Planet of the Apes (1968): cast, story & where to watch
1968 · Film · ★ 7.6
Released in 1968, Planet of the Apes is an action, drama, adventure and science fiction film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, running about 112 minutes. “Somewhere in the Universe, there must be something better than man!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Planet of the Apes stars Charlton Heston as George Taylor, Roddy McDowall as Cornelius, Kim Hunter as Zira and Maurice Evans as Dr. Zaius, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 7.6/10, Planet of the Apes has been warmly received by audiences. It went on to earn $32.6M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Planet of the Apes page.
If you liked it. Fans of Planet of the Apes tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Planet of the Apes (1968)?
- In US, Planet of the Apes is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Planet of the Apes worth watching?
- Planet of the Apes holds an audience score of 7.6 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama, adventure and science fiction. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Planet of the Apes?
- Planet of the Apes stars Charlton Heston, Roddy McDowall, Kim Hunter, Maurice Evans and James Whitmore.
- When was Planet of the Apes released?
- Planet of the Apes was released in 1968, with a runtime of about 112 minutes.