If you loved
Planet of the Apes
Pierre Boulle · Book · 1963
What hooked you in Planet of the Apes is the unsettling way it uses speculative fiction to hold a mirror to human societal structures.
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
Adaptation
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Film · 1971
Films on the same thread
Fantastic Planet
René Laloux · Film · 1973
Shares 3 threads with Planet of the Apes: Existentialism, Xenophobia, Power Dynamics.
Like Planet of the Apes, this film uses an alien hierarchy to explore the ethics of treatment toward lower life forms, effectively challenging your perspective on human dominance and oppression.
The Time Machine
George Pal · Film · 1960
Explores: Time Travel, Social Darwinism, Class Conflict.
If the social commentary of Planet of the Apes resonated with you, this tale of evolutionary divergence and class conflict provides a similarly stark warning about the future of humanity.
A Clockwork Orange
Stanley Kubrick · Film · 1971
Shares a thread with Planet of the Apes: Dystopian Fiction.
This story mirrors the cynical tone of Planet of the Apes by examining how societal control and institutional mechanisms strip away individual agency in a cold, unforgiving dystopian landscape.
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick · Film · 1968
Shares a thread with Planet of the Apes: Existentialism.
Much like Planet of the Apes, this masterpiece uses the vastness of space and time to confront the existential questions surrounding human evolution and our place in the cosmic order.
Series on the same thread
The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling · Series · 1959
Shares 2 threads with Planet of the Apes: Existentialism, Speculative Fiction.
The anthology nature of this series captures the same paranoiac spirit found in Planet of the Apes, delivering sharp social commentary through unexpected twists that leave you questioning reality.
Star Trek
Gene Roddenberry · Series · 1966
Explores: Exploration, Diplomacy, First Contact.
While more optimistic than Planet of the Apes, this series utilizes the backdrop of space exploration to navigate complex moral dilemmas and the ethics of first contact with others.
For All Mankind
Ronald D. Moore · Series · 2019
Explores: Space Exploration, Cold War, Technological Advancement.
If you enjoyed the historical weight of Planet of the Apes, this alternate history series demonstrates how shifting political priorities fundamentally reshape the trajectory of human civilization and global power.
Dinosaurs
Bob Young · Series · 1991
Explores: Satire, Social Commentary, Family Dynamics.
This sitcom employs the same anthropomorphic satire used in Planet of the Apes, forcing you to look at modern family dynamics and environmental issues through a lens of strange familiarity.
Podcasts on the same thread
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Shares a thread with Planet of the Apes: power dynamics.
This historical analysis of revolution echoes the cyclical power dynamics explored in Planet of the Apes, grounding the fictional collapse of civilization in the reality of human political patterns.
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Planet of the Apes: Existentialism.
The intellectual discourse presented here delves into the same cultural critiques seen in Planet of the Apes, challenging your understanding of the values that define both individuals and civilization.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Planet of the Apes based on a book?
Yes, Planet of the Apes is based on the 1963 book by Pierre Boulle. The novel was also published under the title Monkey Planet. The 1968 movie adaptation draws its primary source material from this original literary work.
What is the correct viewing order for the Planet of the Apes movies?
The original film series begins with the 1968 movie Planet of the Apes. This is followed by the 1970 sequel Beneath the Planet of the Apes. The third installment in this specific sequence is the 1971 film titled Escape from the Planet of the Apes.
How many films are in the original Planet of the Apes series?
The original series of adaptations includes three films mentioned here: the 1968 film Planet of the Apes, the 1970 sequel Beneath the Planet of the Apes, and the 1971 entry Escape from the Planet of the Apes. These movies are all based on the concepts established in the original source material.
Should I read the book before watching Planet of the Apes?
Reading the 1963 book by Pierre Boulle provides the original context for the story. Whether you start with the book or the 1968 movie Planet of the Apes, both versions offer the foundational experience of the franchise as it was originally conceived by the author.