Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) Review: A Gorgeous, Slow-Burning Ape Odyssey

This kingdom of the planet of the apes review starts with a simple observation: Wes Ball's film is a confident reboot of a famous saga that is happy to take its time. It jumps far ahead of Caesar's story and builds a new world from the ground up. The result is beautiful to look at, thoughtful in its ideas and a little uneven in its pacing.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes plot is set many generations after Caesar's reign. Apes are now the dominant species and live in scattered clans, while humans have been pushed to the margins and survive in the shadows. Caesar is remembered, but each group interprets his legacy in its own way.

We meet Noa, a young ape from a quiet village where the villagers climb cliffs to gather eagles' eggs. An unexpected event upends his home and sends him out into a wider world he barely understands. He is joined by Raka, a gentle ape who holds a different view of Caesar's teachings, and later by a sharp-eyed human woman whose motives are hard to read.

Meanwhile, a power-hungry ape leader named Proximus Caesar is building an empire and twisting the old legend to suit his ambitions. The film sets up Noa's journey as a coming-of-age tale with real stakes for both apes and humans. It never needs to lean on the earlier films to make that clear, though longtime fans will spot plenty of echoes.

What Works in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

The first thing that hits you is the world. Nature has reclaimed the ruins of human civilisation, and the film fills its wide shots with overgrown buildings, flooded streets and forests that swallow old machinery. It is a very good-looking action adventure, and the scenery does as much storytelling as the dialogue.

The motion-capture work is the other big achievement. The apes look and move like living creatures, with believable eyes, fur and body language. You stop thinking about the technology within minutes and simply read the emotion on their faces. That skill clearly landed with awards voters, as the film picked up an Oscar nomination.

The ideas are also stronger than you might expect from a big summer sequel. The film asks how history gets rewritten, how faith can be bent into a weapon and what a legacy means once nobody alive remembers the person behind it. Proximus is more than a snarling villain, since he has a worldview that the story lets us understand, even as we fear it.

The action, when it arrives, is tidy and easy to follow. A military bunker sequence is one of the highlights, and the film gives its set pieces enough space to build tension instead of cutting them to pieces.

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Cast and Performances

The Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes cast is led by Owen Teague, who plays Noa. This is a demanding job, since he must carry the film through gesture and expression while buried under digital effects. He gives Noa a curious, wounded and stubborn streak that makes him easy to root for.

Peter Macon is a warm presence as Raka. The scenes between Noa and Raka are some of the film's most affecting, because they give the story a gentle centre amid all the spectacle. Viewers who found the film a slog tend to agree that these two are its best asset.

Kevin Durand brings real menace and charisma to Proximus Caesar. He plays the character with theatrical confidence, and he is a big reason the film's political side holds your attention.

Freya Allan plays Nova, also known as Mae, the human who joins Noa's path. She keeps the character guarded and watchful, which suits the mystery around her, though the script gives her less depth than she deserves. William H. Macy appears as Trevathan and adds a human angle that stays interesting without taking over the film. Eka Darville rounds out the main names as Sylva.

Where Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Stumbles

The film takes a while to find its rhythm. At 145 minutes, the opening stretch spends a lot of time on setup, and the middle can drift when the story stops to explain its lore. Some viewers will find that patience rewarded, while others will feel the film overstays its welcome.

Character motivation is the other soft spot. Several figures, especially on the human side, act for reasons that are only half explained. A few story threads feel designed to feed future sequels rather than resolve within this film, and that leaves some payoffs lighter than the build-up promises.

It also lacks the emotional sweep of Caesar's original trilogy. Noa is a likeable hero, but his story is smaller and quieter, so the film cannot always match the tragic weight of what came before. Fans who want a direct continuation of Caesar's arc may feel a little distance.

If you enjoy similar rugged survival stories, our Action movie reviews page has more options, and the Adventure movie reviews page is a good place to browse for other big-screen journeys.

Is Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Worth Watching?

Yes, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is worth watching if you like richly built sci-fi worlds and don't mind a deliberate pace. It earns a solid recommendation for its visuals, its ape performances and its willingness to ask real questions about history and power. It is not a flawless blockbuster, but it is an ambitious one.

In our kingdom of the planet of the apes review, the film lands as a strong 7 out of 10. Audience scores sit at a similar level, with viewers praising the effects and the world-building while a few call the pacing a slog. You can enjoy it without having seen the earlier films, although a quick refresher on Caesar's story makes the themes land harder.

This is the kind of film best seen on the biggest screen you can find. The wide landscapes and detailed creature work reward a good picture and strong sound. If you prefer war-torn stories with a human focus, our review of Codename: Devil is a good companion pick.

Who Will Enjoy Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

• Fans of the Planet of the Apes saga who are curious about a fresh chapter set far in the future.

• Viewers who love detailed world-building, strong visual effects and character-led sci-fi adventure.

• Anyone who enjoys thoughtful blockbusters that mix action with big questions about religion, power and memory.