How Many Planet of the Apes Movies Have There Been
The answer shifts depending on where you draw the line. How many Planet of the Apes movies have there been is not a simple count. Fans argue about this constantly. Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and how many planet of the apes movies have there been.
The original run spans five films. The reboot series added three more. A recent TV show expands the story further.
The franchise stretches back over fifty years. Each era redefines the ape uprising.
The Classic Original Series (1968-1973)
This is the foundation. Five theatrical films defined the Cold War anxiety of their time.
Planet of the Apes (1968) - Charlton Heston crash-lands on a world ruled by simians. Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970) - Nuclear mutants hide beneath the ape society. Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) - Cornelius and Zira travel back to the 1970s. Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) - Caesar leads the revolt against humanity. * Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973) - A fragile peace collapses in a radioactive wasteland.
The series ran its course quickly. It left many questions unanswered.
The Modern Reboot Trilogy (2011-2017)
A new generation took the reins. These films used cutting-edge motion capture. They explored ape consciousness with raw emotional depth.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) - Will Rodman tests a cure that grants intelligence to Caesar. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) - A battle brews between surviving humans and a civilized ape colony. * War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) - Caesar faces a ruthless Colonel in a devastating final stand.
Andy Serkis delivered a career-defining performance. The trilogy earned massive acclaim. It set a new bar for CGI-led storytelling.
Other Appearances
The count goes higher if you count non-theatrical releases. A 2001 Tim Burton film exists but stands alone.
A recent Apple TV+ series continues the story. "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes" arrived in 2024. This brought the total number of feature films to nine. The franchise refuses to die.
Where the Count Stands Today
Direct answer: Nine live-action films have been released. Add the animated "Planet of the Apes" short from 1974 and the count bumps slightly.
The franchise remains uniquely powerful. Few series switch mediums this successfully. It mixes philosophical weight with pure action. The core question remains unchanged. What makes us human? The apes are now answering that question on screen.
* Source for Franchise History: Planet of the Apes Wiki