Toussaint Egan
(he/him) is a curation editor, out to highlight the best movies, TV, anime, comics, and games. He has been writing professionally for over a decade.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the latest sci-fi film from Wes Ball (The Maze Runner) and the direct follow-up to Matt Reeves’ 2017 War for the Planet of the Apes, opens in theaters this weekend. Set 300 years after the events of Reeves’ film, the sequel follows the story of a young chimpanzee named Noa who embarks on a journey to rescue his tribe from a warring clan of apes who have weaponized the legacy of the late ape leader Caesar.
The Planet of the Apes franchise has amassed a long, eclectic legacy over the years, with total of 10 films across three separate continuities since Franklin J. Schaffner’s original film premiered in 1968. Whether you’re looking to catch up on the reboot prequels in the lead-up to seeing Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, or to go full ape with a marathon of all of the movies in the franchise up until this point, you’re in luck.
Here’s where you can watch every Planet of the Apes movie at home right now.
Where can I watch the Planet of the Apes reboot movies?
The reboot prequel series follow the life and legacy of Caesar, a genetically enhanced chimpanzee who leads an ape uprising, instigating the downfall of human civilization via a deadly man-made virus. If you’ve never seen a Planet of the Apes film before, or if you just want to be brought up to speed before seeing Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, here’s where you should start.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Cast: James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is available to watch on Hulu, or for digital rental and purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is available to watch on Hulu and Max, or for digital rental and purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google.
War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
Director: Matt Reeves
Cast: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn
War of the Planet of the Apes is available to watch on Hulu, Max, TNT, and TBS, or for digital rental and purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google.
Where can I watch the original Planet of the Apes movies?
The original Planet of the Apes series follows a crew of astronauts who crash-land on an unknown planet following a near-light-speed space mission. Upon discovering that the planet is inhabited by a race of highly intelligent apes who subjugate primitive humans who lack the ability to speak, the astronauts search for a means of escape. It gets much, much weirder after that.
Planet of the Apes (1968)
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Cast: Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Maurice Evans
Planet of the Apes is available to watch on Hulu and Starz, or for digital rental and purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google.
Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
Director: Ted Post
Cast: James Franciscus, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans
Beneath the Planet of the Apes is available to watch on Hulu and Starz, or for digital rental and purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google.
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971)
Director: Don Taylor
Cast: Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Bradford Dillman
Escape from the Planet of the Apes is available to watch on Hulu and Starz, or for digital rental and purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google.
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972)
Director: J. Lee Thompson
Cast: Roddy McDowall, Don Murray, Ricardo Montalbán
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes is available to watch on Hulu and Starz, or for digital rental and purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google.
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)
Director: J. Lee Thompson
Cast: Roddy McDowall, Claude Akins, Natalie Trundy
Battle for the Planet of the Apes is available to watch on Hulu and Starz, or for digital rental and purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google.
Where can I watch Tim Burton’s Planet of the Apes movie?
I mean, it’s not part of the continuity of either the latest reboot prequel series or the original Planet of the Apes movies, but if you’re really determined to watch one of the most divisive sci-fi movies of the early 2000s, sure — I feel obliged to help you with that!
Planet of the Apes (2001)
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, Helena Bonham Carter
Planet of the Apes is available to watch on Hulu and Starz, or for digital rental and purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google.
Source: Polygon
