IMDb > Planet of the Apes (2001)
Planet of the Apes
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Planet of the Apes (2001) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 90 | slideshow) Videos (see all 15)
Planet of the Apes (2001) -- An astronaut lands on a planet inhabited by human-like apes, who rule the planet with an iron fist.
Planet of the Apes (2001) -- Captain Leo confronts Limbo the human trader.
Planet of the Apes (2001) -- An astronaut lands on a planet inhabited by human-like apes, who rule the planet with an iron fist.
Planet of the Apes (2001) -- An astronaut lands on a planet inhabited by human-like apes, who rule the planet with an iron fist.
Planet of the Apes (2001) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)

Oscar Nominations    Photos    more »

Overview

User Rating:
5.5/10   68,715 votes
Your Rating:
Saving vote...
Deleting vote...
/10   (delete | history)
Sorry, there was a problem
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 15% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Pierre Boulle (novel)
William Broyles Jr. (screenplay) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for Planet of the Apes on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 July 2001 (USA) more
Tagline:
The battle begins November 20th more
Plot:
An astronaut lands on a planet inhabited by human-like apes, who rule the planet with an iron fist. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 9 wins & 20 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(222 articles)
Mr. and Mrs. Smith Getting A Reboot At Fox?
 (From FusedFilm. 8 February 2010, 11:03 AM, PST)

No Kathryn Bigelow, Robert Rodriguez For New ‘Planet of the Apes’
 (From Reel Loop. 8 February 2010, 10:07 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
Escape from the Boulle planet. more (1316 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Return of the Apes (USA) (working title)
The Visitor (USA) (working title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some sequences of action/violence.
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS (uncredited)
Filming Locations:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
One of the considered endings had Leo Davidson crash-landing at Yankee Stadium and seeing apes playing baseball. This scene was originally suggested in 1995 by Fox executive Dylan Sellers when Phillip Noyce and Terry Hayes were attached. When Hayes submitted a script without the baseball scene, Sellers fired him and Noyce quit. Tim Burton wanted the scene but it was cut due to budgetary concerns. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: During the final battle, studio lights are reflected on Thade's helmet. more
Quotes:
Captain Leo Davidson: We're in control now! We're the 800 pound gorilla! more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Rule The Planet Remix more

FAQ

A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
What is the name of the ape city?
Make some sense of the ending, and unseen timeline of the story?
more
29 out of 46 people found the following review useful.
Escape from the Boulle planet., 29 August 2001
6/10
Author: dbdumonteil

Visually,this film is sometimes a splendor;the light falls on a crepuscular world.The Apes' town is quite scary particularly when you see it from a distance ,as it stands out against an ominous sky.In the very beginning,the cast and credits are also successful,with an adequate martial music.The first third has some funny,parodic and sometimes politically incorrect lines.In the second third,the movie begins to lose steam,although the discovery in the wrecked spaceship is a rather good idea. But that's not all good news.First of all,the hero lacks charisma and the apes and their sensational make-up simply overwhelm him and drown him out.On the contrary,majestic Charlton Heston,even when he was in chains,displayed a Shakespearian grandeur in the first version.

The last third consists in battles,a "second coming" and the "astonishing" ending without which..that would not be "planet of the apes".Actually,the new ending was borrowed from Pierre Boulle 's novel,but not without adding a mathematically unlikelihood which will give you headaches if you begin to think too hard:the least they can do:Everything ,even the proper nouns from the French writer's book have been removed,even if some characters recall some of the Boulle/Shaffner version.Shaffner had contented himself with changing the astronauts' name(eg:Ulysse Mérou=Taylor) Hats off to Helena Bonham-Carter who brings warmth and emotion in a rather vapid cast:in a part close to that of Kim Hunter/Zira,she really asserts her distinctive identity. Tim Roth is effective as well,but his part is less so.David Warner and Kris Kristofferson are wasted.As a tribute to Shaffner(?)both Linda Harrison (an unidentified woman captured with Leo) and Charlton Heston (moaning his curse,which is,admittedly,funny)appear unbilled.

Tim Burton might be a director to remember.Although he has not made a genuine masterpiece yet,his filmography is already rich:"Sleepy hollow","Edward Scissorhands ,the marvelous "Ed Wood" (Martin Landau is unforgettable).But redoing "planet of the apes " was a hard task.Shaffner's movie followed a progression,it moved slowly,from the long introduction showing the three astronauts making their way across desolate landscapes to the stunning final shots with Heston and Harrison 's roaming down by the sea.Remember how long it took Taylor to convince Zira he was a thinking man!Here it seems natural to Ari almost as soon as she sees him,that Leo is no dumb idiot animal.And that's the last straw,even Tim Roth (some kind of cross between Shaffner's Cornelius and a pulp fiction baddie)pretty damn quickly believes too that that human is too clever for his own sake.

Tim Burton's so-so remake epitomizes the dearth of good scripts.Pierre Boulle's book is a golden mine and one could have written a coherent story out of it,different from that of the first version.Why not,for instance,introduce the two "astronauts" whose scenes open and close it,and turn Leo's adventures into a flashback?What about showing the love between the hero and the woman-animal ?And the son they had?And the menace this son represented for the simian race? All these ideas were left over by Shaffner's script writers and could have built a strong new tale.

The main flaw lies in the human beings:here,they speak -English!- ,they can reason,they can swim (!),they are (except for bubble head Warren)clever,so why the hell did the apes tame them?

Was the above review useful to you?
more (1316 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Planet of the Apes (2001)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
I thought the ending was obvious hudson2_3
this movie was just a comedy in my opinion twq1976
IT'S ALL FIGURED OUT THE ENDING IS SOLVED lauralol2002
Explanation of the ending robert_vdp
CALIMA m_mammone
Missing Scenes rrmro-540-101343
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Planet of the Apes Star Wars Beneath the Planet of the Apes Avatar Escape from the Planet of the Apes
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Action section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.