Planet of the Apes Movies in Order: Release and Story Chronology
Key takeaways
- The clearest way to watch the Planet of the Apes movies in order is by theatrical release.
- There are 10 theatrical films in the franchise through Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), but they don’t all share one timeline.
- The 2001 movie isn’t a bridge between the older films and the newer ones.
- For a shorter route, watch Rise, Dawn, War, and Kingdom.
Table of contents
- Planet of the Apes Movies in Order: Release and Story Chronology
- Key takeaways
- Planet of the Apes movies in release order
- How the different Planet of the Apes continuities fit together
- Modern Planet of the Apes movies in story order
- Is there a chronological order for the original movies?
- Which Planet of the Apes movies should you watch first?
Planet of the Apes movies in release order
The clearest way to watch the Planet of the Apes movies in order is by theatrical release. That keeps the original films’ reveals intact and makes it easy to see where the separate continuities begin. There are 10 theatrical films in the franchise through Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), but they don’t all share one timeline. (IGN; JustWatch)
| # | Movie | Release year | Continuity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planet of the Apes | 1968 | Original series |
| 2 | Beneath the Planet of the Apes | 1970 | Original series |
| 3 | Escape from the Planet of the Apes | 1971 | Original series |
| 4 | Conquest of the Planet of the Apes | 1972 | Original series |
| 5 | Battle for the Planet of the Apes | 1973 | Original series |
| 6 | Planet of the Apes | 2001 | Standalone remake/reimagining |
| 7 | Rise of the Planet of the Apes | 2011 | Modern reboot series |
| 8 | Dawn of the Planet of the Apes | 2014 | Modern reboot series |
| 9 | War for the Planet of the Apes | 2017 | Modern reboot series |
| 10 | Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes | 2024 | Modern reboot series |
The release order and years are listed by IGN and JustWatch. The years above are commonly listed U.S. theatrical release years.
For a first watch, follow the table from top to bottom. The series changes direction across its different eras, and release order lets you encounter those changes as audiences did. The 1968 and 2001 films share a title, but they are separate productions: the 2001 film is not a sequel to the original or part of the later reboot series.
How the different Planet of the Apes continuities fit together
The 10 films fall into three groups:
- The original series: Planet of the Apes (1968) through Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
- A standalone reimagining: Planet of the Apes (2001)
- The modern reboot series: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) through Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
This distinction matters if you’re choosing films by story rather than release date. The 2001 movie isn’t a bridge between the older films and the newer ones. And Kingdom belongs to the modern reboot continuity; it isn’t a direct follow-up to the 1968 film. (Rotten Tomatoes; JustWatch)
Modern Planet of the Apes movies in story order
If you want to follow the newer storyline without watching all 10 movies, use this order:
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
- War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
The first three films center on Caesar’s story. Kingdom takes place generations after the Caesar-centered trilogy, so it continues the modern series in a later era rather than picking up immediately after War. (Rotten Tomatoes)
You don’t need to watch the original five films or the 2001 movie to follow this four-film sequence. If you’re interested only in the modern continuity, start with Rise and continue in order.
Is there a chronological order for the original movies?
There isn’t one simple chronological list that works like the modern series’ order. The original films involve time travel and shifting events, which makes arranging all five by fictional dates potentially confusing. For most viewers, their release order—Planet, Beneath, Escape, Conquest, then Battle—is the clearest choice.
If you’re rewatching and want to focus on the later time-travel branch, Rotten Tomatoes suggests watching Escape from the Planet of the Apes, then Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, then Battle for the Planet of the Apes. Treat this as an alternate way to explore part of the original series, not as a replacement for its complete release order. (Rotten Tomatoes)
Which Planet of the Apes movies should you watch first?
- New to the franchise: Watch all 10 in release order. It’s the most straightforward path through the different versions of the series.
- Interested in Caesar’s story: Watch Rise, Dawn, War, and Kingdom.
- Rewatching the original films: Start with their release order. For a different perspective, try Escape, Conquest, and Battle as a focused sequence.
- Curious about the 2001 film: Watch it as a standalone entry. It isn’t required for either the original series or the modern reboot.
In short, release order is the best default. Choose the four modern films if you want a shorter route, and keep the 2001 movie separate from both main continuities.
