Planet of the Apes (1968)

Planet of the Apes (1968) is a tense, thought‑provoking sci‑fi adventure that follows astronaut George Taylor and two crewmates after their ship crashes on a strange, remote world. Stranded with little more than their wits, they discover a society where apes—organized into scientific, military, and religious castes—are the dominant, talking species while ordinary humans are mute, primitive and cruelly subjugated. Taylor is captured and thrust into an alien culture that alternately treats him as a curiosity, a threat and a test subject. Watching the film, you’ll experience a slow‑burn mystery and mounting suspense as the protagonists attempt to understand this civilization and survive within it. The story mixes survival action and courtroom drama with moments of quiet human connection—most notably in Taylor’s fraught relationships with sympathetic ape scientists and the few human survivors. Performances are powerful (led by Charlton Heston) and emotionally raw, making the conflict feel immediate and personal. Visually and aurally the movie is striking: John Chambers’ groundbreaking ape makeup and the stark, otherworldly production design create a vivid, believable world, while Jerry Goldsmith’s score heightens both the wonder and the menace. Beneath the action and spectacle, the film delivers sharp social commentary—on power, prejudice, religion versus science and human hubris—giving it a moral weight that lingers after the credits roll. Expect a gripping, often bleak ride that builds to a shocking, unforgettable finale. Planet of the Apes is as much a provocative intellectual thriller as it is a sci‑fi adventure—rewarding viewers who enjoy suspense, moral quandaries and classic genre filmmaking.

Actors: Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner

Runtime: 112 min

Genres: Adventure, Sci-Fi

7.5 /10 79 /100 8.0 /10 7.8 /10