Freya Allan in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Most science fiction franchises tend to try to reinvent themselves over the years, with mixed results. Some, like Star Wars, return with new installments that often spark divisive discourse. Others, like Blade Runner or Tron, have extremely lengthy gaps between sequels.
One sci-fi franchise not only reinvented itself in the early 2010s but also delivered a truly epic scale that very few blockbusters have matched. This honor goes to the Planet of the Apes reboot series, which is available to stream on HBO Max. Starting with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the new films focus on the birth of the titular Planet of the Apes, especially how the apes evolve into the dominant species on the planet. It's not the first time someone has tried to reboot the series; Tim Burton launched his own version of Planet of the Apes in 2001, and James Cameron was even approached to revive the series on film before he eventually made Titanic. The new Planet of the Apes succeeds because it takes the time to show how its world is constantly evolving, offering a sense of growth that other sci-fi franchises lack. It also doesn't hurt that one of Hollywood's best directors helped take the series to a new level. The 'Planet of the Apes' Reboot Revamps a Major Element of the Original Series In the original Planet of the Apes, humanity has devolved into a mute class of workers while the apes lord over them. This led to arguably one of the greatest twists in science fiction history, in which George Taylor discovers that the"planet" he's landed on is actually Earth, ravaged by nuclear war. Rise of the Planet of the Apes shifts from a nuclear threat to a viral one, as scientist Will Rodman creates a drug called ALZ-112 to reverse the effects of Alzheimer's disease. While ALZ-112 increases the intelligence of the chimpanzee Caesar , it proves to be deadly to humans, triggering a global pandemic. Director Rupert Wyatt also said that future films would explore the conflict between man and ape: "We've incorporated elements from Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, in terms of how the apes begin to revolt, but this is primarily a prequel to the 1968 film... Caesar is a revolutionary figure who will be talked about by his fellow apes for centuries... This is just the first step in the evolution of the apes, and there's a lot more stories to tell after this. I imagine the next film will be about the all-out war between the apes and humans." True to Wyatt's words, the next two films, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes, focused on how humanity and apes came to battle. It also brought a new director into the fold, as Matt Reeves stepped up to helm both sequels. Reeves brought a truly epic scale to the Planet of the Apes reboot, showcasing just how much the world changed in the wake of humanity's decimation. Rain-soaked forests, snow-covered terrain, and a massive military fortress are given plenty of sweeping shots, with cinematographer Michael Seresin taking time to close in on both human and apes' facial expressions — letting their eyes say much more than words could. Reeves' vision led to critical and commercial success for both Apes sequels, and paved the way for his work on The Batman. Related Can You Hum These Iconic Film Scores? It's the Collider Movie Quiz! A good score elevates a film's emotional impact. A great score affects you long after the movie's over. Here are a few examples of that excellence. Posts By Macklen Makhloghi Thanks to Andy Serkis, the New 'Planet of the Apes' Blends Pathos with Blockbuster Thrills There's one person who helped make the Planet of the Apes reboot a bona fide success, and it's Andy Serkis. Serkis delivers a career-best performance as Caesar, thanks to a blend of motion capture and a truly magnetic performance. Every time Caesar is on-screen, the camera gravitates toward him, showcasing his transformation from a mere ape to a leader to a messianic figure. Even in death, Caesar continues to cast a large shadow as Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes shows how apes have taken up his words, for good and ill. It's also led the Planet of the Apes reboot to continue topping HBO Max's global charts, showing that the new films have just as strong a hold on modern audiences as the original Planet of the Apes did on its audience. Subscribe for deeper Planet of the Apes reboot coverage Dive further into the Planet of the Apes reboot and similar sci-fi reinventions by subscribing to the newsletter, with in-depth coverage, filmmaker context, visual storytelling analysis, and thoughtful takes that expand on what you've read. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. The Planet of the Apes reboot proves that not every reboot of a popular franchise needs to rely on nostalgia or simply rehash the original story. It also showcases that there's still room for sweeping epics in the sci-fi landscape, especially as Dune: Part Three gears up to hit theaters. Rise of the Planet of the Apes Like Follow Followed PG-13 Thriller Action Drama Science Fiction Release Date August 5, 2011 Runtime 105 minutes Director Rupert Wyatt Cast See All Writers Amanda Silver, Rick Jaffa Producers Dylan Clark Prequel Planet of the Apes Sequel War for the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Franchise Planet of the Apes Powered by Expand Collapse
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