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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The best Planet of the Apes movie order for a first-time viewer is release order: watch the original five films from 1968–1973, the standalone 2001 re-imagination, then Rise, Dawn, War, and Kingdom. This sequence preserves major reveals and makes the franchise’s separate continuities easier to understand.
Spoiler warning: The original 1968 film contains a major ending reveal. This article keeps that reveal out of the headline and early explanation, but readers who want maximum protection should begin with the first film before researching its plot.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
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Rise of the Planet of the Apes | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Planet Of The Apes (1968) | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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War for the Planet of the Apes | $3.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Key takeaways
- There are ten released Planet of the Apes feature films through Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024).
- Release order is the best first-time viewing order because it preserves the franchise’s original reveals and shows how its filmmaking and continuity developed.
- The original five-film cycle runs from Planet of the Apes (1968) through Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973).
- Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes (2001) is a standalone re-imagination, not a sequel to the original films or part of the modern Caesar continuity.
- The modern story is easiest to follow as Rise, Dawn, War, then Kingdom.
What is the Planet of the Apes movie order?
The recommended Planet of the Apes movie order for a first viewing is release order:
| # | Film | Release year | Continuity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planet of the Apes | 1968 | Original cycle |
| 2 | Beneath the Planet of the Apes | 1970 | Original cycle |
| 3 | Escape from the Planet of the Apes | 1971 | Original cycle |
| 4 | Conquest of the Planet of the Apes | 1972 | Original cycle |
| 5 | Battle for the Planet of the Apes | 1973 | Original cycle |
| 6 | Planet of the Apes (2001) | 2001 | Standalone re-imagination |
| 7 | Rise of the Planet of the Apes | 2011 | Modern continuity |
| 8 | Dawn of the Planet of the Apes | 2014 | Modern continuity |
| 9 | War for the Planet of the Apes | 2017 | Modern continuity |
| 10 | Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes | 2024 | Modern continuity, generations later |
This ten-film release order is also the sequence recommended by Disney’s official franchise viewing guide. According to the Disney+ viewing-order guide published in 2024, release order lets viewers experience the franchise’s changing filmmaking technology, historical development, and continuity revelations as audiences originally encountered them.
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Why is release order the best way to watch Planet of the Apes?
Release order is the safest choice because the franchise was not designed as one straightforward chronological saga. The original five films, the 2001 re-imagination, and the four modern films come from different production eras and continuity frameworks.
Release order also protects the major reveal in the 1968 film. New viewers should avoid reading plot summaries, headlines, or product descriptions that disclose the ending before watching Planet of the Apes. The official 20th Century Studios franchise material describes the ruined Statue of Liberty image and the realization behind it as a defining cinematic moment.
| Viewing approach | Best for | Main advantage | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| All ten in release order | First-time viewers and completists | Preserves reveals and shows the franchise’s full history | Moves between separate continuities and production eras |
| Original five in release order | Viewers interested in classic science fiction | Completes the 1968–1973 story cycle | Does not include the modern Caesar story |
| Rise → Dawn → War → Kingdom | Viewers mainly interested in the modern story | Stays within one contemporary continuity | Skips the original cycle and the 2001 film |
| Chronological interpretation of the whole franchise | Repeat viewers studying continuity | Highlights the original films’ time-travel construction | There is no single clean timeline covering all ten films |
What are the five original Planet of the Apes movies?
The original Planet of the Apes cycle contains five films released between 1968 and 1973. Watch the five films in release order, even though later entries use time travel to complicate their relationship with the first two films.
Rank #2
- Planet of the Apes (1968): Franklin J. Schaffner’s original film establishes the franchise’s central science-fiction premise and its landmark reversal.
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970): The sequel expands the setting while following another astronaut searching for Taylor.
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971): Cornelius and Zira travel to contemporary Earth, introducing the time-travel element that reshapes the series’ chronology.
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972): The story moves toward the ape uprising associated with Caesar.
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973): Ape and human communities struggle over the future of civilization.
The Rotten Tomatoes chronology guide explains why the original cycle cannot be reduced to an uncomplicated story timeline: Escape, Conquest, and Battle use time travel and can be viewed as a trilogy set before the timeline of the original two films. That interpretation is useful for analysis, but release order remains clearer for a first viewing.
