If you loved
Planet of the Apes
Franklin J. Schaffner · Film · 1968
If you loved Planet of the Apes, you are drawn to stories where humanity's dominance is challenged by alien environments and strange, new social orders.
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
Fuzzy Nation
John Scalzi · Book · 2011
Like Planet of the Apes, this story probes the ethics of sentience and speciesism, forcing you to reconsider the moral implications of exploiting creatures that possess their own complex social intelligence.
3001
Arthur Charles Clarke · Book · 1997
This narrative mirrors the evolutionary existentialism of Planet of the Apes, expanding on how the spark of consciousness defines our place in the universe and our ultimate destiny as a species.
Red Planet
Robert Anson Heinlein · Book · 1990
Much like the isolation Taylor feels in Planet of the Apes, this story captures the tension of navigating a colonial world where human survival depends entirely on understanding an alien culture.
The Day of the Triffids
John Wyndham · Book · 2003
This tale of societal collapse echoes the grim atmosphere of Planet of the Apes, highlighting how quickly civilization crumbles when humans are no longer the apex of the natural order.
Series on the same thread
Farscape
Rockne S. O'Bannon · Series · 1999
You will recognize the fish-out-of-water intensity of Planet of the Apes as an astronaut is thrust into a chaotic alien battlefield, forcing him to adapt to survive a foreign culture.
Lost in Space
Irwin Allen · Series · 2018
Like the crash-landed protagonist in Planet of the Apes, this family must grapple with the harsh reality of being stranded on a hostile world where their survival is far from guaranteed.
Primal
Genndy Tartakovsky · Series · 2019
This bond between man and beast recalls the unlikely alliances in Planet of the Apes, emphasizing the shared struggle for existence against a brutal, unforgiving and indifferent natural world.
Gurren Lagann
Series · 2007
This story captures the underdog spirit found in Planet of the Apes, depicting a struggle against a repressive social hierarchy that forces you to question the legitimacy of those in power.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
If the social commentary of Planet of the Apes intrigued you, this analysis of civilizational collapse and human nature provides the same deep, historical context behind how societies rise and fall.
StarTalk Radio
Neil deGrasse Tyson · Podcast · 2026
This exploration of our place in the cosmos echoes the scientific curiosity present in Planet of the Apes, offering a broader, interdisciplinary perspective on the evolution and future of humanity.
Keep exploring
Common questions
What order should I watch the original Planet of the Apes movies in?
You should begin with the 1968 Planet of the Apes film. Following that, the chronological order for the sequels is Beneath the Planet of the Apes released in 1970, followed by Escape from the Planet of the Apes released in 1971.
Is the Planet of the Apes movie 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 ruled by apes and becomes part of their system of human experimentation.
Does Planet of the Apes have any sequels?
Yes, there are sequels to the 1968 film Planet of the Apes. The direct follow-ups to the original movie are Beneath the Planet of the Apes, released in 1970, and Escape from the Planet of the Apes, which was released in 1971.
What is the plot of the original Planet of the Apes?
In the 1968 Planet of the Apes, an astronaut named Taylor crash lands on a distant planet. He discovers the world is ruled by apes who treat humans as a primitive race for sport and experimentation, leaving his fate to a benevolent chimpanzee scientist.