If you loved
War for the Planet of the Apes
Matt Reeves · Film · 2017
What hooked you in War for the Planet of the Apes was the way epic, civilization-altering conflict forces individuals to confront the moral cost of their own survival.
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 Martian
Andy Weir · Book · 2015
Explores: Resourcefulness, Human Ingenuity, Isolation.
Just as Caesar relies on ingenuity to protect his kin in War for the Planet of the Apes, you will find that same spirit of resourcefulness driving this survival story.
The Rage: A Game of Survival
Natica Brown · Book · 2017
Shares a thread with War for the Planet of the Apes: Survival.
If the desperate, high-stakes alliances in War for the Planet of the Apes resonated with you, this story of forced cooperation amidst a crumbling society provides an equally harrowing experience.
Ender's Game
Orson Scott Card · Book · 2013
Shares 2 threads with War for the Planet of the Apes: Moral Ambiguity, Xenophobia.
The heavy burden of leadership and the crushing weight of moral ambiguity seen in War for the Planet of the Apes are mirrored perfectly in this tale of child soldiers.
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Yuval Noah Harari · Book · 2015
Explores: Human Evolution, Cognitive Revolution, Agricultural Revolution.
War for the Planet of the Apes explores the evolution of humanity through a lens of conflict; this work offers a deeper historical perspective on what makes our species so destructive.
Series on the same thread
The Vietnam War
Series · 2017
Explores: War Trauma, Anti-War Movement, Cold War Conflicts.
The visceral portrayal of war trauma and moral complexity found in War for the Planet of the Apes is grounded here through the real-world experiences of those who lived through conflict.
See
Steven Knight · Series · 2019
Shares a thread with War for the Planet of the Apes: Survival.
This series captures the same post-apocalyptic tension as War for the Planet of the Apes, focusing on tribal warfare and the struggle to protect the future of a decimated population.
12 Monkeys
Terry Matalas · Series · 2015
Shares a thread with War for the Planet of the Apes: Moral Ambiguity.
Like the mythic quest of Caesar in War for the Planet of the Apes, this story follows a protagonist fighting to alter the fate of a world ruined by catastrophic events.
Raised by Wolves
Aaron Guzikowski · Series · 2020
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Religious Conflict, Found Family.
War for the Planet of the Apes highlights the friction between competing species; here, you will see that same existential struggle manifest through religious conflict and the rise of artificial intelligence.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2025
Shares a thread with War for the Planet of the Apes: moral ambiguity.
The deep dive into moral ambiguity and the consequences of power that drive War for the Planet of the Apes are explored here with a focus on human nature and civilizational collapse.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
If you were drawn to the cyclical patterns of war and power in War for the Planet of the Apes, these historical analyses offer a fascinating look at how societies inevitably fracture.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is War for the Planet of the Apes based on the original 1963 book?
War for the Planet of the Apes is part of a modern film series that reimagines the franchise. While it shares the core concept of intelligent apes from the 1963 book Planet of the Apes, the narrative and character arcs are distinct from Pierre Boulle’s original novel.
What order should I watch War for the Planet of the Apes with the older movies?
You can watch War for the Planet of the Apes as the conclusion to the modern trilogy. If you wish to see the origins of the franchise, you should watch the 1968 film Planet of the Apes and its sequel Beneath the Planet of the Apes separately from this series.
How does the plot of War for the Planet of the Apes compare to the 1968 Planet of the Apes movie?
War for the Planet of the Apes focuses on Caesar’s conflict with a human Colonel and his personal quest for vengeance. This story is a modern prequel narrative that differs significantly from the 1968 Planet of the Apes, which depicts a human astronaut discovering a future dominated by apes.
Is War for the Planet of the Apes the final film in the series?
War for the Planet of the Apes serves as the conclusion to the trilogy directed by Matt Reeves. It follows Caesar as he faces a ruthless human army and deals with the consequences of the deadly conflict that determines the ultimate fate of his kind.