
Planet of the Apes
Somewhere in the Universe, there must be something better than man!
1968 • 112 min • Science Fiction · Adventure · Drama · Action
Synopsis
Astronaut Taylor crash lands on a distant planet ruled by apes who use a primitive race of humans for experimentation and sport. Soon Taylor finds himself among the hunted, his life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist.
Our family guide
Best from age 9- 100 Reviewers · 7 · 72%
- 77 Audience · 4030 · 28%
Astronaut Taylor crash-lands on a future planet ruled by intelligent apes who treat primitive humans as animals. He must fight for survival and uncover the planet's shocking secret while navigating a society where roles are dramatically reversed.
- Violence & peril
- 3/10
- Language
- 1/10
- Drinking, drugs & smoking
- 1/10
- Romance & sensuality
- 1/10
- Scary moments
- 4/10
Heads up
- Humans are treated like animals, including being captured and caged.
- Some scenes depict apes hunting humans.
What it models well
- Challenging injustice
- Seeking truth
- Empathy and understanding
Talk about it after
- The reversal of roles between humans and apes
- The nature of civilization and intelligence
- Prejudice and how it affects judgment
Written by the Movie Knight editorial team for Planet of the Apes. Our own words, our own scoring — always double-check against your family's standards.
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Top billed cast
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner • Crew: Michael Wilson, Rod Serling
Trailers & clips
Planet of the Apes (1968) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers
Planet of the Apes (1968) - Trailer HD 1080p
Planet of the Apes (1968) - Teaser Trailer HD 1080p
John Landis on PLANET OF THE APES
Reviewer notes
RecommendedDramatic and adventurous The Planet of the Apes (1968) is a fantastic movie that delivers a real experience to the viewer. There is no excuse for anyone not to enjoy this movie. Taylor and his friends land in the spaceship in a land ruled by damn dirty apes. If you haven’t seen this, it’s shameful. 9-10.
RecommendedIt seems that this film is almost as famous for the folks who didn't take part - Marlon Brando, Edward G. Robinson, Steve McQueen and even Ingrid Bergman, as for it's achievements as a thought provoking piece of cinema. I have always found that Charlton Heston's delivery tended a touch to theatrical monologue; but it really does work in this existential sci-fi story. Returning from a space voyage to Earth several ...
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersHaving seen all three films from the rebooted series, I came into watching the original series expecting something relatively similar. To my pleasant surprise, it's a very different story. It's a fascinating dynamic that is set up in this version, which I in fact prefer compared to the films from the 2010s - as entertaining as they are in their own right. It's nicely paced and features good cinematography. T...
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersThe writers turned a not very good novel into an allegory on race and religion. It also takes an nuclear stance which makes an impact in its finale. Charlton Heston is Taylor. An astronaut, part of a crew of four on a long term space mission. They crash landed in what looks like a deserted planet. Soon they encounter some hunter/gatherer human beings who do not speak. Then he finds apes on horseback who s...
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersA sci-fi film so groundbreaking (in too many ways to list here) let's suffice it to say that everything that came after it owes the film a debt as large as Kubrick's 2001, also made in '68. Anyone who enjoyed the recent reboot trilogy needs to seek this one out.
RecommendedTrusted family reviewersI'm a seeker, too. But my dreams aren't like yours. I can't help thinking that somewhere in the universe there has to be something better than man. Has to be. Planet of the Apes is directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and adapted to screenplay by Michael Wilson and Rod Serling from the 1963 Pierre Boulle novel La planete des singes. It stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans, James Whitmor...
Recommended*SPOILERS BELOW* I frst saw this film on its first run on CBS. I was in junior high and a hard core sci-fi fan. I was hooked from the first scene. Written by the late great Rod Serling based on the novel by Pierre Boulle, the story is very engaging. After we are introduced to an ANSA Mission Commander named Colonel Taylor, we are treated to a roller-coaster type sequence as we see the re-entry and crash of Tayl...
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Gallery
Details
- TMDB audience
- 7.7/10 (4,030)
- Age rating
- G
- Status
- Released
- Budget
- $5,800,000
- Box office
- $32,589,624
- Franchise
- Planet of the Apes (Original) Collection
- IMDb
- tt0063442
- Official site
- www.20thcenturystudios.com

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