Ranking the ‘Planet of the Apes’ Franchise, including ‘Kingdom’

With Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes finally swinging into movie theaters and serving as the long-awaited continuation of the current Apes franchise (don’t forget to check out our review) we figured it was high time to revisit the now trilogy that led up to this point and rank them based on where they stand all this time later, now including Kingdom, of course, as the new chimp on the block. With no further delay, read on for our breakdown of the films so far, as well as a note on what could come next.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise is a solid film, even if it is last place on this list. Caesar’s “NO” moment is still one of the most tantalizing in a recent blockbuster of any kind, and his overall origin story remains very compelling. The human plotline is interesting too, and the more tragic notes laced through the story in relation to disease and mistreatment are valiant topics that are handled with class. Even if it doesn’t, in our opinion, stack up to the rest of the films on this list, each of them existing at all is owed to the well-earned success of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. If this is the worst film in your franchise, you’re doing something right. 

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Kingdom slots into the third spot coming hot off release. Wes Ball’s revitalized vision for the series makes for a recognizable yet singular adventure, one bolstered by series-best special effects and a solid new cast of characters and their accompanying voice talent. The next two films on this list are high atop the movie mountain as far as reputation goes, and it was never Kingdom’s job to topple those; it only had to give people a reason to come back to the planet of the apes. To that point, it succeeds with awe-inducing ease.

War for the Planet of the Apes

War is probably the most impactful film on this list, even if it isn’t quite the best. Despite being released seven years prior to Kingdom, its visual effects are on par with it in some places, if not even better. Andy Serkis gives what may be his career defining performance, and Matt Reeves kicks into high gear with a fire and brimstone take on the franchise set harshly against suffocating backgrounds of mountains and snow. It’s painful, awfully moving, and a near-perfect conclusion (for the trilogy). War is that good, but it still isn’t the best on this list.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Dawn just can’t be beat. Matt Reeves’ Apes debut, in addition to being packed with iconic moments, turned the series’ tone up to 11 and proved just how much these movies were capable of. The time jump situated Caesar and the apes in a wildly foreign scenario that took what Rise hinted at as only a possibility and expounded on it tenfold. Toby Kebbell’s Koba is the best villain in the franchise, the action sequences are top-notch, and the thematic weight remains a heavy burden for any given viewer to carry. It’s an all-time great blockbuster, and a towering standard for big screen sci-fi going forward.

Considering the developments in, and the ending of Kingdom, it may not be long at all before we have to update this list with a new release. Until we have some news to share with you on that end, be sure to share your thoughts on our list in the comments, or jump over to social media and drop your own! If you haven’t already seen Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, head over to your local theater and check it out for what will likely stand as one of the best big movies of the summer. We hope to see you there!

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