As of today, the four modern Planet of the Apes movies are officially streaming, having been added to HBO Max and giving subscribers the perfect opportunity to revisit one of the most visually impressive sci-fi franchises in recent years. It’s also a great opportunity to re-watch or discover one of the greatest sequels of all time.
Showcasing the evolution of Earth as its predominant species shifts from humans to intelligent apes, watching all four films in the modern Planet of the Apes franchise, which first began 15 years ago, is quite the experience. From Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) to Wes Ball’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), few franchises have been as consistently impressive in both story and visuals as this one (each movie has a Rotten Tomatoes score above 80%).
Although all four films have earned generally positive reviews, one sequel absolutely stands above with Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Not only does it remain the best of the entire modern franchise, but it also sits as one of the best sci-fi sequels ever made.
All 4 Modern Planet Of The Apes Movies Are Now Streaming On HBO Max
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The modern series begins with 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, directed by Rupert Wyatt and starring James Franco as scientist Will Rodman, whose experimental Alzheimer’s treatment grants a chimpanzee named Ceaser (Andy Serkis) and more of his fellow apes increased intelligence, while conversely serving as a deadly contagion for a massive percentage of the human population. The movie also stars John Lithgow, Freida Pinto, Brian Cox, and Tom Felton.
Then there’s 2014’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes from Matt Reeves, following Ceaser’s growing community of apes 10 years after the events of Rise and their clashes with a colony of human survivors. Starring Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, and Toby Kebbell, Dawn was an exceptional follow-up (but more on that later).
Reeves returned to direct 2017’s War for the Planet of the Apes, set only a couple of years after Dawn. Tensions with the remnants of humanity have only become worse, as Caesar faces a ruthless (and desperate) military leader played by Woody Harrelson in the face of new human crises. Beyond Harrelson, notable stars include Steven Zahn and Amiah Miller.
Lastly, the most recent entry in the franchise is also streaming on HBO Max: 2024’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Directed by Wes Ball, Kingdom is set multiple generations after the time of Ceaser, with apes having transitioned from basically a Stone Age era to more of a structured Bronze Age-type society. The movie stars the ape known as Noa (Owen Teague) and his encounters with a human woman named Mae (Freya Allan), as well as Proximus Ceaser (Kevin Durand), a ruling ape who’s taken the name of the legendary ape and his teachings to secure power and build an empire.
Overall, the modern Planet of the Apes franchise is well worth revisiting if you’ve seen it before, and there’s no better time for those who haven’t seen it to check them out now that they’re all streaming in the same place.
Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes Is One Of The Greatest Sci-Fi Sequels Ever Made
While all four modern Planet of the Apes movies are worth watching, the one I would most recommend personally is Matt Reeves’ Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. Taking the foundation of the world and status quo established by Wyatt in Rise, Reeves expands the scope of the narrative into something far more complex and compelling, surpassing most expectations in terms of its depth.
Rather than being a straightforward clash between intelligent apes and human survivors, Dawn also features major struggles within both communities and rising tensions, undermining Ceaser attempts to forge peace with Jason Clarke’s Malcom. As the movie progresses and violence becomes inevitable, the action sequences are on another level as the apes storm the humans’ defenses.
One notable scene in particular sees Ceaser’s rival Koba (Toby Kebbell) leading a force of apes against the humans’ community in San Francisco and personally hijacking an armored vehicle. This results in an incredible extended single-take sequence centered on the vehicle as its firing turret rotates, showcasing the full scope of the major battle with a continuous, 360-degree shot.
While the motion-capture work is extraordinary in the entire franchise, it’s particularly captivating in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. This is largely due to the personal conflict between the peace-seeking Ceaser and Koba, who believes the ape leader should wipe out all the humans. Remarkably, the visuals impressively enhance the performances rather than distract. All things considered, Dawn is easily the best chapter in the modern Planet of the Apes franchise (though it really hasn’t yet had a bad entry). With all four now on HBO Max, the timing couldn’t be better for a full marathon.
Planet of the Apes is a multimedia sci-fi franchise that began in 1963 with Pierre Boulle’s novel, which was later adapted into a film in 1968 starring Charlton Heston. The success of the movie led to four sequels, two TV shows, a remake from Tim Burton, and a reboot trilogy. The Planet of the Apes franchise has also seen success in video games and comic books.
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