Entertainment
This 4-Film Action Franchise on Hulu Is Like Game of Thrones But Sci-Fi
Planet of the Apes is an iconic piece of media from the 20th century. The original film shows a distant future where humans aren’t the ruling species, where humanity has regressed while apes have taken the reins. The franchise has seen a myriad of interpretations. From the original 1968 film to Tim Burton‘s take on the story, Planet of the Apes has been told dozens of times. Audiences still find themselves drawn to this alternate future, in all its different iterations. But the four film series take what’s iconic about the original story and run in a brand new direction. Familiar and astounding all at once, the trilogy and its most recent installment demonstrate how this franchise still captivates audiences in the 21st century.
The 2011-2024 film series Planet of the Apes does not get enough credit. From the stunning motion capture effects to the outstanding performance given by Andy Serkis, these four films are groundbreaking pieces of media that modern audiences are sleeping on. For fans of Game of Thrones, they might find some similarities within the two stories that would draw them towards this series. There aren’t any dragons or fights for a throne, but Planet of the Apes tells the epic saga of one ape’s fight for his people’s freedom and the many losses he faces while trying to create a better future. The next epic story fans seek might not take place in Westeros, but in San Francisco.
A New Direction for the Franchise
Will (James Franco) is a scientist set on curing his father’s Alzheimer’s disease. When he’s tasked with looking after a young test ape, Will realizes the ape’s intelligence supersedes any others in his kind. Caeser (Andy Serkis) grows up with Will, straddling the line between animal and human. He’s incredibly smart, but doesn’t belong within human society. When Caeser eventually encounters other apes, he realizes that his kind are mistreated and abused by humanity. From test subjects to circus performers, apes have been used for humanity’s wishes, but Caeser calls for an end to it. He unites the apes and brings them together as an intelligent society that rivals the humans. When war breaks out between the two species, Caeser finds himself struggling with peace negotiations, impossible decisions, and a betrayal from within his own community.
By focusing on the character of Caesar, the trilogy frames the story through the eyes of someone other than a human. Each film finds Caesar at a different point in his life. From a young ape growing up with humans to a liberator for his species fighting against humankind, Planet of the Apes is tied to Caesar. Instead of rehashing the original plot from the 60s, the trilogy takes on a new focus to share another side of the story. It’s not just a reboot for the sake of retelling a classic story — it’s a creative twist that provides a brand new perspective.
‘Planet of the Apes’ is More Than Just a Reboot
Fans of the original 1968 film would argue that the 2010s series has little to do with the original source material. There is no central human character, instead relying on an ape as the protagonist. There is no space travel, nor visits to a distant future. Apes have not replaced the inferior, unintelligent human species. The series takes a different direction with the original plot, creating something more grounded in the present and integral to the main character.
Caesar’s journey is brilliantly formatted with the three films. Directed by Rupert Wyatt and Matt Reeves, each installment in the trilogy tackles a different phase of his life or obstacle he’s forced to overcome. As he grows into the formidable leader of the apes, the humans grow more desperate. There’s an interesting switch between the two species, where the humans act more animalistically and the apes become more humane. The change in behavior allows audiences to question where their loyalties lie — with a freedom fighter they’ve seen grow up or humans who display only violence and mistrust.
What is most striking about these films is how much heart they possess. The apes demonstrate a strong communal bond, a dedication to the survival of their species. Caesar himself, while the stoic and unshakable leader, depicts such love for his family that he’s willing to go to extreme lengths to protect them. His legacy lives on in the sequel series Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, where apes in the distant future still live by his words of unity and strength. When Caesar’s story finally concludes in War of the Planet of the Apes, audiences find themselves deeply attached to the ape who they’ve seen relentlessly fight for his agency.
Planet of the Apes will undoubtedly have more reboots, but there’s something special about this series of films. Andy Serkis gives his all with his performance of Caesar, making viewers forget they’re watching a computer-generated animal. This series is brilliantly crafted and shares a side of the story the franchise hadn’t yet explored. For fans of the original, they might be surprised at how these films create a new story while remaining appreciative of what came before. Planet of the Apes was always about apes replacing humans, and this series takes it a step further by placing an ape at the center of the story.
- Release Date
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August 5, 2011
- Runtime
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105 minutes
- Director
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Rupert Wyatt
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