

Planet of the Apes is an American science-fiction film directed by Franklin Schaffner, released in 1968. The screenplay was written by Rod Serling and Michael Wilson, based on the novel of the same name by Pierre Boulle. It is the first film in the Planet of the Apes franchise.
The story follows Captain George Taylor (played by Charlton Heston), an astronaut who lands on an unknown planet. Captured by evolved apes, he discovers that they dominate the planet and have enslaved the primitive humans living there.
Initially protected by the progressive chimpanzees Zira and Cornelius, Taylor must then flee with them to escape the orangutan Dr. Zaius, the hypocritical Minister of Science. Cornelius takes them to the archaeological site where he works. When Zaius finds them, Taylor forces him to admit what Cornelius has uncovered: an advanced human civilization existed on this planet before that of the apes. Jacobs obtained the rights to adapt the novel as early as 1963, but he did not manage to convince the studio 20th Century Fox to begin production until 1966.
Filming took place from May 1967 to August 1967, mainly at Fox Ranch in Malibu, west of Los Angeles, at Zuma Beach, also in Malibu, and in various locations in Arizona, including Lake Powell and Glen Canyon. The film’s music was composed and conducted by Jerry Goldsmith.
The film is a satire of intolerance and religious fanaticism. It metaphorically addresses the American civil rights movement, humanity’s relative dominance over nature, and the fear of the consequences of a nuclear conflict.
Planet of the Apes proved to be a commercial and critical success and won several awards, notably for its makeup. In 2001, it was added to the National Recording Registry of the Library of Congress. Its final twist deeply impressed audiences. It was released on video as early as the 1970s on Super 8 reels, and later over the years on many other formats.
It led to numerous spin-off products and many sequels.