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The Definitive Guide: How To Watch All 10 Planet Of The Apes Movies In Chronological Order

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The cinematic universe of Planet of the Apes is one of the most enduring and complex science fiction sagas in film history. With the recent release of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes in May 2024, the timeline has expanded, leaving many fans wondering about the correct viewing order. The franchise spans two distinct timelines—the original series from 1968 and the modern reboot series that began in 2011—plus a standalone remake, making a clear chronological guide essential for understanding the full scope of the ape-human conflict.

This guide cuts through the confusion, providing you with the definitive chronological viewing order that tells the complete story of how humanity fell and a new ape civilization rose. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned fan, following this timeline is the only way to fully appreciate the profound legacy of Caesar and the terrifying evolution of the Simian Flu.

The Complete Planet of the Apes Filmography and Timelines

The Planet of the Apes franchise currently consists of ten feature films and two television series, divided into two primary, separate timelines. The 2001 film is a standalone remake, and the television shows exist in their own continuity, though they share the core premise.

Timeline 1: The Modern Caesar-Verse (Chronological Viewing Order)

This is the main, active timeline and the one most viewers should start with. It details the origin of the intelligent apes, the fall of human civilization due to the Simian Flu (ALZ-113), and the birth of a new world.

  • 1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011): The origin story. We meet Caesar, a chimpanzee raised by scientist Will Rodman, who gains super-intelligence from the experimental drug ALZ-112. The sequel virus, ALZ-113 (the Simian Flu), is accidentally released, proving fatal to humans but a cognitive booster for apes.
  • 2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014): Set ten years after the Simian Flu pandemic, humanity is decimated, and Caesar leads a thriving ape colony. The fragile peace is shattered by a desperate group of human survivors in San Francisco, leading to the first great Ape War, fueled by the antagonist Koba.
  • 3. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017): Two years later, Caesar leads his apes in a brutal conflict against a rogue military faction led by the ruthless Colonel. The film concludes Caesar's journey, showing his sacrifice to lead his people to a sanctuary known as The Oasis.
  • 4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024): Set "many generations" (roughly 300 years) after Caesar's death. His legacy has become a myth, and various ape clans have emerged. The story follows a young chimpanzee named Noa, who confronts a tyrannical bonobo named Proximus Caesar, who has misinterpreted and weaponized Caesar's teachings to enslave other clans and seek out lost human technology.

Timeline 2: The Original Classic Series (Chronological Viewing Order)

This timeline is a closed loop, starting with a future where apes rule and ending with the origin of that future. It’s a fascinating, self-contained paradox.

  • 1. Planet of the Apes (1968): Astronaut George Taylor crash-lands on a strange planet where intelligent apes rule and mute, primitive humans are hunted. The iconic ending reveals the horrifying truth about the planet.
  • 2. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970): A rescue mission is sent, following Taylor's journey. It introduces a subterranean cult of telepathic, mutant humans who worship a doomsday weapon: the Alpha/Omega bomb.
  • 3. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971): Due to the events of the previous film, three intelligent apes—Zira, Cornelius, and Dr. Milo—escape the destruction by traveling back in time to 20th-century Earth (1973).
  • 4. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972): Set 20 years after the apes' arrival. The son of Zira and Cornelius, named Caesar (a different character from the modern trilogy), leads an ape revolt against human enslavement, sparking the ape uprising that leads to the future seen in the first film.
  • 5. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973): Set after the ape revolt, this film depicts the fragile post-war world where Caesar attempts to build a peaceful society between apes and the remaining humans, before the world eventually devolves into the society seen in the 1968 film.

Understanding the Two Separate Timelines

The most important concept for any viewer is that the modern Caesar trilogy and the original five films are two entirely separate continuities. The modern films are not a prequel to the original; they are a completely new, more scientifically grounded take on the ape-human apocalypse.

The Caesar-Verse: A Foundation Built on Science

The modern trilogy (Rise, Dawn, and War) is lauded for its grounded approach to the ape uprising. The key entity here is the Simian Flu, or ALZ-113. It wasn't an alien force or a nuclear war that destroyed humanity, but a man-made virus initially intended to cure Alzheimer's disease.

  • The Virus: The Simian Flu is the catalyst for everything. It is a deadly pathogen for humans, but it enhances the intelligence and cognitive functions of the apes, creating the foundation for their new civilization.
  • Caesar's Principles: The modern story is a political and moral allegory centered on the character of Caesar. His core belief was simple: "Apes together strong," but also that apes should not kill other apes, and that apes and humans must remain separate to survive.
  • The Future: Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes shows the world centuries later, where the feral humans have lost the ability to speak, and the apes are the dominant species. The new villain, Proximus Caesar, uses a distorted version of Caesar's philosophy to justify his tyranny, leading the young hero Noa to discover the true nature of Caesar's legacy.

The Original Series: A Tale of Paradox and Warning

The original films are a product of their time, heavily influenced by Cold War anxieties and fears of nuclear destruction. The 1968 film is a classic of philosophical science fiction, exploring themes of evolution, religion, and societal collapse.

  • The Alpha/Omega Bomb: In the original timeline, the final destruction of the Earth in Beneath the Planet of the Apes is caused by a nuclear weapon, not a virus. This cataclysm is what allows the intelligent apes (Zira, Cornelius, and their son, the original Caesar) to travel back in time, ironically becoming the spark for the ape uprising in the past that ultimately leads to the future they tried to escape.
  • Key Characters: Astronaut George Taylor (Charlton Heston), the benevolent chimpanzee scientist Dr. Zira, and her husband Cornelius are the anchors of this timeline.

The Standalone Film and Television Series

For the sake of completion, two other major entries exist outside the two main timelines, though they are often skipped by casual viewers.

Planet of the Apes (2001 Remake)

Directed by Tim Burton and starring Mark Wahlberg, this film is a complete, standalone remake of the 1968 original. It features a new cast, a different plot trajectory, and a famously bizarre, ambiguous ending. It has no connection to either the original five films or the modern Caesar trilogy. It is generally viewed as an interesting curiosity rather than a crucial part of the overall saga.

Planet of the Apes Television Series (1974)

Set in a different continuity, this short-lived live-action TV series follows a new group of astronauts who crash-land on the future ape-dominated Earth. It features the familiar structure of humans on the run from the ape society, but is not considered canon to either film timeline.

Definitive Viewing Order: Release Date vs. Chronological

While the chronological order (starting with Rise of the Planet of the Apes) is the best way to appreciate the story's flow, some purists prefer the release order to witness the saga as audiences originally did, including the evolution of filmmaking technology.

Release Date Order (The Purist's Choice)

  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) - *Standalone Remake*
  7. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
  8. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
  9. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
  10. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)

Chronological Order (The Recommended Choice)

  1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
  2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
  3. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
  4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
  5. (Optional: The Original 5 Films)

To fully grasp the themes of Caesar's legacy, the ape uprising, the devastating impact of the Simian Flu, and the new world of feral humans and evolving ape clans, the modern chronological order is the superior choice. It is the most fresh and up-to-date narrative, with rumors of a potential fifth film in the series making this the definitive starting point for anyone looking to follow the continuing saga of the new ape society.

The Definitive Guide: How to Watch All 10 Planet of the Apes Movies in Chronological Order
planet of the apes in order
planet of the apes in order

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