Thefirst reactionsto the latest installment in the long-runningPlanet of the Apesfranchise,Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, are in and it sounds like we have another epic blockbuster to look forward to.Kingdom of the Planet of the Apespicks up hundreds of years after the events of director Matt Reeves’ most recent trilogy, which consists ofRise of the Planet of the Apes, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,andWar for the Planet of the Apes, with early reactions declaringKingdoma worthy successor.
FilmSpeak’s Griffin Schillercompared the movie toStar Warsand calledKingdomthe “A New Hope” of the series, as well as praising the coming-of-age story at the movie’s center.
“Apes have never been STRONGER in @wesball’s MAGNIFICENT #KingdomOfThePlanetOfTheApes! The complexities of Caesar’s legacy loom large, but twisted in this coming of age odyssey of truth & lies, knowledge & power. A breathtaking visual feast! ‘A New Hope’ for the Apes franchise.”
While some take issue with the pacing ofKingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the consensus so far is that the movie has a lot to offer audiences, with Emily Murray of GamesRadar+ saying:
“With #KingdomOfThePlanetOfTheApes being another great chapter, the series continues to hold strong. There are undoubtedly pacing issues (too long), but I loved being lost in that world and the exploration of Caesar’s legacy is fascinating. The ending will leave you wanting more.”
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Set several years after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is the next installment in the Apes saga. Ape clans have taken up residence in the oasis that Caesar sought to colonize, but humans have reverted to their animalistic nature in their absence. Now battling between enslavement and freedom, outliers in the Ape clans will take sides in a newly burgeoning society.
“KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APESis a worthy successor to the throne. A bold leap into the future of this world that hooked me immediately,” says one reaction, with another adding, “Takes a little while to find its footing, but builds into an captivating second act and a thrilling finale.”
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Boasts ‘Astounding’ Vfx & Wes Ball’s Direction Is ‘Incredible’
The Direct’s Ross Milheim callsKingdom“a fantastic addition” to the franchise, heaping praise on the “astounding”VFX that has been usedto once again bring these characters to life.
“#KingdomOfThePlanetOfTheApes is a fantastic addition to the series. While it may falter at times in the pacing department, that never keeps the movie from being an absolute thrill. The VFX is astounding and the characters beautifully crafted. Can’t wait to see what comes next!”
Lastly, Perri Nemiroff of Collider says thatKingdomcements thePlanet of the Apesseries as “one of thevery best franchise reboots out there.”
“Between Rise, Dawn, War, and now #KingdomOfThePlanetOfTheApes, this series continues to be one of the very best franchise reboots out there. As expected, there was no better director to take over than Wes Ball. Of course the wizards at Wētā had a big hand in this, but there’s also no doubt that Ball’s personal proficiency with visual effects contributed big time to how incredible this film looks.”
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Sets Record Runtime for the Entire Franchise
The latest addition to the Planet of the Apes franchise is delivering an epic new era to the sci-fi story, in more ways than one.
Directed by Wes Ball and written by Josh Friedman (War of the Worlds) and Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver (Avatar: The Way of Water) and Patrick Aison (Prey),Kingdom of the Planet of the Apeswill breathe new life into the global, epic franchise.
“Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, in which apes are the dominant species living harmoniously and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.”
Starring Owen Teague (IT), Freya Allan (The Witcher), Kevin Durand (Locke & Key), Peter Macon (Shameless), and William H. Macy (Fargo),Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesis due to land in theaters on June 17, 2025.
