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The Ultimate 2025 Guide: How To Watch All 10 Planet Of The Apes Movies In Chronological And Release Order

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The *Planet of the Apes* franchise is one of the most enduring and complex science-fiction sagas in cinematic history, spanning over five decades and multiple timelines. With the release of *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes* in 2024, the series has cemented its status as a modern blockbuster franchise, prompting many fans to seek the definitive way to watch the entire collection.

As of December 23, 2025, understanding the complete *Apes* universe requires navigating two distinct continuities: the classic original saga and the modern, critically acclaimed prequel/sequel series. This comprehensive guide breaks down both the release order for the purists and the chronological order for those who want the story to flow seamlessly from the rise of Caesar to the dawn of a new ape-dominated world.

The Complete Planet of the Apes Movies in Release Order

Watching the films in the order they were released is the classic approach, allowing you to experience the franchise as audiences did, complete with the major twists and narrative shifts between the original films and the modern reboot. This order includes the Tim Burton remake, which is widely considered a standalone entry.

  1. Planet of the Apes (1968): The iconic original, starring Charlton Heston as astronaut George Taylor.
  2. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970): The immediate sequel, introducing the telepathic human mutants who worship the Omega Bomb.
  3. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971): A major time-jump where three apes—Cornelius, Zira, and Dr. Milo—travel back in time to 1973 Earth, setting up the entire prequel loop of the original saga.
  4. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972): Set in 1991, this film introduces Caesar, the son of Cornelius and Zira, who leads the Ape Rebellion against human oppression. This is a key entry for understanding the original timeline's version of the ape leader.
  5. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973): The final film in the original saga, depicting the fragile peace between apes and humans after the war.
  6. Planet of the Apes (2001): Tim Burton's standalone remake, starring Mark Wahlberg as astronaut Leo Davidson. This film exists outside of both the original and modern timelines.
  7. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011): The soft reboot and the beginning of the modern, acclaimed trilogy. It introduces the chimpanzee Caesar and the Simian Flu (ALZ-113) that grants apes intelligence and kills humans.
  8. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014): Set ten years after *Rise*, showing Caesar leading the San Francisco Ape Colony as the human population is decimated by the pandemic. This film features the tragic conflict with the ape Koba.
  9. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017): The epic conclusion to Caesar’s story, a fight for the future of the apes against a ruthless human Colonel.
  10. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024): The newest installment, directed by Wes Ball, set roughly 300 years after Caesar's death, exploring his enduring legacy through a new protagonist, the young ape Noa.

The Modern Chronological Timeline: Caesar's Legacy

For a seamless, emotionally resonant viewing experience, especially with the modern films, the chronological order of the reboot series is highly recommended. This timeline focuses on the origin of the intelligent apes and the fall of human civilization, starting with the accidental creation of the Simian Flu by Gen-Sys biotech scientist Will Rodman.

1. The Rise of the Apes and the Simian Flu Pandemic

  • Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011): This is the true beginning of the modern timeline. It establishes the origin of Caesar, an evolved chimpanzee raised by humans, and the creation of the ALZ-113 virus. The film culminates in the Ape Rebellion and the spread of the deadly virus across the globe.
  • Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014): Set a decade later, humanity is near extinction due to the Simian Flu, and Caesar is the moral leader of a thriving ape civilization. The central conflict revolves around the fragile truce with a small group of human survivors and the betrayal by the scarred bonobo, Koba.
  • War for the Planet of the Apes (2017): The final chapter of Caesar's journey. The virus has mutated, causing surviving humans to regress into a feral state. Caesar battles the militant human forces, led by The Colonel, to secure a future for his people, ultimately leading them to a new oasis.

2. The Kingdom Era: 300 Years After Caesar

  • Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024): This film is a direct, yet distant, sequel to *War*. It takes place three centuries after Caesar's death, a period where many ape clans have forgotten the true meaning of Caesar's teachings ("Apes Together Strong"). The story follows Noa, a young chimpanzee, who encounters a human woman named Mae (Nova) and must decide what Caesar's legacy truly means in a world where a new ape leader, Proximus Caesar, is twisting the original philosophy for his own gain.
  • Untitled Sequel to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Expected 2027): A sequel to the 2024 film has already been greenlit, indicating a new trilogy is likely underway, continuing the story of Noa and the complex relationship between apes and the devolved human race.

The Original Saga: The Time Travel Paradox

For those interested in the 1968-1973 films, the chronological viewing order is more confusing due to the time-travel element introduced in *Escape from the Planet of the Apes*. The original saga creates a narrative loop where the intelligent apes who travel back in time (Cornelius and Zira) are the parents of the ape who leads the revolution (Caesar in *Conquest*), effectively ensuring the destruction of humanity and the rise of the apes.

The Original Saga Chronological Order is:

  1. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971): This is where the original timeline's Caesar is born, making it the chronological starting point for the ape revolution in this continuity.
  2. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972): Shows the Ape Rebellion led by the original Caesar.
  3. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973): The post-war era of the original saga.
  4. Planet of the Apes (1968): The arrival of George Taylor in the year 3978, the iconic twist ending, and the established future of the planet.
  5. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970): Concludes the original five-film storyline with the devastating use of the Omega Bomb.

This original timeline is separate from the modern reboot series, which provides a more cohesive, self-contained story without time-travel paradoxes, focusing instead on the biological and social collapse triggered by the Simian Flu.

Key Entities and Concepts to Understand the Franchise

To truly appreciate the depth of the *Planet of the Apes* lore, you must understand the key concepts and characters that bridge the different eras. Mastering these entities will give you a stronger topical authority on the franchise:

  • Caesar's Legacy: The core philosophical theme of the modern trilogy. Caesar (Andy Serkis) was a leader who believed in compassion and coexistence, famously teaching his people "Apes Together Strong." *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes* explores how this legacy is distorted and weaponized by new leaders like Proximus Caesar 300 years later.
  • The Simian Flu (ALZ-113): The genetically engineered retrovirus created in *Rise* by Will Rodman to cure Alzheimer's disease. It had the dual effect of rapidly increasing ape intelligence while being lethally toxic to humans, leading to the collapse of civilization.
  • Nova: A recurring name in the franchise. In the original 1968 film, Nova is the mute human woman who accompanies Taylor. In the modern trilogy, Nova is the name given to the mute human girl adopted by Caesar's family in *War*. The human protagonist in *Kingdom* is also named Mae, who is referred to as Nova in the script, continuing the tradition of the "feral human" character.
  • Koba: The bonobo antagonist introduced in *Rise* and the primary villain of *Dawn*. His hatred for humans, stemming from years of abuse, serves as a dark mirror to Caesar's moral code, representing the inherent danger of ape extremism.
  • Pierre Boulle: The French author of the original 1963 novel, *La Planète des singes* (translated as *Planet of the Apes* or *Monkey Planet*), which inspired the entire media franchise.

Whether you choose to follow the original release order or the more narratively streamlined chronological order, the *Planet of the Apes* saga offers a profound, action-packed exploration of societal collapse, morality, and the cyclical nature of power. The modern series, culminating in the expansive new world of *Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes*, ensures that the question of which species will inherit the Earth remains one of cinema's most compelling mysteries.

The Ultimate 2025 Guide: How to Watch All 10 Planet of the Apes Movies in Chronological and Release Order
planet of the apes series order
planet of the apes series order

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