What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBeneath the Planet of the Apes
Ted Post · Film · 1970
If you loved Beneath the Planet of the Apes, start with Planet of the Apes (Pierre Boulle, 1963) — a book from the same story. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Beneath the Planet of the Apes across media.
If you were captivated by Beneath the Planet of the Apes, you appreciate narratives that expose the fragile, decaying foundations of humanity.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Planet of the Apes
Franklin J. Schaffner · Film · 1968
Adaptation
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Film · 1971
Books on the same thread
On the Beach
Nevil Shute · Book · 1957
Explores: Nuclear War, Radiation, Existentialism.
Like Beneath the Planet of the Apes, this work focuses on the crushing inevitability of nuclear annihilation, leaving you with the same haunting sense of existential finality and dread.
A Canticle for Leibowitz
Walter M. Miller (Jr.) · Book · 1997
Explores: Nuclear War, Religious Order, Preservation of Knowledge.
This novel echoes the religious fanaticism and post-apocalyptic ruin seen in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, examining how societies reconstruct themselves after the total destruction of their previous civilizations.
The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia
Ursula K. Le Guin · Book · 1974
Explores: Anarchism vs Capitalism, Social stratification, Scientific ethics.
The social stratification and isolationism found here mirror the world-building of Beneath the Planet of the Apes, challenging your perception of societal structures and the ethics of human separation.
The Day of the Triffids
John Wyndham · Book · 2003
Shares a thread with Beneath the Planet of the Apes: Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction.
Much like the desperate struggle for survival in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, this story illustrates the collapse of civilization and the terrifying vulnerability of humanity against overwhelming forces.
Series on the same thread
The Outer Limits
Leslie Stevens · Series · 1963
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Existential Dread, Technological Anxiety.
You will recognize the existential dread and moral ambiguity from Beneath the Planet of the Apes within these self-contained stories, which consistently explore the dark consequences of human ambition.
Future Boy Conan
Series · 1978
Explores: Environmentalism, Loss of Innocence, Technological Dystopia.
This series captures the post-apocalyptic environment of Beneath the Planet of the Apes, focusing on the loss of innocence that occurs when humanity is forced to confront its own destruction.
Lost
Jeffrey Lieber · Series · 2004
Explores: Survival, Secrets, Moral Ambiguity.
Just as the survivors in Beneath the Planet of the Apes discover dark secrets, this show centers on the moral ambiguity and hidden truths that emerge when people are stripped away.
The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling · Series · 1959
Explores: Existentialism, Paranoia, Social Commentary.
The psychological horror and existentialism found in these episodes mirror the unsettling atmosphere of Beneath the Planet of the Apes, often concluding with the same kind of jarring, revelatory twist.
Podcasts on the same thread
Old Gods of Appalachia
DeepNerd Media · Podcast · 2026
This podcast taps into the same sense of ancient, hidden madness beneath the surface that makes Beneath the Planet of the Apes feel so profoundly unsettling and deeply mysterious.
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Existentialism, Individual Responsibility, Cultural Critique.
The intellectual discourse here provides a philosophical lens to examine the existentialism and cultural decay that serve as the primary thematic drivers for Beneath the Planet of the Apes.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the series if I just finished Beneath the Planet of the Apes?
You should start with the 1968 Planet of the Apes movie, followed by Beneath the Planet of the Apes. After that, you can continue the story with the 1971 film Escape from the Planet of the Apes to see how the narrative continues following the events of the second film.
Is Beneath the Planet of the Apes based on the 1963 book by Pierre Boulle?
Beneath the Planet of the Apes is a direct sequel to the 1968 film adaptation rather than a direct adaptation of the 1963 book. While the original novel provided the foundation for the franchise, the 1970 film expands on the cinematic universe established by the first movie.
Should I watch the 1968 Planet of the Apes before Beneath the Planet of the Apes?
Yes, you should watch the 1968 Planet of the Apes first. Beneath the Planet of the Apes is a direct sequel that continues the story of the interplanetary rescue mission and the subsequent discovery of the secret hidden beneath the surface of the planet of the apes.
Does Escape from the Planet of the Apes follow the events of Beneath the Planet of the Apes?
Yes, Escape from the Planet of the Apes serves as the sequel to Beneath the Planet of the Apes. The 1971 film continues the narrative arc established in the previous two movies, following the interplanetary mission cycle that began with the original 1968 film.