Planet of the Apes

Two astronauts and a sympathetic chimp friend are fugitives in a future Earth dominated by a civilization of humanoid apes. Based on the 1968 Planet of the Apes film and its sequels, which were inspired by the novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle.

Planet of the Apes (1974) is a American science fiction adventure series created by Anthony Wilson for CBS, a single-season run of 14 episodes. Astronauts Alan Virdon (Ron Harper) and Pete Burke (James Naughton) are stranded in a future Earth dominated by humanoid apes, where they must survive as fugitives. Their sympathetic chimpanzee ally Galen (Roddy McDowall) helps them evade hunters, most notably the ruthless gorilla Urko (Mark Lenard) and the scheming orangutan Zaius (Booth Colman). The engine of each episode is the cat and mouse chase: the duo hides, improvises escapes, and tries to find a way home through a hostile society of ape cities, villages, and wild lands. Each stand alone adventure builds on the fugitive premise rather than a single long arc. The tone blends action with a thoughtful allegorical eye on prejudice, authority, and loyalty across species. Fans of the 1968 film Planet of the Apes, along with Lost in Space and Land of the Lost, will find resonance in this 1970s network adventure set in a post apocalyptic future Earth.

Reviews are mixed, with audiences rating the single season moderately and the series remembered more for its premise than its execution.

• Planet of the Apes (1968)shared science fiction survival premise on a hostile future Earth with fugitive heroes and ape-dominated society
• Lost in Spaceshared time travel stranded in a distant future with a small band of outsiders on the run
• Land of the Lostshared 1970s network adventure sci-fi with stranded travelers and episodic peril in an alien world
• Terra Novashared time travel and stranded future survival with a found-family duo bonding against an oppressive regime

Created by

Anthony Wilson

Release Date

1974-09-13

Episode runtime

50 min

Rating

7.0 / 10 (108)

What is Planet of the Apes about?

Two astronauts and a sympathetic chimpanzee friend run from an ape-dominated future Earth.

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 moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Planet of the Apes violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Planet of the Apes as mild.

What did critics think of Planet of the Apes?

Reviews are mixed, with audiences rating the single season moderately and the series remembered more for its premise than its execution.

Which shows are like Planet of the Apes?

Shows with a similar feel include Planet of the Apes (1968), Lost in Space, Land of the Lost, and Terra Nova.

How long is Planet of the Apes?

Planet of the Apes: 1 season, 14 episodes.

Is Planet of the Apes still running?

No, Planet of the Apes has ended.