Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: Cast, Box Office & Guide

When a film franchise has already delivered a trilogy as beloved as the recent Planet of the Apes reboot, the question isn’t just whether the next chapter will be good—it’s whether it can justify its own existence. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, released in May 2024, answers that by leaping generations ahead, leaving Caesar’s story behind and introducing a new cast of ape characters.

Release Date: May 10, 2024 (United States) · Director: Wes Ball · Budget: $160 million · Box Office Gross: $395.5 million (worldwide) · Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81% (critics), 79% (audience) · Runtime: 145 minutes

Nine key facts, one pattern: Kingdom operates as both a standalone entry and a direct sequel to the Caesar trilogy, with a new protagonist and a clear financial upside.

Was Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes a hit or flop?

Worldwide box office performance

• U.S. and Canada opening weekend: $58.4 million, the second-best debut of the franchise behind Dawn (The Hollywood Reporter)
• Worldwide opening: $131.2 million, per Disney (The Walt Disney Company)
• Total worldwide gross: $397.4 million as of summer 2024 (IMDb)

The numbers clear the $160 million production budget by a wide margin, even before factoring in home video and streaming. The film is unmistakably a commercial hit.

Critical reception overview

• Rotten Tomatoes critics score: 81% (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Audience score: 79%
• Reviewers praised the visual effects and world-building, though some noted the plot feels familiar

Critics and audiences largely agree: Kingdom is a solid, if not groundbreaking, addition to the franchise.

Comparison with previous franchise films

The table below shows how Kingdom stacks up against the Caesar trilogy in budget, gross, and critical reception.

Kingdom lands below the trilogy’s peaks in both box office and critical scores, but it still outperforms many other 2024 releases. The implication: the franchise remains profitable, but audience appetite may be plateauing.

The pattern is clear: Kingdom is a financial success that justifies further investment in the new direction.

Is Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes connected to the earlier Planet of the Apes films?

Time setting in the franchise timeline

• Set roughly 300 years after War for the Planet of the Apes (Express)
• Part of the same reboot continuity that began with Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)
• The original 1968 film and its sequels are a separate continuity (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)

So yes, Kingdom is directly connected to the Caesar trilogy—but it’s a distant sequel, not a direct follow-up.

Fate of Caesar and his son

• Caesar died in War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
• His son, Cornelius, is not a central character in Kingdom; the protagonist is a new young ape named Noa (The Numbers)
• Caesar’s legacy is mentioned as a guiding myth, but he does not appear

Caesar’s influence lingers as a cultural memory, but the story belongs to a new generation.

Connections to characters from previous trilogy

• Koba’s betrayal is referenced as a historical event but not a plot point (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial)
• Will (James Franco’s character from Rise) does not appear—the film is centuries later
• Only a few artifacts and legends tie the worlds together

The catch: Kingdom is both a sequel and a soft reboot. New viewers can jump in without having seen the trilogy, but fans will catch meaningful nods.

The net effect is that Kingdom successfully reboots the franchise while keeping the door open for deeper lore connections.

What is the point of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes?

Plot summary

• Noa, a young ape, questions everything he has been taught after his clan is attacked (Rotten Tomatoes)
• He encounters a tyrannical ape leader, Proximus Caesar, who builds an empire and forces Noa to choose between submission and rebellion
• Along the way, he allies with a human survivor named Mae (Nova) and an elderly wise ape named Raka

Thematic exploration

• The film explores themes of legacy, power, and the cycle of history
• It asks whether each generation must repeat the mistakes of the past or can learn from them
• Director Wes Ball has described it as a story about “the next generation after Caesar”

How should you watch the Planet of the Apes movies in order?

Chronological order (story timeline)

• Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
• War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024)
• Then the original 1968 film (if you want the original timeline)

Release order

• Original 1968 film and its four sequels (1968–1973)
• 2001 Tim Burton remake (standalone)
• Reboot trilogy: Rise (2011), Dawn (2014), War (2017)
• Kingdom (2024)

Recommended viewing approach

• For new viewers: start with Rise and watch through the reboot trilogy, then Kingdom. The original films are optional but enrich the context.
• For fans wanting full franchise: watch by release order, skipping the 2001 remake if desired.

And if you enjoy franchise guides, check out our Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Movie Guide.

When was Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes released and who is in the cast?

Release date and streaming availability

• Released in theaters on May 10, 2024 (Rotten Tomatoes)
• Available to stream on Disney+ as of summer 2024

Main cast and characters

• Owen Teague as Noa (The Numbers)
• Freya Allan as Mae / Nova
• Kevin Durand as Proximus Caesar
• Peter Macon as Raka
• William H. Macy in a supporting role (Rotten Tomatoes)

“A top-quality summer blockbuster, bringing fresh blood and new ideas into the series.”

– The Guardian review (May 2024)

“The film is about the next generation after Caesar.”

– Director Wes Ball, in interviews

For Disney and 20th Century Studios, the choice is clear: greenlight a sequel, or risk losing the momentum Kingdom built. For fans, the decision is equally straightforward: watch Kingdom as a fresh start, knowing the legacy of Caesar still echoes.

Frequently asked questions