Planet of the Apes Movies in Order
Planet of the Apes spans three distinct eras across half a century. The good news: the modern films were built to be entered cold. You don't need the 1968 original to follow them — but knowing how the eras relate makes everything richer.
The classic era (1968–1973)
- Planet of the Apes (1968) — Charlton Heston and one of cinema's most famous endings. Still worth watching first if you can.
Four sequels followed between 1970 and 1973 (Beneath, Escape, Conquest, and Battle), forming a loop of their own. They're a fascinating time capsule but strictly optional today. Tim Burton's 2001 remake is a standalone curiosity, connected to nothing — skip it without guilt.
The Caesar trilogy (2011–2017)
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) — A modern reboot: how the fall of humanity begins.
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) — Completes Caesar's arc — one of the best trilogies of its decade.
The new era
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) — Set generations after Caesar; begins a new storyline.
Where to start
For most viewers: watch the Caesar trilogy in order, then Kingdom. Add the 1968 original either before everything (for the mythology) or after (as the distant future the new films are slowly building toward — the connection is the point). The modern films typically stream together on one platform per country while the classic-era films sit elsewhere; search any of them on this site to see the split where you live.