Planet of the Apes
A stranded astronaut joins an ape-led rebellion on a dystopian planet where humanity's lost history may determine the future.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- stylized
- propulsive
- foreboding
- science fiction marathon
- action movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the remake as visually impressive but undermined by a weak script, thin plotting, and an unconvincing lead performance.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Talking apes govern, enslave, and militarize against humans, making social reversal central to the premise.
Leo's pod cruiser is diverted through a space-time wormhole, launching the film's investigation and survival quest.
Rick Baker's prominent ape makeup and the film's ape society create its defining visual identity.
Leo and the rebels seek a sacred temple in the Forbidden Zone for secrets about mankind's past and future.
Films like Planet of the Apes, and why
Planet of the Apes
shared science fiction adventure, time travel premise, dystopian society, and human rebellion against a dominant nonhuman civilization
Stargate
shared space travel, stranded astronaut protagonist, hostile alien environment, and large-scale science fiction spectacle
The Matrix
shared dystopian science fiction, authoritarian social hierarchy, rebellion, and visually stylized world-building
The Time Machine
shared time-displacement adventure, oppressive future society, and a protagonist seeking the truth behind humanity's fate
Movie Details
- Director
- Tim Burton
- Release Date
- 2001-07-26
- Runtime
- 120 min
- Rating
- 5.8 / 10 (4561)
Cast
- Mark Wahlberg
- Tim Roth
- Helena Bonham Carter
- Michael Clarke Duncan
- Paul Giamatti
- Estella Warren
- Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa
- David Warner
- Kris Kristofferson
- Erick Avari
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Planet of the Apes about?
- A stranded astronaut joins an ape-led rebellion on a dystopian planet where humanity's lost history may determine the future.
- What is Planet of the Apes like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Planet of the Apes as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Planet of the Apes violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Planet of the Apes as moderate.
- What did critics think of Planet of the Apes?
- Critics broadly viewed the remake as visually impressive but undermined by a weak script, thin plotting, and an unconvincing lead performance.
- Which films are like Planet of the Apes?
- Films with a similar feel include Planet of the Apes, Stargate, The Matrix, and The Time Machine.
- How long is Planet of the Apes?
- Planet of the Apes runs 120 minutes.
- Where can I watch Planet of the Apes?
- In United States, Planet of the Apes streams on Hulu.
