If you loved
Planet of the Apes
Franklin J. Schaffner · Film · 1968
What hooked you in Planet of the Apes was the unsettling way it uses alien settings to hold a mirror to humanity's darkest social flaws.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Beneath the Planet of the Apes
Ted Post · Film · 1970
Adaptation
Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Film · 1971
Books on the same thread
Dune
Frank Herbert · Book · 1965
Explores: Destiny, Ecology, Feudalism.
Like Planet of the Apes, this story places you on a hostile, foreign world where complex social hierarchies and ecological survival reveal the fragility of human power structures.
Dune
Frank Herbert · Book · 2005
Explores: Ecological Collapse, Messianic Archetype, Feudal Politics.
Much like the societal critique found in Planet of the Apes, this narrative forces you to confront the consequences of institutional power and human hubris on an unforgiving planet.
Red Planet
Robert Anson Heinlein · Book · 1990
Explores: Colonialism, First Contact, Survival.
If the isolation of Planet of the Apes captivated you, you will find a similar test of survival and shifting perceptions of intelligence when humans encounter alien life on Mars.
The Martian Chronicles
Ray Bradbury · Book · 1977
Explores: Colonialism, Nostalgia, Environmentalism.
This collection mirrors the colonial anxieties of Planet of the Apes, exploring how the expansion into unknown territories inevitably exposes the darker, destructive side of the human condition.
Series on the same thread
Star Trek
Gene Roddenberry · Series · 1966
Explores: Exploration, Diplomacy, First Contact.
You will appreciate how this series uses the vastness of space to explore moral dilemmas and first contact, echoing the way Planet of the Apes challenges our species' superiority.
Lost in Space
Irwin Allen · Series · 2018
Explores: Family Survival, Interplanetary Colonization, Human vs. Environment.
Just as the protagonist in Planet of the Apes faces a desperate struggle for survival after a crash, this series forces a family to adapt to a dangerous, alien environment.
The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling · Series · 1959
Shares a thread with Planet of the Apes: Existentialism.
This anthology captures the same sense of existential dread and biting social commentary that defined Planet of the Apes, often concluding with a twist that reframes your entire perspective.
Planet Earth
Series · 2006
Explores: Biodiversity, Conservation, Natural Wonders.
While this is a documentary, it provides the same awe-inspiring look at the natural world that grounds the anthropological observations found in the world of Planet of the Apes.
Podcasts on the same thread
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Planet of the Apes: Existentialism.
The intellectual rigor of this podcast explores the same existential themes of individual responsibility and cultural decay that are central to the core message of Planet of the Apes.
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
This series examines the systemic structures that shape national identity, offering a real-world parallel to the intense social critique regarding speciesism and hierarchy presented in Planet of the Apes.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the original Planet of the Apes movies?
You should begin with the 1968 Planet of the Apes film. Following that, the narrative continues with Beneath the Planet of the Apes, released in 1970. The third entry in this specific sequence is Escape from the Planet of the Apes, which was released in 1971.
Is Planet of the Apes based on a book?
Yes, the 1968 film Planet of the Apes is based on the 1963 book of the same name. The movie follows the story of an astronaut who crash lands on a planet where apes rule over a primitive human race used for experimentation and sport.
Does the 1968 Planet of the Apes have any sequels?
Yes, the 1968 Planet of the Apes movie has direct sequels. The story continues in the 1970 film Beneath the Planet of the Apes and the 1971 film Escape from the Planet of the Apes, which both expand upon the world established in the original production.
How long after the book was the first Planet of the Apes movie released?
The book Planet of the Apes was published in 1963. The film adaptation of Planet of the Apes was released five years later in 1968. Both versions depict an astronaut stranded on a planet where apes are the dominant species and humans are treated as subjects for experimentation.