Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Movie, 1971, The Original Saga, Set in 1973
Escape from the Planet of the Apes is #3 of 11 in release order and #5 of 11 in chronological order in the Planet of the Apes.
The story
The world is shocked by the appearance of three talking chimpanzees, who arrived mysteriously in a spacecraft. Intrigued by their intelligence, humans use them for research - until the apes attempt to escape.
Escape from the Planet of the Apes recap
Before Earth's destruction, Cornelius, Zira and their friend Dr. Milo repaired Taylor's ship and flew it into space. They land off the Californian coast in 1973. Milo is killed by a gorilla at the zoo, and Cornelius and Zira reveal they can talk. They become celebrities, but Zira is pregnant, and the President's science adviser, Dr. Otto Hasslein, learns the future they came from: apes will one day rule and humans will destroy Earth. Hasslein wants their child dead to change history. The apes flee with help from sympathetic scientists and hide in a circus run by Armando, where Zira gives birth.
Escape from the Planet of the Apes ending explained
Hasslein tracks them to an old ship in the harbour and shoots Zira and the baby; Cornelius kills him and is shot dead, and Zira dies with her child. But Zira had swapped her baby with a circus chimp, and the real child, named Milo, is safe with Armando, who hears him say "Mama".
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Escape from the Planet of the Apes
Escape from the Planet of the Apes is streaming on fuboTV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 6.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 75%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Beneath the Planet of the Apes, before Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.
- Chronological order: after Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, before Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.
What to watch before Escape from the Planet of the Apes
In release order, the essentials before Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971) are Planet of the Apes (1968) and Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970).
Cast
- Roddy McDowall as Cornelius
- Kim Hunter as Dr. Zira
- Bradford Dillman as Dr. Lewis Dixon
- Natalie Trundy as Dr. Stephanie 'Stevie' Branton
- Eric Braeden as Dr. Otto Hasslein
- William Windom as The President
- Sal Mineo as Dr. Milo
- Albert Salmi as E-1
- Jason Evers as E-2
- John Randolph as Committee Chairman
- Harry Lauter as General Winthrop
- M. Emmet Walsh as Aide
Directed by Don Taylor.