{"id":51088,"date":"2024-05-09T17:26:28","date_gmt":"2024-05-09T15:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=2038104"},"modified":"2024-05-09T18:21:21","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T16:21:21","slug":"planet-of-the-apes-movies-ranked-all-the-films-from-worst-to-best","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/planet-of-the-apes-movies-ranked-all-the-films-from-worst-to-best\/","title":{"rendered":"Planet of the Apes movies ranked: All the films from worst to best"},"content":{"rendered":"

With new film Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes now out in UK cinemas, we’ve ranked all nine previous films in the franchise. <\/p>

By Patrick Cremona\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 09 May 2024 at 15:26 PM<\/p>

\n\n

The latest entry in the Planet of the Apes franchise \u2013 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes<\/a> \u2013 has just arrived in UK cinemas, seven years after the superb trilogy starring Andy Serkis as Caesar was brought to an epic conclusion.<\/p>\n

In total, this marks the 10th film in a series that began all the way back in 1968, and has grown to encompass sequels, prequels and a reimagining from Tim Burton that many fans think is best left forgotten.<\/p>\n

Early reviews indicate that the new film is another worthy addition to the canon, and so to celebrate its release, a group of experts at RadioTimes.com<\/a> got together to rank all nine previous entries in the series from worst to best. You can find the results of our deliberations below.<\/p>\n

We haven\u2019t factored Kingdom into our rankings just yet \u2013 but rest assured, we\u2019ll update the list in due course to include the latest chapter in the saga as well.<\/p>\n

Read on for our full ranked list, and if you\u2019re interested in completing a movie marathon ahead of seeing the new instalment, you can also check out out handy guide on how to watch the Planet of the Apes films in order<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Planet of the Apes movies ranked: All the films from worst to best<\/strong><\/h2>\n

9. Planet of the Apes (2001)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Mark Wahlberg as Leo Davidson and Helena Bonham Carter as Ari in Planet of the Apes.<\/span><\/figcaption> SEAC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Broadly speaking, the Planet of the Apes films form one of the most consistent ongoing franchises in Hollywood history \u2013 but every series needs at least one proper stinker, and in Tim Burton\u2019s 2001 remake we got that and then some. Almost 30 years had passed since Battle for the Planet of the Apes rounded out the original run of films, and with Burton fresh from a hugely successful period in the \u201980s and \u201990s, hopes were high that he could deliver the goods.<\/p>\n

But, save for Rick Baker\u2019s impressive prosthetic work, there\u2019s almost nothing to commend about the 2001 film \u2013 a bloated, uninspired effort full of clunky dialogue, bland characterisation and a phoned-in performance from Mark Wahlberg in the lead role. And that\u2019s all before the truly nonsensical ending, which ensured that this series boasts both one of the best and <\/em>one of the worst movie twists of all time. The undoubted nadir of the franchise. \u2013 Patrick Cremona<\/strong><\/p>

8. Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Battle\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Battle of the Planet of the Apes.<\/span><\/figcaption> SEAC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

There\u2019s only one real misfire in the Planet of the Apes series \u2013 Tim Burton\u2019s aforementioned, ill-advised \u201creimagination\u201d \u2013 because while 1973\u2019s Battle for the Planet of the Apes is almost universally regarded as the weakest of the original films, it\u2019s far from without merit.<\/p>\n

Certainly, it has heart, and franchise veteran Roddy McDowall is dependably charismatic. But the movie\u2019s ambition exceeded its means of execution, with director J Lee Thompson frustrated by the size of the budget he was allocated, and the end result is a distinctly average affair that rounds things off more with a whimper than a bang. \u2013 Morgan Jeffery<\/strong><\/p>\n

7. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Escape\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Escape from the Planet of the Apes.<\/span><\/figcaption> SEAC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This threequel marked a severe gear shift from what had come before, not only in terms of its premise \u2013 the film sees advanced apes Cornelius (McDowall) and Zira (Kim Hunter) flung back through time to 20th-century Los Angeles \u2013 but also its tone.<\/p>\n

Though the savage heart of the earlier Apes movies remains, Escape also embraces satirical humour \u2013 the end result is an odd concoction that doesn\u2019t always work, but there\u2019s certainly plenty to enjoy, from the intriguing time-loop plotting to the compelling dynamic of our central ape couple. \u2013 MJ<\/strong><\/p>\n

6. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Beneath\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Beneath the Planet of the Apes.<\/span><\/figcaption> SEAC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

How to follow up not just the huge success but also the stunning twist ending of the original Planet of the Apes? A number of different ideas for a sequel were pitched before screenwriter Paul Dehn\u2019s Beneath the Planet of the Apes got the green light, and while what we got arguably over-eggs the pudding \u2013 adding a race of deranged, telepathic, underground-dwelling mutants to an already-busy sci-fi narrative \u2013 it\u2019s still a compelling 95 minutes.<\/p>\n

