Updated: August 25, 2024

When it comes to Apes, the Planet doesn't turn, it twists. That's because the reveal at the end of the original 1968 Planet of the Apes is one of those iconic shots from movie history, known and parodied the world over, guaranteeing you never look at a 150-foot woman the same way ever again. With the Planet producers predicting nothing topping that twist, for the sequels they went for more lore. Maybe a time paradox or two.

What if the first movie was just scratching the surface? asked Beneath the Planet of the Apes.

The next sequel, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, transported the series to contemporary time: 1973. So if you wanted to watch the original series in story-chronological order, you want to start with Escape, and then follow it with the final two sequels, 1972s Conquest and 1973s Battle. This trilogy is all set before the original duologys timeline.