Planet of the Apes Movies in Order: Rise to Kingdom

Where should you start?

For a straightforward entry point, start with Rise, then watch Dawn, War and Kingdom. This modern continuity has its own beginning and does not require the original films. Kingdom moves the setting forward, so the earlier trilogy supplies useful history without making every character a returning one.

The four modern films in order

1. Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) — introduces Caesar and the beginning of this continuity.
2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) — develops the conflict between the communities established after Rise.
3. War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) — completes Caesar's central three-film journey.
4. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) — introduces a later generation in the same modern continuity.

Release order is also the straightforward story order for these four films. Start with Rise for a first viewing; the titles Dawn and Rise can otherwise make the sequence easy to confuse. This guide and its four cards cover the modern films through Kingdom, not every Planet of the Apes film.

Can you start with Kingdom?

Kingdom follows new central characters, and 20th Century Studios places it several generations after Caesar's reign. You can enter with its new story, but Rise, Dawn and War explain the history and ideas inherited by that world. Watching the trilogy first gives those references more meaning without requiring knowledge of the older films.

Do not move Kingdom before War: the change in cast is a time jump within this continuity, not a restart of Caesar's origin story.

Original films and the 2001 remake

The original cycle begins with Planet of the Apes (1968) and is separate from this four-film route. The Planet of the Apes (2001) remake is another version, not the first chapter of Rise and not a bridge between the original cycle and the modern films. Neither is required preparation for Rise.

If you want to explore the older cycle, start with the 1968 film before reading detailed plot summaries. Keep that exploration in a separate list so the repeated franchise title does not obscure which version you intend to watch.

Our take on the collection

Moviebase editorial

Performance, visual effects and the gradual shift in power make the modern films more than creature spectacles. They ask the viewer to sit with political conflict and difficult choices. Those looking for nonstop action may find the conversations and quieter character work more demanding.

Planning your watchlist

The original series and the 2001 remake belong to separate viewing lists. If you explore the older films afterward, start with the 1968 original and avoid plot summaries that reveal its ending.

Download Moviebase to organize your viewing list, mark films as watched and record your ratings. For more options, see how to organize watchlists by franchise.

Sources

20th Century Studios’ Kingdom page confirms the 2024 film and its setting several generations after Caesar’s reign.

Film titles, release dates, runtimes, audience ratings and artwork come from TMDB. Viewing advice is Moviebase editorial opinion. Collection references: TMDB 173710. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.