If you loved
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Matt Reeves · Film · 2014
What hooked you in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the visceral struggle to maintain civilization amidst the collapse of humanity.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Planet of the Apes
Franklin J. Schaffner · Film · 1968
Adaptation
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Ted Post · Film · 1970
Books on the same thread
The Maze Runner (Book 1)
James Dashner · Book · 2014
Shares a thread with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Survival.
Like the community-focused survival in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, this story centers on a group forced to forge a new society while trapped in a hostile environment.
The Day of the Triffids
John Wyndham · Book · 2003
Shares 2 threads with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Survival, Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction.
This novel echoes the themes of man versus nature found in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, exploring how humanity struggles to endure when the established world order fails.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari · Book · 2015
Explores: Human Evolution, Cognitive Revolution, Agricultural Revolution.
If you were fascinated by the shift in power dynamics depicted in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, this deep dive into human evolution provides the necessary historical context.
The Rage: A Game of Survival
Natica Brown · Book · 2017
Shares 2 threads with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Survival, Loss of Innocence.
This narrative mirrors the moral ambiguity and betrayal present in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, focusing on how individuals navigate shifting loyalties when their world falls apart.
Series on the same thread
The Walking Dead
Frank Darabont · Series · 2010
Shares 2 threads with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Survival, Loss of Innocence.
The struggle for community building and the loss of innocence in this series directly mirror the core conflicts that defined the fragile peace in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
See
Steven Knight · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Survival.
Much like the tribal warfare and survivalist stakes in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, this story examines how human groups adapt and defend their legacy after a catastrophic plague.
12 Monkeys
Terry Matalas · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Moral Ambiguity.
The high-stakes mission to save the future from a decimated world captures the same sense of urgency and sacrifice that drives the central conflict in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
Attack on Titan
Series · 2013
Shares 2 threads with Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: Survival, Loss of Innocence.
The existential horror of living alongside a dominant, lethal force is central to both this show and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, emphasizing the desperate need for human survival.
Podcasts on the same thread
Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks
Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Human-wildlife conflict, Apex predators, Biological survival.
This podcast explores the primal reality of human-wildlife conflict, grounding the fictional tension between species seen in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes in the reality of apex predators.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
The patterns of societal collapse and shifting power structures analyzed here provide a real-world framework for the political instability and leadership tensions portrayed in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the Planet of the Apes movies in to understand Dawn of the Planet of the Apes?
To follow the narrative evolution of the franchise, you should begin with the 1968 Planet of the Apes film, followed by Beneath the Planet of the Apes. These original movies provide essential context for the themes of human-ape conflict explored in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.
Is Dawn of the Planet of the Apes based on the 1963 book Planet of the Apes?
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is part of the broader franchise inspired by the 1963 novel Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle. While the book serves as the original source material for the series, this specific film focuses on the struggle for dominance following a global plague.
How does the plot of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes relate to the 1968 Planet of the Apes movie?
Both films examine the tension between humanity and intelligent apes. While Dawn of the Planet of the Apes details the early aftermath of a plague in San Francisco, the 1968 Planet of the Apes depicts a future where apes have already established a society that dominates the remnants of mankind.
Should I watch Beneath the Planet of the Apes after finishing Dawn of the Planet of the Apes?
Yes, watching Beneath the Planet of the Apes is recommended if you want to explore the history of the franchise. It serves as a direct sequel to the 1968 film and expands on the world-building that informs the setting of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.