With Charlton Heston\u2019s Taylor mostly absent, the charismatic James Franciscus does a decent job of filling the void as replacement astronaut Brent, and the film\u2019s unrelentingly bleak climax is one of the franchise\u2019s boldest and most memorable moments. \u2013 MJ<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Andy\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Andy Serkis as Caesar and Devyn Dalton as Cornelia in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.<\/span><\/figcaption> SEAC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The one that kicked off the recent Apes reboot series, Rise is often somewhat ignored in favour of its sequels helmed by Matt Reeves. That really shouldn\u2019t be the case \u2013 Rise is still a hugely well-crafted movie and kick-start to the franchise, even if it is slightly slower and less showy that some of the franchise\u2019s best.<\/p>\n

At its heart is the relationship between James Franco\u2019s Will and Andy Serkis\u2019s Caesar, which remains touching and compelling to the end, in no small part thanks to Serkis\u2019s excellent motion-capture work. The effects are obviously miles ahead of anything the series had seen before, bringing a heightened sense of realism to the proceedings.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, anyone who tells you to skip this one and move straight to Dawn is clearly forgetting the chill-inducing scene where Caesar finally says \u2018no!\u2019, a sequence which proves that even if you know a moment is coming, it can still blow you away in its execution. \u2013 James Hibbs<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Andy\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Andy Serkis as Caesar in War for the Planet of the Apes.<\/span><\/figcaption> SEAC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The final entry in the recent trilogy is also by some margin the most bleak. This time, Caesar is out for revenge after his family are murdered by an army of humans \u2013 with his quest leading him directly into the hands of a despotic villain played with chilling relish by Woody Harrelson (channeling Apocalypse Now\u2019s Colonel Kurtz).<\/p>\n

Matt Reeves\u2019s sturdy direction brings great dramatic heft to proceedings and ensures this is an epic conclusion to the reboot saga, with a climactic battle offering a blast of pure cinematic spectacle. Meanwhile, Andy Serkis turns in another flawless motion-capture performance in the lead role \u2013 which even led to some clamour for an Oscar nomination. \u2013 PC<\/strong><\/p>\n

3. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Conquest\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.<\/span><\/figcaption> SEAC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Arguably the most influential Apes film bar the original, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes serves as both a sequel to Escape and a prequel to the original film, covering much of the same subject matter as the later Rise of the Planet of the Apes.<\/p>\n

In this version of the uprising, it is Cornelius and Zira\u2019s orphan son Caesar who spearheads a rebellion against the apes\u2019 human masters, and Roddy McDowall delivers his finest performance of the Apes saga. Uncompromising and action-packed, Conquest is a bleak, brilliant film \u2013 though it\u2019s worth noting that the unrated version released on Blu-Ray, which restores the film\u2019s original, more violent ending, is by far the superior cut. \u2013 MJ<\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Dawn\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.<\/span><\/figcaption> SEAC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

This second in the recent trilogy of Apes movies is easily the best of the three, and when it comes to blockbusters, it is really something of a masterpiece. Combining exceptional visual effects, the likes of which the franchise hadn\u2019t seen before, along with a compelling hero in Caesar and a rich, nuanced story, the movie proves to be as thoughtful as its action sequences are exhilarating.<\/p>\n

Even hidden in a mo-cap suit, Andy Serkis puts in an Oscar-worthy turn as Caesar, while Toby Kebbell\u2019s villain Koba is both understandable in his motivations, but also so easy to hate. Matt Reeves knocked it out of the park with this one, delivering not just a fantastic Apes movie, but a sensational movie full stop, with some of the most complex characters and character dynamics seen in blockbuster filmmaking. \u2013 JH<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Planet of the Apes (1968)<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Planet\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
Planet of the Apes (1968).<\/span><\/figcaption> SEAC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

In terms of pure scale, the entries in the reboot trilogy might have this one beaten \u2013 but it\u2019s almost impossible to crown anything other than the film that started it all as the best of the bunch. Starring Charlton Heston as the leader of a crew of astronauts who crash-land on a planet where humans are subservient to a ruling class of apes, it introduces many of the themes that have continued to be explored with such panache in the series ever since.<\/p>\n

The ingenious script from The Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling ensures the film finds just the right balance between satire and adventure, leading up to perhaps the most iconic movie twist ever. Nowadays, it would be virtually impossible to watch the film without knowing that ending in advance, but those final scenes retain their immense power all the same. \u2013 PC<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is now showing in UK cinemas.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Check out more of our\u00a0Film<\/a>\u00a0coverage or visit our\u00a0TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Streaming Guide<\/a>\u00a0to find out what\u2019s on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to\u00a0The Radio Times Podcast<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n

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