If you loved
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Film · 1971
You were hooked by the way Escape from the Planet of the Apes uses displaced beings to critique our own societal prejudices.
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
Flowers for Algernon
Daniel Keyes · Book · 2004
Explores: Intelligence, Ethics of Science, Human Experimentation.
Just as Escape from the Planet of the Apes examines the ethics of scientific exploitation, this book explores the tragic personal consequences of human experimentation and the burden of intelligence.
Tunnel in the Sky
Robert A. Heinlein · Book · 2005
Explores: Survivalism, Resourcefulness, Self-reliance.
If the survival struggle in Escape from the Planet of the Apes intrigued you, this story captures the same desperate need for resourcefulness when stranded in a hostile environment.
Curious George
Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey · Book · 1941
Shares a thread with Escape from the Planet of the Apes: Adventure.
While tonally distinct, this story shares the fish-out-of-water premise found in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, focusing on the cultural friction of an intelligent monkey in society.
Timescape
Gregory Benford · Book · 1981
Explores: Ecological Disaster, Scientific Discovery, Communication Across Time.
This narrative mirrors the high-stakes time travel dilemmas of Escape from the Planet of the Apes, focusing on how desperate scientific actions can alter the trajectory of human history.
Series on the same thread
12 Monkeys
Terry Matalas · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with Escape from the Planet of the Apes: Time Travel.
This series takes the time paradoxes and existential dread present in Escape from the Planet of the Apes to an extreme, showing the heavy cost of trying to change the future.
Farscape
Rockne S. O'Bannon · Series · 1999
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Stranded in space, Unlikely alliances.
You will find the same intense cultural clash and feeling of being an outsider in an alien world that defined the central conflict of Escape from the Planet of the Apes.
Lost in Space
Irwin Allen · Series · 2018
Explores: Family Survival, Interplanetary Colonization, Human vs. Environment.
Like the protagonists in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, this family must navigate a dangerous world where their very existence is threatened by their environment and human curiosity.
Planet Earth II
Series · 2016
Explores: Survival, Animal Behavior, Natural Wonders.
This documentary echoes the fascination with species behavior and adaptation that grounded the scientific curiosity in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, grounding the concept in natural reality.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
This podcast explores the systemic roots of prejudice and identity that Escape from the Planet of the Apes uses as a backdrop, providing a real-world look at human history.
The Orphans
The Light and Tragic Company · Podcast · 2025
This audio drama captures the themes of survival and the struggle for identity in a hostile universe that made the plight of the chimpanzees in Escape from the Planet compelling.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the films to understand Escape from the Planet of the Apes?
You should watch the series in the order of release. Start with the 1968 Planet of the Apes, followed by Beneath the Planet of the Apes, and then view Escape from the Planet of the Apes to understand the arrival of the talking chimpanzees in the spacecraft.
Is Escape from the Planet of the Apes based on the 1963 book?
While Escape from the Planet of the Apes is part of the film franchise, it is not a direct adaptation of the 1963 Planet of the Apes book. The film continues the narrative established in the previous movie installments rather than strictly following the source material of the novel.
How does Escape from the Planet of the Apes connect to the 1968 movie?
Escape from the Planet of the Apes serves as the third entry in the series. It follows the events of the 1968 Planet of the Apes and its sequel, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, by detailing the mysterious arrival of three intelligent chimpanzees who shock the human population.
Should I watch Beneath the Planet of the Apes before Escape from the Planet of the Apes?
Yes, you should watch Beneath the Planet of the Apes before Escape from the Planet of the Apes. Viewing them in sequence allows you to follow the overarching story of the chimpanzees and the human reaction to their intelligence as the plot progresses through the film series.