You're standing in the sci-fi section—or more likely scrolling through a streaming app—and you realize there are ten of these things. Ten movies. Some are from the '60s with guys in fuzzy masks, one has Mark Wahlberg looking confused, and then there are the modern ones where the CGI is so good it's actually a little unsettling. If you’re trying to figure out planet of the apes in order movies, you’ve probably realized it's not a straight line. It’s more like a tangled ball of yarn that someone threw through a time warp.
Honestly, the "right" way to watch them depends on how much you care about spoilers and whether you can handle the tonal whiplash of jumping from 2024 special effects back to 1968 practical makeup.
The franchise is basically split into three distinct buckets: the original "pentalogy" (the first five), the Tim Burton "we don't talk about this" remake, and the modern Caesar reboot series. If you try to watch them all in a single sitting without a plan, your brain will melt faster than a glacier in a climate crisis.
The Chronological Headache: How the Story Actually Happens
If you want to watch the story from the "start" of the ape uprising to the bitter end of humanity, you’re looking at a timeline that spans thousands of years. But here’s the kicker: the modern movies (the ones starting with Rise) are technically a reboot. They aren't a direct prequel to the 1968 film, even though they drop a ton of Easter eggs that suggest they might be.
If you’re a purist who wants to see the evolution of the world, here is how the narrative flows.
The Genesis Era (Modern Reboot Timeline)
First, you've got Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011). It's set in "present-day" San Francisco. You see Caesar, played by the legend Andy Serkis, go from a smart pet to a revolutionary leader. It’s grounded. It’s emotional. It’s a great starting point because it explains the "Simian Flu" that wipes out most of us.
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Then comes Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014). Ten years have passed. The world is a graveyard, and the apes are building a society in the woods. This is arguably the best movie in the whole franchise. Matt Reeves (who later did The Batman) directed this, and it’s basically a Shakespearean tragedy with monkeys.
Next is War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). This is the "end" of Caesar's personal journey. It’s a heavy, grim war movie. By the end of this, the planet is officially transitioning from ours to theirs.
The Bridge to the Future
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) jumps way ahead—about 300 years after Caesar died. Apes have split into different clans. Some remember Caesar’s teachings; others have twisted them into a weird religion to justify slavery. It’s the closest the modern movies have gotten to the "vibe" of the original 1968 film.
The Original Paradox (1968–1973)
Now it gets weird. If you follow the timeline strictly, you’d then jump to the year 3978.
- Planet of the Apes (1968): Astronauts crash-land on a planet where apes talk and humans are mute animals.
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970): More astronauts show up. There are telepathic mutants living underground who worship a nuclear bomb. Yes, really. It ends with the entire Earth being blown up.
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971): Because the Earth blew up, three apes (Zira, Cornelius, and Milo) use a repaired spaceship to fly through a time warp back to 1973. Now the apes are the celebrities in a human world.
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972): Set in 1991. The children of the time-traveling apes lead a slave revolt.
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973): The final chapter of the original run, showing a shaky peace between humans and apes after a nuclear war.
Why Release Order Is Usually Better
Most experts—and by experts, I mean the people who spend too much time on Reddit forums—will tell you to watch in release order. Why? Because the 1968 original has one of the most famous twist endings in cinematic history. If you watch the prequels first, you already know the "secret." It's like watching the Star Wars prequels before the original trilogy; you lose the "I am your father" moment.
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Watching the 1968 film first gives you the context for everything that follows. When you see a reference to the "Icarus" spaceship in the 2011 movie, it actually means something to you.
The "Don't Forget" Standalone
Then there's the 2001 Planet of the Apes directed by Tim Burton. It’s a remake of the first one but with a completely different ending that still confuses people to this day. Honestly? It exists in its own bubble. It doesn't connect to the others. The makeup by Rick Baker is incredible, but the story is a bit of a mess. Watch it last, or skip it if you're short on time.
Where the Continuity Breaks
It’s important to realize that the "Planet of the Apes in order movies" list isn't a perfect circle. In the original 1970s movies, the apes become smart because of a virus that kills all cats and dogs, leading humans to take apes as pets and eventually slaves. In the modern movies, it's a lab-grown virus meant to cure Alzheimer's.
They are different "universes" that rhyme.
The 2024 film, Kingdom, is trying to bridge that gap. Director Wes Ball has mentioned in interviews that he wanted to honor the "spirit" of the 68' film while staying in the Caesar timeline. It's a delicate balance.
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The Best Way to Watch Right Now
If you are a total newcomer in 2026, here is the most satisfying path.
Start with the 1968 Original. It’s a masterpiece. The pacing is a bit slow for modern audiences, but the payoff is worth it.
After that, jump straight to the Caesar Trilogy (Rise, Dawn, War). This gives you the "how did we get here" satisfaction without the cheesy 70s sequels getting in the way. Once you finish those, watch Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes to see where the world is going next.
If you find yourself obsessed, go back and watch the 70s sequels (Beneath through Battle). They are campy, low-budget, and deeply weird, but they have a political bite that most modern blockbusters are too scared to touch.
Practical Next Steps:
Check your streaming services; most of these are currently on Disney+ or Hulu due to the 20th Century Studios acquisition. If you're going for the 1968 version, try to find a 4K remaster—the cinematography in the desert is stunning. Avoid looking up the 2001 ending before you watch it; even if it's not the "best" movie, the shock factor of that final scene is worth experiencing once.