What's the Monkey Business? The Order of Planet of the Apes Movies
Hello there, movie buffs! Today, we're going to swing through the jungle of time and sort out the order of Planet of the Apes movies. This iconic franchise has been around for decades, with a mix of classic films, reboots, and sequels. So, grab your bananas and let's get started! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and what is the order of planet of the apes movies.
The Original Series (1968-1973)
We'll start at the beginning with the original Planet of the Apes movie from 1968. Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and based on Pierre Boulle's novel, this film launched the franchise into the stratosphere. It's a classic tale of an astronaut, George Taylor (Charlton Heston), who crash-lands on a strange planet dominated by intelligent apes.
The original film spawned four sequels, each exploring different aspects of this upside-down world:
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970): Picking up where the first film left off, Taylor and a new astronaut, Brent (James Franciscus), search for the missing Taylor's spaceship. They find it, but also uncover a doomsday cult of human mutants who worship a mysterious force called "The Forbidden Zone."
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971): In this installment, three intelligent apes—Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans), Cornelius (Roddy McDowall), and Zira (Kim Hunter)—travel back in time to 1970s America. They must navigate the complexities of human society while trying to prevent their future from happening.
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972): Set in a dystopian 1991, this film shows the rise of intelligent apes as pets, leading to a full-blown ape revolution. Caesar (Roddy McDowall) leads the rebellion against their human oppressors.
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973): The final chapter in the original series takes place in a post-apocalyptic 2024. Caesar, now an elder statesmonkey, must deal with a group of rogue apes who want to destroy the remaining human population and another group who want to coexist peacefully.
The Timeless Tale of Caesar (2011-2017)
In 2011, the Planet of the Apes franchise was rebooted with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Directed by Rupert Wyatt, this film tells the origin story of Caesar (Andy Serkis), the iconic ape leader. It's set in a world where a scientist, Will Rodman (James Franco), creates a virus that enhances ape intelligence. The film follows Caesar's journey from birth to his eventual role as leader of the ape revolution.
The reboot series continued with two more films:
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014): Directed by Matt Reeves, this film takes place a decade after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Caesar and his fellow apes have established a thriving colony, but their peace is threatened when they encounter a group of surviving humans.
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017): The final chapter in the reboot trilogy, War for the Planet of the Apes sees Caesar and his ape colony facing off against a ruthless colonel (Woody Harrelson) who wants to wipe them out. The film explores themes of war, loss, and redemption.
The Forgotten Films (1981 & 1996)
There are two Planet of the Apes movies that are often overlooked:
- Planet of the Apes (1981): This film is a TV movie that serves as a sequel to the original series. It follows a group of astronauts who discover a planet where humans are the dominant species and apes are enslaved.
- Planet of the Apes (2001): This was a planned but ultimately abandoned remake of the original film. The only footage that exists is a teaser trailer, which features Mark Wahlberg as an astronaut who crash-lands on the ape planet.
The Future of the Planet of the Apes Franchise
As of now, there are no official plans for a new Planet of the Apes movie. However, given the success of the reboot trilogy, it's not out of the question that we could see more films in the future. Only time will tell what's next for our simian friends.
So, there you have it, folks! The complete order of Planet of the Apes movies, from the original series to the reboot trilogy. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to the franchise, there's plenty of ape-tastic fun to be had. Until next time, keep your eyes peeled for any signs of intelligent apes taking over the world!