Verdict:War for the Planet of the Apes is a confirmed HIT based on our analysis of audience ratings and box office momentum.
With a rating of 7.2/10, it has delivered a compelling experience for fans of the Drama, Science Fiction, War genre.
Answer: Yes, War for the Planet of the Apes is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Drama movies.
It features a runtime of 140 minutes and offers a solid storyline that appeals to general audiences.
Last updated: January 18, 2026
Released in the dynamic cinematic landscape of 2017, War for the Planet of the Apes emerges as a significant entry in the Drama, Science Fiction, War domain. The narrative core of the film focuses on a sophisticated exploration of Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. Unlike standard genre fare, War for the Planet of the Apes attempts to deconstruct traditional tropes, offering a refreshing take on its central themes.
The success of any Drama is often anchored by its ensemble, and War for the Planet of the Apes features a noteworthy lineup led by Andy Serkis . Supported by the likes of Woody Harrelson and Karin Konoval , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: While the cast delivers competent and professional performances, they are occasionally hampered by a script that leans into familiar archetypes.
In summary, our editorial assessment of War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) is overwhelmingly positive. With an audience rating of 7.2/10, it stands as a mandatory watch for any serious cinema lover.
Quick Plot Summary: War for the Planet of the Apes is a Drama, Science Fiction, War film that explores complex human emotions and relationships through nuanced character development. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
This character-driven narrative explores the internal and external conflicts that define the human experience. Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel. After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind. As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet. The screenplay takes time to develop its characters, allowing audiences to connect emotionally with their struggles and triumphs. Each scene builds upon the last, creating a cumulative emotional impact.
The film delves into universal human experiences—love, loss, identity, and belonging. It holds up a mirror to society, asking difficult questions about morality, choice, and consequence.
Ending Breakdown: War for the Planet of the Apes resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to drama resolution.
The emotional climax centers on character transformation, offering viewers material for post-viewing discussion.
The final moments of War for the Planet of the Apes reflect the filmmakers' creative choices, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
War for the Planet of the Apes uses real-world events as narrative inspiration. As a drama, science fiction, war film, it navigates the space between factual accuracy and narrative engagement.
The film balances historical fidelity with cinematic storytelling. Core events maintain connection to source material while adapting for theatrical presentation.
The production demonstrates respect for its source material, with attention to period detail and historical context.
Accuracy Assessment: War for the Planet of the Apes adapts its source material for dramatic purposes. The film prioritizes thematic resonance over documentary precision.
Worth Watching If You:
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Production Budget | $150.0M |
| Worldwide Gross | $490.7M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
The estimated production budget for War for the Planet of the Apes is $150.0M. This figure covers principal photography, talent acquisitions, and visual effects. When accounting for global marketing and distribution, the break-even point is typically 2x the base production cost.
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YouTubeGoogle Play MoviesYouTubeAnalyzing the audience sentiment, IMDb rating of 7.2/10, and global collection metrics, War for the Planet of the Apes stands as a successful venture for the creators. It remains an essential piece of the 2017 cinematic year.
War for the Planet of the Apes is considered a hit based on audience response and box office performance. With a rating of 7.2/10, it's highly recommended for fans of Drama, Science Fiction, War movies.
Yes, War for the Planet of the Apes is definitely worth watching! It's a must-watch hit for fans of Drama, Science Fiction, War cinema.
War for the Planet of the Apes is currently available for streaming on JioHotstar. You can also check for it on platforms like JioHotstar depending on your region.
Excellent trilogy Most Hollywood remakes/reboots are failed cash grabs. They are pale imitations of the superior originals. But the new Planet of the Apes trilogy surprises in that it trumps all the previous Apes films--those from the 60's and 70's as well as the Tim Burton 2001 misfire. Caesar still leads the intelligent apes against the human forces who want to eradicate them. Caesar even shows mercy to some of his human captives, but the humans who fear the apes will not relent in their attempts to destroy them. The movie is driven largely by Andy Serkis's superb portrayal of Caesar. He is a complex and intriguing character. Woody Harrelson is also very good as the villain. His character is no generic, stock bad guy. He's layered and you may even surprisingly feel some sympathy for him. A great and thought provoking popcorn flick.
On this movie I have to get a couple of things out of the way straight away. First, the movie title and the blurb is hyperbole that has little to do with actual events in the movie. This is not some great war but just some silly little three way skirmish between some apes and two human factions. Second, the story for this movie is clearly written by someone who has an agenda and that agenda includes preaching how bad the white man is. Not surprisingly the result is bland, boring, frustrating and not very entertaining. I thought Dawn of the Planet of the Apes was mildly entertaining. Mostly due to the special effects. I thought Rise of the Planet of the Apes was okay. Again due to the special effects and because it had a fair amount of action. War for the Planet of the Apes do have decent special effects but nothing else. Add the obvious political agenda and the movie goes straight into a nose dive. The humans in the movie are stereotypical bad people and the apes are victims whether they are actually good apes or just asshole apes. There’s some decent action in the beginning and some at the end. In between we are “treated” to a slew of emotional scenes (or at least I suppose that’s what they were supposed to be) were Ceasars grief and the evil of man are force fed down our throats. Not surprisingly the movie ends, which it of course do not do until all humans in sight are killed off for no good reason, with the apes finding their little part of heaven all shown in warm and rosy colors. Close curtain…thank good! I was not expecting much from this movie but this was a typical Hollywood-with-an-agenda-movie. That is, not a good movie as far as I am concerned.
The title _War for the Planet of the Apes_ is perhaps a misnomer, and it doesn't necessarily build the legend in the way I was expecting it to, but a worthy threequel it still makes, and blockbuster trilogy with no bad entries is a rare thing to see. _Final rating:★★★½ - I really liked it. Would strongly recommend you give it your time._
'War for the Planet of the Apes' wraps up a great trilogy strongly. I enjoyed this installment just as much as its two predecessors, all three films are just supremely entertaining and are very well put together. Caesar is a terrific character and continues to look fantastic in this; the special effects are top notch, even the way the apes are shown in shot is expertly done. The additions of Bad Ape and Nova are neat, too. I'd personally rank it above 'Dawn' but below 'Rise', though there isn't much between them at all. Intrigued to see where they go with the proposed spin-off(s).
The relentless battles between apes and mankind are taking their toll, and forcing Caesar and his followers into the frozen wilderness where they encounter the megalomanic "Colonel" (Woody Harrelson). Tragically, coming off the worst at this meeting, the apes end up imprisoned by their new, ruthless, human masters - aided and abetted by some gorillas too - and used as little better than slaves. Adding to their woes, both sides know that an impending visit by some heavily armed troops is not in either of their interests! It now falls to "Caesar" to come up with a plan to free his species before they are all wiped out. Whilst I did quite enjoy this, it's not as good as the "Dawn..." (2014). It takes far too long to get going and Harrelson has all the menace of a cucumber sandwich. There is just too much dialogue (and sentiment) and Matt Reeves struggles to build, let alone sustain, the pace and menace that he did so well last time out. Although it is a bit on the long side, the last hour largely makes up most of these deficiencies as the plan for vengeance takes shape and the pyrotechnics go into overdrive. Good, but not great.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
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