--- title: "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes" critics_score: 66 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 66 from 17 reviews: 11 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics find Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes a solid continuation rather than a bold one. The praise clusters almost entirely around the effects: the motion-capture performances, Owen Teague’s lead as Noa, and the images of nature reclaiming human ruins come up in nearly every review, admiring or otherwise. Several reviews also credit Wes Ball with taking the story seriously and giving the ape society a history and a culture worth exploring. The reservations are about the writing. A run of critics call the plotting conventional, the early stretches slow and the characters thinner than those of the previous trilogy. The spread is wide: a handful rate it among the better entries in the series, while The Wrap and Polygon see franchise maintenance with nothing much underneath the spectacle, Polygon adding that it misses Andy Serkis. The Ringer sits between them, admiring the villain and some of the imagery but finding the whole passable and unremarkable. ## The i Paper — Christina Newland Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2024. This is a thrilling, emotional blockbuster and the most consistently exciting CGI-era franchise, with breathtaking effects, empathy for characters, and thoughtful questions about society, domination, and coexistence. It leaves the viewer eager for the next chapter. [Read the review](https://inews.co.uk/culture/film/kingdom-planet-apes-review-thrilling-emotional-blockbuster-3047132) ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Rating 4/5. 8 May 2024. The review describes the film as a handsome blockbuster that harks back to classic Hollywood Westerns, with sincerity and conviction in its epic adventure. It singles out the eerie motif of ordinary ruins and the film's sincere commitment to its story. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review/) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2024. The film drills into character and culture for a thoughtful take on history and clashing societies, with strong VFX and enough of an arc to stand alone as the start of a new trilogy. It is less action-heavy than predecessors but a promising, chewy entry with big potential. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes/) ## Financial Times Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2024. The review portrays it as a sturdy epic of simian civil war with contemporary political hints, where a human-free utopia is disrupted by revolution and a quest for justice. It singles out the carefully rendered sustainable ape world and high-end VFX action. [Read the review](https://www.ft.com/content/863bde2f-04c8-4f15-8fc7-3608889ceba6) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 9 May 2024. The critic sees the film as a smart rethink of the durable sci-fi concept, delivering character-driven storytelling with youthful energy and impressive world-building. It singles out the emotional depth of the new protagonist Noa and the sophisticated visuals for praise, while noting the story feels a bit overstuffed. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-05-09/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review-wes-ball-sci-fi) ## The Times — Tom Shone Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 12 May 2024. The critic notes that humanity’s worst instincts remain central, with the film functioning as a reboot of a reboot exploring myth and regression. It highlights the fresh characters and the contrast between wise orangutans and power-hungry leaders. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/film/article/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review-humanity-gets-a-primitive-reboot-2n69pc98x) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2024. The critic views the film as an effective reboot that finally reaches the ape-ruled future with a survival tale and connects to the original's spirit through its cult-kingdom drama. It singles out the organic motion-capture performances and classical pacing for praise, while criticizing its length and noting it may not be a major hit. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review-1235993963/) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2024. The film lacks the grim urgency of predecessors but has great visuals and ideas; the final act shines, though early parts are a slog due to unexciting characters; it gets the franchise's social critique right. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes.html) ## Radio Times — Dave Golder Rating 3/5. 9 May 2024. The film offers decent thrills, spectacular action and engaging characters in a family-friendly fantasy adventure. It is a serviceable potboiler rather than a must-see, with more cartoony apes and fantasy tropes replacing the intensity of prior entries. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/scifi/kingdom-planet-apes-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2024. It is a decent romp with thrilling set-pieces and glittering CGI that excels visually, but suffers from too many apes, predictable plotting, clunky dialogue, and a sense of stretched filler for future installments. The film comes alive mainly in ape-human interactions. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review-b1156701.html) ## Total Film Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2024. The film offers spectacle and thrills but lacks the smarts and ambition of its predecessors. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review/) ## Screen Daily 8 May 2024. This ripping action-adventure features stellar effects and a superb lead performance from Owen Teague. It delivers a muscular blockbuster that is far more intelligent and mature than most event movies, maintaining the high standards of the previous trilogy. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review/5192911.article) ## Sight and Sound — Kim Newman 13 May 2024. The film is a paradoxical epic modelled on Apocalypto, with humour and horror in equal measure. It reworks elements of the series and The Jungle Book through Proximus Caesar's quest for human power. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/kingdom-planet-apes-this-ape-ocalypto-inspired-addition-saga) ## The Guardian 11 May 2024. The critic calls it a top-quality summer blockbuster that brings fresh blood and new ideas to the series while remaining true to its established world. They single out the phenomenal visuals of nature reclaiming human spaces and the superb motion capture performances as standout elements. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/article/2024/may/11/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review-thrilling-addition-to-the-series) ## The Hollywood Reporter — David Rooney 8 May 2024. The critic praises Wes Ball’s exciting new chapter that proves there’s still life in the franchise, highlighting the mix of action thrills, visual spectacle, and thoughtful themes, along with strong performances and motion-capture. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review-wes-ball-owen-teague-1235890518/) ## The New York Times — Alissa Wilkinson Rating Critic's Pick. 8 May 2024. The critic finds the film a strong continuation of an excellent series, noting how mythology evolves into power structures among the apes. It singles out the franchise's uncommon thoughtfulness and insight for praise. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/08/movies/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review.html) ## Deadline — Pete Hammond Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2024. The critic praises the film for giving new life to the franchise by advancing the story hundreds of years into the future with a fresh angle and strong adventure elements. They single out the advancements in performance-capture acting and the production design for particular praise. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/05/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review-56-year-old-franchise-reborn-again-1235907917/) ## /Film — Witney Seibold Rating 8/10. 8 May 2024. It is handily the best of the new Apes series, a film that fast-forwards deep into the post-ape world and lets us live there for a moment with quiet scenes appreciated. The reboot series excels most in its special effects. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1577970/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review/) ## HeyUGuys — Linda Marric Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2024. The film delivers on story and spectacle with captivating performances, astounding VFX and richly developed characters. Wes Ball brings awe-inspiring post-apocalyptic set pieces and youthful rebellion to this fresh and satisfying chapter. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review/) ## The Ringer — Adam Nayman Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 10 May 2024. The review notes the film's evolution into a post-Caesar world with new characters and strong effects, praising the villain and some imagery, but criticizes pacing, conventional storytelling, and lack of daring compared to predecessors. It's a passable but unremarkable exercise. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2024/05/10/movies/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-film-review) ## Polygon — Joshua Rivera Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2024. The critic finds the film a technical marvel in its ape effects but narratively competent at best, lacking character development and ambition, making one miss Andy Serkis's performance. It praises the visual effects but criticizes the pedestrian storytelling and franchise maintenance feel. [Read the review](https://www.polygon.com/reviews/24152022/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 8 May 2024. The critic criticizes the film for abandoning the bold storytelling and interesting characters of previous entries, resulting in bland franchise fodder lacking courage or daring ideas. They single out the flat characters and lack of subtext as major complaints. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review/) ## Den of Geek — David Crow Rating 3 out of 5. 8 May 2024. The critic finds it a solid but not groundbreaking entry that builds a fascinating world and proves the franchise has life left, praising the visuals and performances, but notes it doesn't fully explore new ideas. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review/) ## NME — Nick Levine Rating 3. 9 May 2024. It's a visually stunning but middling sequel that starts sluggishly but has tense climax and points to future, no classic but keeps franchise going. [Read the review](https://www.nme.com/reviews/film-reviews/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes-review-3754757) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/kingdom-of-the-planet-of-the-apes.md