4. Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014)
Sequel to: Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes (2011)
Sticking to the topic of iconic sci-fi franchises, the Planet of the Apes movies have undergone quite a transformation over the years. The original is iconic, whereas its sequels play more like B-movies. Then came Tim Burton’s 2001 reboot/sequel Planet of the Apes, which was – objectively speaking – utterly awful. However, 2011 saw the rebirth of the franchise with a prequel documenting the rise of apes and the fall of man. Though somewhat uninspired, Rise of the Planet of the Apes was essentially a return to the thought-provoking sci-fi of the original movie.
Where Rise of the Planet of the Apes chronicled the beginning of the primate uprising, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes took the story to a whole new level. Directed by Matt Reeves (Cloverfield, The Batman), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is widely considered one of the best of the entire franchise, including the original. The film saw the focus shift from mankind to the apes themselves, establishing the differences between the two societies and teasing the beginning of the conflict that will eventually see the apes take control of the Earth.
Not only is it fascinating to see the apocalyptic story play out, but the sociological elements explored by the movie make it an examination of the ethics of existence in general. Andy Serkis’s motion-captured performance as Caesar is truly brilliant, but Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is simply a gorgeously crafted piece of cinema that continues the franchise in the best possible way. The tonal shift from Rise of the Planet of the Apes was both necessary and logical, and it’s something that makes the sequel far superior.