Rise of the Planet of the Apes

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes

PG-13

2011

1h 45m

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

82%

Tomatometer

269 Reviews

77%

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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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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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Candice Frederick

Reel Talk Online

It's a surprisingly provocative film that really stretches the definition of summer blockbuster.

Rated: B+

Sep 8, 2017

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David Thomson

The New Republic

Caesar [the main ape] is the reason to see this daft, breathless picture.

Jun 24, 2013

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

Somewhat shockingly, the modern interpretation of mankind's downfall is actually pretty darn good.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 27, 2012

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

The story of Caesar is what draws you in to this prequel and it's Serkis that sells it entirely and masterfully.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 28, 2025

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

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.

Rated: 4/4

Jul 6, 2025

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Casey Chong

Casey's Movie Mania

Rise of the Planet of the Apes has everything a modern summer-movie blockbuster should be, blending smarts with spectacles.

Rated: 4/5

May 10, 2024

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Rory D

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/26/25

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Romas M

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.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/20/25

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ill 3

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

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/20/25

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Malik D.

A surprisingly great story.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/25

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Charles C.

Great! Movie better than the original

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/10/25

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Anne C

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

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/09/25

Full Review

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Rupert Wyatt

Director

James Franco

Will Rodman

Freida Pinto

Caroline Aranha

John Lithgow

Charles Rodman

Brian Cox

John Landon

Tom Felton

Dodge Landon

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53%

61%

Oblivion

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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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