In 1968, one of the best sci-fi action films ever made debuted, and Planet of the Apes‘ success resulted in a five-film franchise. By the middle of the 1970s, the sequels stopped happening, only to resurface in 2001 with Tim Burton‘s remake. However, it was received so poorly that the IP immediately vanished again. In 2011, a risky move brought it back with Rise of the Planet of the Apes. This time, rather than getting progressively worse as the original sequels did, each new entry was arguably better than the last. If you’re a fan of action movies with a deeper message, the Planet of the Apes reboot quadrilogy is essential viewing.
The Planet of the Apes Reboots Have Stunning Motion Capture Technology
The original Planet of the Apes films might feel dated now, but the makeup certainly wasn’t bad for the era. And as maligned as Tim Burton’s take was, it still had practical effects icon Rick Baker tasked with crafting all kinds of realistic apes. 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes didn’t depend on people in suits or phenomenal makeup. It’s all done with CGI and motion capture technology. Moviegoers are often rightfully frustrated when a movie is saturated with CGI. For this franchise though, it was necessary, and it resulted in jaw-dropping images which brought the characters to life.
Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive? The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.
💊The Matrix
🔥Mad Max
🌧️Blade Runner
🏜️Dune
🚀Star Wars
01
You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do? The first instinct is often the truest one.
02
In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely? What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.
03
What kind of threat keeps you up at night? Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.
04
How do you deal with authority you don’t trust? Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.
05
Which environment could you actually endure long-term? Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.
06
Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart? The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.
07
Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all? Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.
08
What would actually make survival worth it? Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.
Your Fate Has Been Calculated You’d Survive In…
Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.
The Resistance, Zion
The Matrix
You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.
You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.
The Wasteland
Mad Max
The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.
You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.
Los Angeles, 2049
Blade Runner
You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.
You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.
Arrakis
Dune
Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.
Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.
A Galaxy Far, Far Away
Star Wars
The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.
You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes would succeed or fail based on its effects. It didn’t matter who the stars were, how great the direction was, or how strong of a story was crafted if a viewer couldn’t buy that these great apes were real. New Zealand digital effects company Wētā FX, co-founded by Peter Jackson, has left audiences in awe with their work on the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Avatar films. They also brought apes to life as talking creatures who moved so much like us with the mixture of motion capture technology and effects so pristine that you can see every individual hair. Their efforts, along with the voice talent of their actors, made Raka (Peter Macon) a believable hero, Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand) a terrifying villain, Maurice (Karin Konoval) a kind soul, and Caesar (Andy Serkis) the ideal hero. The four films are technological masterpieces, and each was nominated for Best Visual Effects at the Oscars.
The Planet of the Apes Quadrilogy Focuses on Much Deeper Issues
The Planet of the Apes reboots weren’t interested in fan service. This is a modern story, with modern themes. The action is there, especially as the series progresses into an all-out war with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes. It’s what’s going on under the surface though that lifts the franchise above other high-octane action flicks.
In Rupert Wyatt‘s Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the message is clear. Humans treat animals horribly, and if we’re not careful, our sins will come back to bite us. In that film, the intelligent Caesar is raised by a scientist (James Franco) looking to cure Alzheimer’s disease. Testing on Caesar creates a chimp who can think just like humans as he fights to free those like him.
10 Movie Trilogies Where Every Film Is a Classic
When every chapter counts.
The franchise is more intricate than a simple “humanity is evil” formula. It’s certainly part of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, where Caesar, a moral chimp raised by human love, must battle Koba (Toby Kebbell), who has only seen the worst of man. Apes and man must also work together in this world where many people look at the talking animals as less than. You can’t escape a message there which speaks to race and slavery. War for the Planet of the Apes goes deeper into the allegory, along with the themes of the lows those in power will go to in their attempt to hold onto it. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, in a story fitting for today, focuses on Proximus Caesar, the leader of the apes in a time when they rule completely. The roles have been reversed, and now he is the tyrant desperate to hold on to power.
Andy Serkis’ Caesar Is the Best Part of the Planet of the Apes Reboot
Caesar, played by Andy Serkis, stands with his mouth agape in War for the Planet of the Apes.Image via 20th Century Studios
Without question, the heart of the Planet of the Apes reboots is Caesar. The human characters, played by such big names as James Franco and Woody Harrelson, come and go, but Caesar is the constant. Sympathy is built up because he didn’t ask for who he becomes. It’s also not what he’s confined to. It’s chill-inducing the first time he shouts “no” at the humans who dare to hold him back.
He has a deep love for Will Rodman (Franco), while also being able to stand on his own and not live as a pet. Caesar is a born leader and a complex one who doesn’t hate all humans. It’s there (he gives in to it at times) but he also wants his kind to be better and rise above. Andy Serkis brought him to life with his expressive facial movements and gritty voice. Sorry to Gollum, but Caesar is his greatest performance.
The Planet of the Apes reboot films are the essence of 21st century filmmaking. They’re thrilling, and they ask the viewer to look inside themselves. From the game-changing effects to the rise of a hero in his best form, they’re the perfect watch if you missed out on them the first time around.
