Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

All Critics (248) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (204) | Rotten (45) | DVD (10)

Rupert Wyatt's'Rise of the Planet of the Apes': A socially aware, achingly humane update of the venerable franchise

September 21, 2011 Full Review

Joe Baltake

Passionate Moviegoer

Top Critic

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is spectacle with a kick: the transcendence of the normal in creatures so like ourselves is both an entertainment and a needling rebuke to human vanity.

August 30, 2011 Full Review | Comments (10)

David Denby

New Yorker

Top Critic

The action scenes (particularly a battle between humans and apes on the Golden Gate Bridge) are inventively spectacular, and the story at the movie's core is evocative and engaging.

August 22, 2011 Full Review | Comments (3)

Bruce Diones

New Yorker

Top Critic

Distinguishes itself from other ill-conceived reboots in general, and from Tim Burton's disastrous 2001 remake in particular, by looking with fresh, simian eyes at its core conflict between human and primates.

August 17, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Nigel Floyd

Time Out

Top Critic

A well-crafted B movie with astonishingly effective motion capture CGI technology.

August 6, 2011 Full Review | Comments (79)

Richard Roeper

Richard Roeper.com

Top Critic

Tthe movie has some plot-point missteps. But it seldom puts the brakes on a story that moves toward a furious ape-human rumble, not in a jungle, but atop the Golden Gate Bridge.

August 5, 2011 Full Review | Comments (15)

Lisa Kennedy

Denver Post

Top Critic

Overall, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is intermittently entertaining with a few nice nods to the original series.

February 28, 2013 Full Review

Matt Joseph

We Got This Covered

The bad news is that whenever this prequel's CGI apes aren't on-screen, you're wishing the flesh-and-blood actors would get the hell off!

February 15, 2013 Full Review

Steve Newton

Georgia Straight

Audacious, violent and disquieting, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" is a summer sequel that's better than it has any right to be.

January 14, 2013 Full Review

Roger Moore

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Despite thin human drama, and one note supporting characters, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a surprisingly sincere story that elevates the franchise canon.

October 2, 2012 Full Review

Ben Kendrick

ScreenRant

Despite some pretty glaring plotholes, the combination of astonishing special effects and a tension-filled story makes for a gripping and worthy rebirth for the franchise.

September 25, 2012 Full Review

Matt Looker

TheShiznit.co.uk

Had the second half of "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" not descended into silliness, perhaps the film would have been a more worthy addition to the Apes legacy.

September 19, 2012 Full Review

Jeff Beck

Examiner.com

Surprises at all corners with characters we can care about who transcend the illusion of CGI most of the time...

August 18, 2012 Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Even if you've never seen a Planet of the Apes film or aren't a fan of the franchise, this flick is still a must see as it encompasses everything we go to the movies for.

January 14, 2012 Full Review

Steve "Uncle Creepy" Barton

Dread Central

I wonder if this new series can afford to be bolder in its design.

January 6, 2012 Full Review

Jeremiah Kipp

House Next Door

The substance of the film is simply mesmerising: the way in which it prioritises story over spectacle, saying so much without explicit over-statement is a triumph, and it is for good reason that it is one of my picks for Best Film at next year's Oscars.

January 2, 2012 Full Review

Simon Gallagher

What Culture

One of the ten best films of 2011, and the year's best popcorn movie.

December 30, 2011 Full Review

Fr. Chris Carpenter

Movie Dearest

... One of the better movies of the summer.

December 28, 2011 Full Review

Greg Maki

Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)

Only in a world where James Franco portrays Will Rodman, a brilliant biochemist working for a pharmaceutical company, can apes get the best of mankind.

December 23, 2011 Full Review | Comments (11)

Jordan Hiller

Bangitout.com

It may not be the best film of 2011, but it's certainly one of the best sci fi films of the year, and easily one of the best sequels/prequels in the last several years.

December 20, 2011 Full Review

Kevin Carr

7M Pictures

Thanks to the eye-popping performance-capture technology developed for Avatar and another astonishing primate performance by Andy Serkis, Rise puts across its fantasy so convincingly that you're swept away - and chilled - as the story unfolds.

December 20, 2011 Full Review

Jason Best

Movie Talk

• 1. Steven Jacobs: These apes are smarter than you think. We've got to kill their leader.
  – Submitted by Bill L (8 months ago)
• 1. Caesar: [to Will] This is my home.
  – Submitted by Charmayne G (11 months ago)
• 1. Steven Jacobs: I run a business, not a petting zoo.
  – Submitted by Daniel F (17 months ago)
• 1. Will Rodman: You have no idea what you're dealing with!
  – Submitted by Jeevan M (21 months ago)
• 1. Will Rodman: [to Caesar] Don't ever let them catch you.
  – Submitted by Jeevan M (21 months ago)
• 1. Caroline: You taught him to sign?
  2. Will Rodman: Just a handful of things.
  – Submitted by Jeevan M (21 months ago)