Apes together strong! The Planet of the Apes movies is a franchise that consistently provides entertaining sci-fi action married with themes regarding social commentary and what it means to be human. In a cinematic landscape with endless franchises, prequels, and reboots, Planet of the Apes is one of the few franchises that has earned its place in film history and a seat at the table for continuing its story well beyond the original.
For me, there’s nothing quite like the Planet of the Apes movies. I have been a fan since I was first introduced to the original Planet of the Apes. It’s a movie that never fails to impress me, considering when it was made and its enduring legacy. I remember watching the Tim Burton remake from 2001, and despite its flaws, I still found myself having a good time with it. However, it wasn’t until Rise of the Planet of the Apes that my love for these movies hit new heights. From the summer I graduated high school, I’ve been locked into this franchise. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes solidified it (and made me confident that Matt Reeves can make whatever movie he wants).
If there’s a new Planet of the Apes movie, I’m there opening weekend no matter what. So yes, I have an unapologetic love for these movies, and I’m happy to say that the new movie Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Wes Ball, continues this upswing of movies about talking apes. It’s not enough for me to gush about these movies in my own bubble. If you’re on the fence about these movies, here are my top reasons why you should really give this franchise a chance.
1. It’s Sci-Fi That Predates Star Wars Yet Just as Iconic
Planet of the Apes became an instant classic in 1968. Starring Charles Heston, the original movie is a sci-fi adventure where a group of astronauts (this predated the moon landing by a year!) land on a strange planet where they discover that the apes are intelligent beings with their own society and culture. In contrast, the humans there are mute and treated as feral animals.
Since then, lines like “Take your stinking paws off of me” and “You maniacs! You blew it all up!” have transcended pop culture. The iconic ending of Planet of the Apes has been parodied more often than you think, showing up in The Simpsons, Madagascar, and Spaceballs. For as popular as other franchises are, very few hold a legacy like that of the original Planet of the Apes.
2. These Movies Care About Social Commentary as Much as Action
The decade that brought us The Twilight Zone and Star Trek brought with it the original Planet of the Apes. Like these aforementioned series, Planet of the Apes, too, has its roots in social commentary through the sci-fi fantasy lens (an early version of the original script was even co-written by Twilight Zone creator Rod Stirling). Through a flipped society where the apes run the planet, the original movie is a social commentary on the key issues of the day that remain relevant to this day — racism, class structure, religion, and humanity’s hubris.
As the franchise has continued across decades, the films have kept those similar themes going, as well as tackling big pharmacy, revenge, the burden of leadership, and legacy. As much as these movies are entertaining and action-packed, they equally have something to say about what it means to be human, for better and for worse.
3. The Caesar Trilogy Is a Prequel Trilogy Worthy of Its Reputation
I’ll admit watching the Planet of the Apes movies that came out after 1968 and before 2011 is a little rough at times. While the story continues to offer valuable commentary about humanity, it begins to bog down its world over time. After Tim Burton’s remake of the movies was met with less than favorable results, the franchise went untouched for about a decade before it would “rise” again with Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
This started what would be known as the Caesar trilogy, which chronicled the rise of Caesar, brought to life by Andy Serkis, and the downfall of humanity. Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and War of the Planet of the Apes work so well because the overarching story of Caesar is rich, deeply profound, and nuanced in a way that you don’t find in a summer blockbuster. There’s always a risk in doing a prequel of any franchise, but here, it comes to life correctly. In terms of critical reception and popularity, the latest trilogy has come to stand on equal ground with the original movie.
4. The Planet of the Apes Movies Continue to Raise the Bar in Visual Effects
Audiences were blown away in 1968 by the prosthetic makeup of the apes in the original film. Since then, it has become a consistent attribute and praise from each movie. Even the 2001 Planet of the Apes is still considered visually impressive because of the skill on display in transforming the actors into apes. Part of the reason why the recent prequel trilogy stands out is the achievements in mo-cap performance.
The technology has gotten so refined that in the most recent Planet of the Apes movie, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, it’s remarkable just how much emotion you’re seeing in Noa’s face. Thanks to the Wētā visual effects group, the realism is uncanny. The fact that in its 56-year history, no Planet of the Apes movie has won an Oscar is baffling, especially for visual effects. While we’re on the subject, in a filmography of exceptional performances, it is a tragedy that Serkis never received awards recognition for the mammoth skill he displays as Caesar. Make it make sense, Academy!
5. There Is Always More Stories Be Told That Remain Relevant
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes takes place a few generations after the time of Caesar but before the events of the original Planet of the Apes movies. This movie operates more as a coming-of-age road movie where Noa, played by Owen Teague, has his worldview challenged when he meets a woman, played by Freya Allen, and learns the legend of Caesar.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes provokes viewers to question whether or not we deserve to regain power in a world overrun by apes through the movie’s primary antagonist, Proximus, played by Kevin Durand. He’s an ape marveled by humanity’s previous accomplishments and wants ape society to achieve that one day. He’s inspired by ancient Roman leaders to bring apes together into a singular kingdom. Not to get into spoilers, but the ending of Kingdom has so much intrigue about where this new trilogy could go and what it will mean for apes like Noa.
After all these years later, there is something meaningful to be said about the Planet of the Apes movies. There are more stories to mine, and I, for one, am excited to see where the franchise goes from here.
First Featured Image Credit: