Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
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A genetically enhanced chimpanzee raised by a human scientist eventually leads an uprising against humanity.
The story
In San Francisco, pharmaceutical chemist Will Rodman tests a viral-based drug, ALZ-112, on chimpanzees to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease. When a test subject becomes dangerously intelligent and aggressive, the project is halted, but Will discovers a newborn infant chimpanzee that has inherited the drug's effects. He decides to raise the infant, whom he names Caesar. As Caesar grows, he develops high intelligence and the ability to communicate through sign language. While Will navigates his personal life and his father's failing health, the existence of the intelligent ape becomes a growing complication in a world where the line between human and primate intelligence begins to blur.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Will Rodman's work with ALZ-112 leads to the birth of Caesar, a highly intelligent chimpanzee. Years later, Caesar is kept by Will but eventually ends up in a primate sanctuary where he befriends other apes and becomes their leader. Simultaneously, a more potent version of the drug, ALZ-113, is developed. After Will's father dies and a technician is exposed to the gas, Caesar steals the remaining canisters to liberate the other apes. The apes escape from the sanctuary and the San Francisco Zoo, eventually fighting their way across the Golden Gate Bridge. While the apes find refuge in a redwood forest, a human exposed to the gas at an airport spreads the virus globally, triggering a deadly pandemic.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 105
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rupert Wyatt
- Writers
- Rick Jaffa · writer; Amanda Silver · writer
- Cast and characters
- James Franco · Dr. William "Will" Rodman; Freida Pinto · Dr. Caroline Aranha; John Lithgow · Charles Rodman; Brian Cox · John Landon; Tom Felton · Dodge Landon; Andy Serkis · Caesar
- Genres
- science fiction; action
- Themes
- artificial intelligence; animal rights; genetic engineering; rebellion
- Tone and mood
- serious; tense
- Premise and plot tags
- sci-fi; action; reboot; dystopian
- Franchise connections
- Planet of the Apes
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success, grossing over $481 million worldwide.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 82% · scale: percentage · review count: 269; Metacritic · score: 68 · scale: 100 · review count: 39
- Awards and nominations
- Best Visual Effects · Academy Awards · 84th · nomination; Best Special Visual Effects · British Academy Film Awards · 65th · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film's title is a reference to the original series.; The film's title is a reference to the original series.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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