) , these are essentially Easter eggs for fans; the two series simply don’t connect without some inventive use of time loops and behind-the-scenes cues. Heck, the first five films themselves don’t connect without some inventive use of time travel. So I’ve gotten creative with time travel to break the major historical milestones in the Planet of the Apes universe into three timelines. (Four, if you count the standalone 2001.)
Here are the Planet of the Apes films, listed in order of the year in which they take place:
Critical reaction to the film “Planet of the Apes”
Critics have mixed reviews of the Planet of the Apes films. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the best film in the series is War for the Planet of the Apes, with a 94% positive rating. The worst, however, is Battle for the Planet of the Apes , with a mere 33% positive rating. That’s a huge gap!
How much money did each Planet of the Apes movie make?
Critical acclaim is great, but by cynical Hollywood standards, the only measure of a good film is its box office performance. By this measure, the 2001 reboot , Planet of the Apes, is considered the “best” film in the Apes series. Despite mixed reviews, the film grossed $328,049,530.32 in the US (adjusted for inflation), surpassing both the original film and the 2014 blockbuster Dawn of the Planet of the Apes .
Who’s Who in Monkey Leadership
Every society is defined by its leaders, including ape society. Below is a list of doctors, generals, and tribal leaders who have ruled the apes over the past 50 years.
Dr. Zaius ( Planet of the Apes , Beneath the Planet of the Apes) : An orangutan, Minister of Science, and Defender of the Faith who balances political control with fear of humanity’s return.
General Ursus ( Beneath the Planet of the Apes ): This brutal gorilla warlord never faced a problem he couldn’t solve through violence.
Dr. Zira ( Escape from the Planet of the Apes, 1970 ): A compassionate and witty chimpanzee tasked with the role of cultural ambassador between societies on the brink of war, Dr. Zira is the de facto leader of a small band of time-traveling apes.
Caesar ( Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, Battle for the Planet of the Apes ): The original Caesar is a fiery revolutionary who turns the apes’ resentment into a successful rebellion against humanity.
General Thade ( Planet of the Apes, 2001 ): A sadistic and cunning chimpanzee general obsessed with the destruction of humanity.
Caesar ( Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, War for the Planet of the Apes ): Caesar is an extremely intelligent chimpanzee raised by humans. His combination of tactical genius, political savvy, natural charisma, and genuine compassion for both apes and humans makes him the ultimate ape leader.
Koba (2014, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes ): A bitter, disfigured veteran of human torture and hero of the ape revolution, Koba has been through a lot.
Proxim Caesar ( Reign of the Planet of the Apes ): An uncompromising militarist who distorts the past to justify authoritarian rule, Proxim Caesar rules through fear and historical revisionism.
Technological and intellectual achievements of monkeys in films
In the Planet of the Apes films, the ever-shifting balance of power between apes and humans is often determined not only by brawn but also by intelligence. Each film depicts the apes using technologies, social systems, and tactics they either developed or borrowed from humans. From primitive tools and simple rules to heavy artillery and complex political structures, these milestones mark the evolution of ape society’s capabilities over the decades (and timeframe) of the franchise. Below is an analysis of the technological advances of ape society in each film.
TV shows, video games, comics, and movies about monkeys
If ten feature-length films about the Apes aren’t enough, there’s plenty more. The Apes universe began with a novel and has expanded to include a live-action series, an animated series, three video games, and dozens of novels and comics.