Planet of the Apes Merchandise: Collectibles by Film Era

Planet of the Apes merchandise is best understood as three separate runs that match the films, and each run has its own look. The franchise has ten theatrical films, nine in the main saga and one spin off, and the full list sits on our planet of the apes movies hub. If you are unsure which film an item belongs to, the year printed on it settles the question faster than any character name.

The first run covers Planet of the Apes (1968), directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, then Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), Escape from the Planet of the Apes (1971), Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) and Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973). Roddy McDowall played Cornelius in the first and third films and Caesar in the fourth and fifth, so a surprising amount of vintage ape imagery traces back to one performer in different makeup.

The second run is a single film, Planet of the Apes (2001), directed by Tim Burton. It is the franchise's one spin off, so its Thade and Ari designs do not mix with the saga characters. The third run starts with Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), directed by Rupert Wyatt, and continues through Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024), directed by Wes Ball.

For where each film is streaming rather than sold, see where to watch planet of the apes.

The simplest way to shop for Planet of the Apes merch is by era first and character second, because ape designs changed completely between the 1970s makeup and the modern digital performances. This is my own buying guide, and in my opinion it saves more money than any price comparison.

Items from the original saga lean on prosthetic faces, so a character is identified by face and costume rather than by a digital model. Dr. Zaius is the most dependable subject here, because Maurice Evans played him in Planet of the Apes (1968) and in Beneath the Planet of the Apes, so his look stays consistent. Dr. Zaius sits beside Cornelius and Zira as the classic trio. A caution applies to Cornelius, since David Watson played him in Beneath the Planet of the Apes while McDowall played him in the first and third films. The five years between the first film and Battle for the Planet of the Apes also mean that vintage condition can vary widely.

The 2001 film has its own fans, and its merchandise is a separate pocket of the market. Mark Wahlberg's Captain Leo Davidson, Tim Roth's Thade and Helena Bonham Carter's Ari belong only to this film. Anything with a 2001 date should be kept apart from the saga when you build a display, since the film is the franchise's one spin off. Our planet of the apes original vs reboot page explains how the runs relate.

The modern ape designs began with Weta, the sole visual effects house on Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which covered about 1,000 shots. Caesar is the anchor across three films, played by Andy Serkis, and Koba is the natural second pick. Koba appears in all three of those films, with Christopher Gordon credited in the first and Toby Kebbell in the other two. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes introduced Noa, played by Owen Teague, and Proximus Caesar, played by Kevin Durand, so items for them belong to the 2024 film. Maurice is a quieter choice that reaches from Rise to War for the Planet of the Apes.

Shirts and other clothing are the easiest category to buy wrongly, because one design can show an ape face without naming a film. A shirt that prints the year, or a clear film title, is easier to place in the right run. Designs based on the 1968 poster language and designs based on the modern Caesar face look nothing alike, and I would say the first group ages better on a wardrobe.

A general planet of the apes store search mixes licensed products, vintage resale and unofficial prints. Look for a clear film title, a studio credit and a date, and do not pay vintage prices for an item that cannot show one of them.

The next Apes film is in development, with Matt Shakman directing an untitled film for 20th Century Studios, according to TheWrap, and it is described as a new original story rather than a sequel. See kingdom of the planet of the apes sequel for its status, and check planet of the apes characters before buying anything that claims to preview it.