Where does the 2001 Planet of the Apes movie fit?
Planet of the Apes (2001), directed by Tim Burton and released on July 27, 2001, is a standalone re-imagination. The film is not a sequel to the original five movies and is not part of the 2011–2024 Caesar continuity.
View the 2001 film after the original five if you want to follow complete release order. You can also treat it as an optional side trip for a different interpretation of Pierre Boulle’s premise. Skipping the 2001 film does not prevent you from understanding Rise, Dawn, War, or Kingdom. Disney’s official viewing guide and the Rotten Tomatoes franchise guide both separate the 2001 film from the other continuities.
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What is the modern Planet of the Apes chronological order?
The cleanest chronological route within the modern continuity is Rise of the Planet of the Apes → Dawn of the Planet of the Apes → War for the Planet of the Apes → Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
| Order | Film | Story position | What connects it to the next film |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) | Origin of Caesar and the uprising | Caesar becomes the center of the developing ape civilization |
| 2 | Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) | After a simian flu pandemic devastates humanity | Caesar’s ape colony confronts surviving humans |
| 3 | War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) | Caesar’s final major conflict | The consequences of Caesar’s era shape the world inherited by later apes |
| 4 | Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) | Many generations after Caesar | A young ape navigates a new ape empire |
Rise introduces Caesar after exposure to an experimental drug gives him human-like intelligence. Dawn follows a world transformed by a simian flu pandemic, while War places Caesar and his apes in conflict with an army led by a ruthless Colonel. Kingdom then jumps many generations beyond Caesar’s reign.
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Kingdom is connected to the modern trilogy, but it is not an immediate continuation of Caesar’s last story. Director and producer Wes Ball described the 2024 film as a kind of a prequel and a sequel
because it follows the modern trilogy while pointing toward the world associated with the 1968 classic. Ball also said, You see humanity, even though they’re apes.
Both statements appear in The Walt Disney Company’s 2024 interview with Wes Ball.
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Should you watch the original movies before the modern trilogy?
You do not need to watch the original movies to understand the modern Caesar story, but watching them first is the better choice for a complete first-time franchise experience. The modern films are designed as their own continuity, while their broader world and themes gain additional context from the earlier cycle.
Choose the modern four-film route if you want a shorter, more continuous story centered on Caesar and the generations that follow him. Choose all ten films in release order if you want the franchise’s historical context, distinct visual styles, different tones, and evolving ideas about humans, apes, civilization, and power.
How many Planet of the Apes movies are there?
There are ten released feature films through 2024: five original films from 1968–1973, Tim Burton’s standalone 2001 re-imagination, three modern Caesar films from 2011–2017, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes from 2024. The Disney+ franchise guide identifies the ten-film release history through Kingdom.
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Where can you stream the Planet of the Apes movies?
There is no reliable single answer without checking each title, country, and publication date. Streaming and digital-rental availability changes by territory and by film, and the Disney+ guide used for the release-order recommendation is a Japan-specific editorial guide rather than proof that every film is currently available on Disney+ in the United States.
For a current U.S. viewing plan, check each film individually on the services available to you. A modern-trilogy collection is the most focused option for viewers choosing Rise, Dawn, and War; an all-ten-film bundle is more suitable for a complete release-order marathon. Verify the exact titles and format before renting, buying, or subscribing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What order should I watch Planet of the Apes?
The best first-time Planet of the Apes movie order is release order: Planet of the Apes (1968), Beneath, Escape, Conquest, Battle, Planet of the Apes (2001), Rise, Dawn, War, and Kingdom.
Is the 2001 Planet of the Apes movie connected to the other films?
No. The 2001 Planet of the Apes movie is a standalone re-imagination and is not part of either the original five-film continuity or the modern Caesar continuity.
Is Kingdom a sequel to War?
Yes. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes follows War for the Planet of the Apes, but the story takes place many generations after Caesar’s era rather than immediately continuing his final chapter.
The Bottom Line
Best first-time choice: watch all ten Planet of the Apes films in release order. If you only want the modern continuity, watch Rise, Dawn, War, and Kingdom in that order; treat the 2001 film as optional and standalone.
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