A quick guide to the modern ape saga

This guide covers the four modern Planet of the Apes movies, their streaming availability as described in the source, and why Dawn of the Planet of the Apes stands out. Read on to compare the films and decide whether to revisit the series or watch it for the first time.

• Streaming lineup: The four modern Planet of the Apes films are described as streaming on HBO Max.
• Film order: The modern series runs from Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) through Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024).
• Standout sequel: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is identified as the strongest entry in the modern series.
• Story arc: The films trace the rise of intelligent apes and the changing balance between ape and human communities.

The modern Planet of the Apes series follows the evolution of Earth as its predominant species shifts from humans to intelligent apes. From Rupert Wyatt’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) to Wes Ball’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), the four films combine science-fiction storytelling with visual effects; each movie has a Rotten Tomatoes score above 80%.

All four films have earned generally positive reviews, but Matt Reeves’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes stands out in this account. It is presented as the best film in the modern series and one of the strongest science-fiction sequels.

Where can you stream all four modern Planet of the Apes movies?

The source reports that all four modern Planet of the Apes films are available on HBO Max. The series begins with Rise (2011), continues through Dawn (2014) and War (2017), and reaches <em>Kingdom</em> (2024).

All four films form a connected timeline, although Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes takes place generations after Caesar’s story.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), directed by Rupert Wyatt, stars James Franco as scientist Will Rodman. Will’s experimental Alzheimer’s treatment increases the intelligence of a chimpanzee named Caesar (Andy Serkis) and other apes, while also becoming a deadly contagion for a large part of the human population. The cast also includes John Lithgow, Freida Pinto, Brian Cox and Tom Felton.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), directed by Matt Reeves, follows Caesar’s growing ape community 10 years after the events of Rise and its clashes with human survivors. The film stars Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell and Toby Kebbell.

Reeves returned to direct War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), set a couple of years after Dawn. As tensions with humanity worsen, Caesar confronts a ruthless military leader played by Woody Harrelson amid new human crises. The cast also includes Steve Zahn and Amiah Miller.

The most recent entry described here, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), is directed by Wes Ball and takes place generations after Caesar’s time. Ape society has moved beyond a Stone Age-like era toward a more structured Bronze Age-like society. The story follows Noa (Owen Teague), his encounters with a human woman named Mae (Freya Allan), and Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), a ruler who invokes the legendary ape and his teachings to build an empire.

The four modern Planet of the Apes films offer a connected story to revisit or discover. Watching them in release order makes the shift from Caesar’s rise to the later ape society clear.

Why is Dawn of the Planet of the Apes considered a standout sequel?

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes builds on the world established in Rise and expands the conflict between apes and human survivors. Its story also explores divisions within both communities and Caesar’s effort to prevent violence.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes combines community conflict, political tension and performance-capture effects.

All four modern Planet of the Apes films are worth considering, but Matt Reeves’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the installment singled out here. Reeves takes the foundation established by Rupert Wyatt in Rise and develops a more complex story.

Rather than presenting a simple clash between intelligent apes and human survivors, Dawn depicts conflicts within both communities. Those tensions complicate Caesar’s attempt to make peace with Malcolm (Jason Clarke), and violence eventually escalates into major action sequences.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes includes a major battle in which Koba (Toby Kebbell) leads apes against the human community in San Francisco and hijacks an armored vehicle. A continuous, 360-degree shot follows the vehicle as its turret rotates, presenting the battle in an extended take.

The modern series uses performance-capture effects, and Dawn places that technique alongside the conflict between the peace-seeking Caesar and Koba, who wants the apes to destroy the humans. In the source’s assessment, the effects support rather than distract from the performances, making Dawn the standout chapter. With all four films reported as available on HBO Max, they can be watched as a full series.

What should viewers know before watching the Planet of the Apes films?

The modern films follow Caesar’s story before shifting to a later ape society in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Release order gives viewers the clearest progression through that change.

The four modern films are Rise (2011), Dawn (2014), War (2017) and Kingdom (2024).

• Where does the modern series begin? It begins with Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), directed by Rupert Wyatt.
• Which sequel stands out? Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), directed by Matt Reeves, is the article’s top pick.
• Who directed Kingdom? Wes Ball directed Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024).