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Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Play trailer Poster for Rise of the Planet of the Apes PG-13 2011 1h 45m Sci-Fi Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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82% Tomatometer 269 Reviews 77% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Will Rodman (James Franco), a scientist in San Francisco, is experimenting with a drug that he hopes will cure his father's (John Lithgow) Alzheimer's disease. After his work is deemed a failure, Will becomes the guardian of Caesar, an infant chimp who was exposed in-utero to Will's drug. Caesar displays unusual intelligence, and Will decides to continue his experiments secretly. But as Caesar's intellect and abilities grow, he comes to represent a threat to man's dominion over Earth.
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Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

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Critics Consensus

Led by Rupert Wyatt's stylish direction, some impressive special effects, and a mesmerizing performance by Andy Serkis, Rise of the Planet of the Apes breathes unlikely new life into a long-running franchise.

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Critics Reviews

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Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online 09/08/2017
B+
It's a surprisingly provocative film that really stretches the definition of summer blockbuster. Go to Full Review
David Thomson The New Republic 06/24/2013
Caesar [the main ape] is the reason to see this daft, breathless picture. Go to Full Review
Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 01/27/2012
3/4
Somewhat shockingly, the modern interpretation of mankind's downfall is actually pretty darn good. Go to Full Review
Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson Jul 28
4/5
The story of Caesar is what draws you in to this prequel and it's Serkis that sells it entirely and masterfully. Go to Full Review
Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight Jul 6
4/4
There’s a lot more to this film than can be described in a single paragraph, which is one of the reasons the film works so well. Go to Full Review
Casey Chong Casey's Movie Mania 05/10/2024
4/5
Rise of the Planet of the Apes has everything a modern summer-movie blockbuster should be, blending smarts with spectacles. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Rory D Nov 26 Many people think the sequels are better, including myself, but I think this is the perfect start to the trilogy and the perfect introduction to the main character ceaser. See more Romas M Nov 20 Greetings from Lithuania. "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" (2011) was a really good entertainment. It has so much good things, that i actually enjoyed this movie much more that any "Planet of the Apes" old movie put together. And this is the best movie i saw in the last months. Visuals are great. The storytelling is at its best. And motion capture technology is beautifully used. Andy Serkis steals every single scene he is in. Cesar is a wonderfully executed character, you really understand him, love him and feel for him. Hands down, this is probably the best summer movie in 2011. I'm really looking forward to the next movie of this franchise. See more ill 3 Nov 20 The sequels are better but yet this is a great movie. I think this one is a little more family friendly but the plot is overall interesting, there's cool action and you got to see the dawn of Caesar"s character. I think watching the original makes this movie and the whole saga even better as you got to see the original intent of Caesar's action and what it becomes hundreds of years later, thus making us also reflect on our own evolution See more Malik D. @Princevon Nov 15 A surprisingly great story. See more Charles C. @Goodtimeswitcharles51 Nov 10 Great! Movie better than the original See more Anne C Nov 9 I thought it absolutely perfect film series I thought it a absolutely perfect film series I thought it a absolutely perfect film I absolutely recommend it to you all people who like the original one's old ones 10 out of 10 See more Read all reviews
Rise of the Planet of the Apes

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Movie Info

Synopsis Will Rodman (James Franco), a scientist in San Francisco, is experimenting with a drug that he hopes will cure his father's (John Lithgow) Alzheimer's disease. After his work is deemed a failure, Will becomes the guardian of Caesar, an infant chimp who was exposed in-utero to Will's drug. Caesar displays unusual intelligence, and Will decides to continue his experiments secretly. But as Caesar's intellect and abilities grow, he comes to represent a threat to man's dominion over Earth.
Director
Rupert Wyatt
Producer
Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Peter Chernin, Dylan Clark
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Chernin Entertainment
Rating
PG-13 (Violence|Intense/Frightening Sequences)
Genre
Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 5, 2011, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 10, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$176.7M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby, DTS
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