How many movies does Planet of the Apes have
The Planet of the Apes franchise spans multiple eras and approaches, making it challenging to pin down an exact count. In the broadest sense, there are two main series—the original 1960s–1970s run and the modern reboot series beginning in 2011—plus several short films, television episodes, and promotional projects. This guide explains which titles qualify as feature films, how they fit into the overall continuity, and why counts vary depending on what you include.
Legacy series (1968 to 1973)
The original series produced five theatrical features, starting with Planet of the Apes in 1968 and concluding with Battle for the Planet of the Apes in 1973. These films created a continuous storyline across theatrical releases, despite later TV adaptations and reimaginings. Note that short films, television episodes, and pilot movies are typically excluded from feature film counts unless they offer new narrative material equivalent to a theatrical release.
What counts as a theatrical feature
For a title to be considered a feature film, it generally must be a wide-release, narrative work with a running time comparable to mainstream movies. Short films, television episodes, and straight-to-video compilations are often omitted from tallies used for franchise mapping or viewing guides. Below is a concise reference table for the legacy features.
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Planet of the Apes | 1968 | Original classic with Charlton Heston |
| Beneath the Planet of the Apes | 1970 | Direct sequel continuing the narrative |
| Escape from the Planet of the Apes | 1971 | Time-travel shift introducing new characters |
| Conquest of the Planet of the Apes | 1972 | Bridge toward the final chapter |
| Battle for the Planet of the Apes | 1973 | Concludes the original continuity |
Tim Burton reboot (2001)
Tim Burton helmed a single theatrical reimagining in 2001, starring Tim Burton and starring Mark Wahlberg. This standalone feature retold the origin story with a modern visual style. It did not launch an ongoing series at the time, and subsequent projects returned to different narrative approaches.
Rise reboot series (2011 onward)
The contemporary series began in 2011 with Rise of the Planet of the Apes and continued through three additional feature films, resulting in four core theatrical entries. These films focus on Caesar and the evolution of apes, creating a tightly connected arc. This run is often counted separately from the legacy series because it exists in a distinct continuity and uses performance capture rather than masks.
Feature list for the reboot era
To avoid confusion, here are the four main features in the reboot series, presented chronologically.
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rise of the Planet of the Apes | 2011 | Modern origin story for Caesar |
| Dawn of the Planet of the Apes | 2014 | Explores ape–human conflict after the outbreak |
| War for the Planet of the Apes | 2017 | Concluding chapter of Caesar’s arc |
| Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes | 2024 | New story set generations later, separate from Caesar |
Other releases and spin-offs
Beyond the legacy and reboot features, there are television episodes, short films, and projects that expand the universe without qualifying as traditional movies. Some fans include certain streaming or short formats when discussing the full breadth of the series, but most reference counts focus on theatrical features. Understanding which formats to include helps ensure clarity when comparing numbers across sources.
Notable short and small-screen entries
- Television pilot films from the 1970s that aired as movies in some regions
- Modern short films released alongside streaming platforms, not central to continuity
- Documentary content and behind-the-scenes specials that do not present new story material
Counting the movies: summary
When people ask how many movies the Planet of the Apes series includes, the answer depends on scope. If you count only wide-release narrative features, there are five legacy films and four reboot films, for a total of nine theatrical features. If you add the 2001 Tim Burton film, the total becomes ten. Formats such as shorts, pilots, and digital content can raise numbers further, but core references usually refer to the nine-feature baseline.
Quick comparison at a glance
| Category | Count | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Original theatrical features | 5 | 1968–1973 continuity |
| Reboot theatrical features | 4 | 2011–2024 continuity |
| Tim Burton standalone film | 1 | 2001 reimagining |
| Total feature films (core) | 9 | Most cited baseline |
| Including Tim Burton | 10 | Common extended count |
Why different numbers appear online
Variations in reported counts often stem from whether short films, television movies, and streaming exclusives are included. Some sources list every screen project associated with the brand, while others focus only on mainline features that advance the primary narrative. Clarifying your criteria—feature length, wide release, and narrative relevance—helps you interpret any count accurately.
Final takeaway
The Planet of the Apes franchise contains nine widely recognized feature films, with a tenth when including the 2001 Tim Burton movie. Two distinct continuities—the classic series and the modern reboot—form the backbone of the series, while shorts and episodic content provide supplementary material. For most discussion of the movies, focusing on these nine core features offers a durable, fact-based framework.