Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes
Franchise logo
Created byPierre Boulle
Original workLa Planète des singes (1963)
Owner20th Century Studios
Years1963–present
Print publications
Book(s)List of books
Novel(s)La Planète des singes (1963)
ComicsList of comics
Films and television
Film(s)
Television seriesPlanet of the Apes (1974)
Animated seriesReturn to the Planet of the Apes (1975)
Games
Video game(s)
Audio
Soundtrack(s)

Planet of the Apes is a science fiction media franchise consisting of films, books, television series, comics, and other media about a post-apocalyptic world in which humans and intelligent apes clash for control as the dominant species.[1] The franchise started with French author Pierre Boulle's 1963 novel La Planète des singes, translated into English as Planet of the Apes or Monkey Planet. Its 1968 film adaptation, Planet of the Apes, was a critical and commercial hit, initiating a series of sequels, tie-ins, and derivative works. Arthur P. Jacobs produced the first five Apes films through APJAC Productions for distributor 20th Century Fox; following his death in 1973, Fox controlled the franchise, before its acquisition by Disney in 2019.

Four sequels followed the original film from 1970 to 1973: Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes, and Battle for the Planet of the Apes. They did not approach the critical acclaim of the original, but were commercially successful, spawning a live-action television series in 1974 and an animated series in 1975. Plans for a film remake stalled in "development hell" for over 10 years before the 2001 release of Planet of the Apes, directed by Tim Burton. A reboot film series commenced in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which was followed by Dawn of the Planet of the Apes in 2014 and War for the Planet of the Apes in 2017. In 2019, further sequels to the 2011 reboot series entered production, with Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes released in 2024. Franchise tie-ins include books, comics, video games and toys.

Planet of the Apes is the longest-running American science-fiction film series[2] and has grossed a total of over US$2 billion worldwide, against a combined budget of $567.5 million. It has received particular attention among film critics for its treatment of racial issues. Cinema and cultural analysts have also explored its Cold War and animal rights themes. The series has influenced subsequent films, media, and art, as well as popular culture and political discourse.

  1. ^ Bouie, Jamelle (May 18, 2024). "The Underappreciated Genius of 'Planet of the Apes". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 18, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  2. ^ Gilchrist, Todd (May 8, 2024). "'Planet of the Apes' Timeline Explained, From the 1968 Original to 'Kingdom'". Variety. Retrieved May 8, 2024.