“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” is a 2024 American science fiction action film directed by Wes Ball and written by Josh Friedman. As a standalone sequel to “War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017), it marks the fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot film series and the tenth film overall. The movie stars Owen Teague in the lead role alongside Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy. Set 300 years after the events of “War,” the film follows a young chimpanzee named Noa, who embarks on a journey with a human woman named Mae to determine the future for both apes and humans.
Development on this new Planet of the Apes film began in April 2019, following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, with Ball attached as writer and director that December. Much of the script was written during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with casting commencing in June 2022 after the script’s completion. Teague was cast in the lead role that August, with the film’s title and additional casting announced in the following months. Principal photography began in October 2022 in Sydney and wrapped in February 2023.
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” premiered at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on May 2, 2024, and was released by 20th Century Studios in the United States on May 10. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and has grossed over $360 million worldwide, becoming the sixth-highest-grossing film of 2024.
I have to say, I love the Planet of the Apes franchise. I know what you’re thinking, is it an ironic love? NO! I genuinely love these movies! They have a lot of heart. I have seen every one of these movies in theaters, and to this day, I am drawn in by their ability to tell a great and powerful story about the war between apes and man.
This movie struck me to my core. I loved the characters A LOT. The main villain, Proximus, was a ton of fun, though he wasn’t on screen as much as I would have liked. All of the side characters were also a lot of fun, doing things and talking about things that kept them fresh and interesting. Also, not for nothing, the worldbuilding in these movies is something that even Marvel Studios could learn a thing or two about.
So, here’s what I have to say: I really liked this movie, though it might be a bit weaker than its predecessors. Everything about it was still very much engaging, and if you like the other movies, you will like this one.
I would give it 4.2 oranges out of 5.
