What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedEscape from the Planet of the Apes
Film · 1971
If you loved Escape from 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 Escape from the Planet of the Apes across media.
What hooked you in Escape from the Planet of the Apes was the way it uses outsiders to critique human society.
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 Time Machine
H. G. Wells · Book · 2016
Shares a thread with Escape from the Planet of the Apes: Time Travel.
Just as Escape from the Planet of the Apes challenges human superiority, this classic uses time travel and evolution to expose the brutal class divisions inherent in our society.
From the Earth to the Moon
Jules Verne · Book · 1967
Explores: Space Travel, Technological Advancement, Human Ambition.
If the scientific ambition in Escape from the Planet of the Apes intrigued you, this vision of space exploration captures the same drive for human advancement and discovery.
Stranger in a Strange Land
Robert Anson Heinlein · Book · 1991
Explores: Culture Shock, Messianic Figure, Free Love.
This story mirrors the culture shock of Escape from the Planet of the Apes by placing an outsider in an unfamiliar world to question our most basic social conventions.
Flowers for Algernon
Daniel Keyes · Book · 2004
Explores: Intelligence, Ethics of Science, Human Experimentation.
You will appreciate how this narrative echoes the ethical warnings found in Escape from the Planet of the Apes regarding the dangerous consequences of scientific experimentation on living beings.
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 captures the desperate urgency of time travel seen in Escape from the Planet of the Apes while forcing you to confront difficult questions about fate and sacrifice.
From the Earth to the Moon
Tom Hanks · Series · 1998
Explores: Space Race, Technological Advancement, American Exceptionalism.
Fans of the scientific exploration depicted in Escape from the Planet of the Apes will find this detailed look at the space race equally grounded in ambition and history.
Farscape
Rockne S. O'Bannon · Series · 1999
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Stranded in space, Unlikely alliances.
The fish-out-of-water experience that defined Escape from the Planet of the Apes is expertly mirrored here as an astronaut struggles to navigate complex alliances in a strange galaxy.
Planet Earth II
Series · 2016
Explores: Survival, Animal Behavior, Natural Wonders.
If you enjoyed the focus on animal intelligence in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, these documentaries offer a compelling real-world look at how creatures adapt to survive.
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 that Escape from the Planet of the Apes also investigates, providing a deep look at the structures that shape our society.
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Podcast
Explores: scientific discovery, astrophysics, cosmology.
Building on the scientific ethics found in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, this series offers a witty, expert-led examination of the universe that encourages you to think critically.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the movies in if I started with Escape from the Planet of the Apes?
You should begin with the 1968 Planet of the Apes and Beneath the Planet of the Apes before watching Escape from the Planet of the Apes. This order establishes the context of the human world and the arrival of the intelligent chimpanzees featured in the third film.
Is Escape from the Planet of the Apes based on the 1963 book?
Escape from the Planet of the Apes is part of the film series inspired by the 1963 novel Planet of the Apes. While the book provided the initial concept of intelligent apes, this specific film continues the narrative established in the preceding cinematic entries.
How does Escape from the Planet of the Apes connect to the 1968 Planet of the Apes movie?
Escape from the Planet of the Apes serves as a direct continuation of the franchise started by the 1968 Planet of the Apes. The film explores the aftermath of the previous events by focusing on the 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 first. Following the events of that film, Escape from the Planet of the Apes depicts the subsequent arrival of the three talking chimpanzees and the resulting tension as humans attempt to use them for research.