Nutevio Score
7.6Ⓝ
- IMDb
- 7.7
- Rotten Tomatoes
- 76%
- Metacritic
- 74
Astronaut Taylor crash lands on a distant planet ruled by apes who use a primitive race of humans for experimentation and sport. Soon Taylor finds himself among the hunted, his life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist.
Imported record — imported from the Nutevio library and placed by ranking signal. A Nutevio editorial verdict has not been written for this entry yet.
The number one — extended editorial
Legacy
Planet of the Apes (1968) is the entry we would put first for anyone coming straight from Planet of the Apes (Original) Collection. It picks up the same characters and the same central problem, so nothing about it feels like a detour.
Cultural impact
It also works as a standalone evening. 112 minutes, no homework required beyond the film you have just watched, and it resolves its own story rather than parking it for a sequel.
Franklin J. Schaffner on the material
Franklin J. Schaffner treats the material as if the audience is already paying attention, which is the whole trick. Nothing is repeated for the slow row at the back, and that trust is what makes the ending land.
Awards summary
No Academy Awards on record for this title — its standing here comes from how well it holds up, not from a ceremony.
Start here — everything else in this guide reads more clearly once you have seen it.
Perfect for
- Fans of action and science fiction filmmaking
- Franklin J. Schaffner admirers
- Big-screen viewers who want scale and practical craft
- Classic-cinema viewers building a foundation
- First-timers looking for the essential entry point
Skip if
- You are looking for something light
Best watched
The biggest screen and the loudest sound system you can reach.
Editor's note
“Every revisit turns up another detail hiding in plain sight. Planet of the Apes remains our internal benchmark — when we argue about a new release, this is the film someone inevitably reaches for.”
