The “Planet of the Apes” cinematic universe started in the late 1960s. Since then, there have been multiple iterations and updates in this franchise that explored the themes of co-existence between the apes and the humans. While a commercial hit since its inception, the film series also received mainly positive critical reception. After its reboot trilogy from the 2010s, the series returns with its newest chapter, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” (2024). It follows the events from several generations after the death of the idealistic ape Caesar. This new Wes Ball film tries to navigate the future of the apes and humans on Earth like all its predecessors.
Spoilers Ahead
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” takes place generations after the death of Caesar, who united the apes and advocated for equality and compassion between the apes and the humans. The film follows Noa, an ape who revolts against an evil clan of apes with the help of a human who hopes to return to their remnant society.
What is the ‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ about?
About 300 years after the war between the apes & the humans, “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” follows a narrative of a young ape named Noa who tries to restore peace for all. By this time, apes have divided themselves into clans with different beliefs and disciplines, whereas humans have become more feral. Noa’s eagle clan leads a life with a peaceful relationship with falcons. As a part of their rituals, Noa and his friends, Anaya and Soona, find a couple of eagle eggs. While trying to grab them, Noa falls off a ruined skyscraper. Still, he manages to stay alive and return to his clan. Along the way, he finds signs of a human presence. The elder apes warn him of its danger.
Noa’s clan stays in their small pieces of land and rarely travels beyond. However, at night, Noa walks up to a hut-like structure with the eagle eggs and gets attacked by a human scavenger who flees right after. Since the eggs are cracked, Noa starts looking for a replacement. Along the way, he sees a clan of violent apes with electric weapons raiding their land. Noa hides himself and then follows them. Later, he returns to his village to find it burning. During that harrowing tragedy, the raiders’ general Sylva kills Noa’s father, Koro. Then, he attacks Noa, who falls from a considerable height.
Noa’s Journey of Revenge
The next day, Noa wakes up to see the burnt remnants of his village and buries his father. Subsequently, he embarks on a journey to find his clan and bring them back home. But it is filled with a new set of issues and uncertainties. Along the way, he crosses paths with Raka, an old ape who knows the legend of Caesar, the first elder. Raka teaches him Caesar’s lessons and notes the importance of apes sticking together. During their journey, Raka introduces Noa to a human scavenger, Mae (Freya Allan), who is following them. Since Mae remains silent, Raka names her Nova (as Caesar once named a young human) and shows her compassion.
Noa believed that humans were nearly extinct. So, he is surprised to see them still exist. Regardless, Raka lets Mae tag along on their journey, where they see a group of zebras. Raka and Noa consider them horses with stripes. Behind the animals, they see a pack of humans acting like ferals. Then, suddenly, Sylva’s clan attacks these feral-like humans. While running away from the raiders, Mae breaks her silence and calls Noa by his name. She reveals that she can still speak, unlike most humans who lost that ability after the viral infection. She is looking for more humans like her.
Proximus Caesar’s Settlement
Mae informs Noa that the raiders took his clan to a settlement on a beach near a human vault. The next day, she leads them to this land. On a bridge, they get attacked by the raiders. While trying to save Mae, Raka loses his life. The raiders bring Mae & Noa to their settlement. There, Noa finds his clan members, who have accepted their fate and submit themselves to the raiders’ self-proclaimed king, Proximus Caesar. Apart from Noa’s eagle clan, Proximus attacks other clans and uses the apes to achieve his goal of absolute dominance. Unlike other apes, Noa refuses to accept their exploitation and to be submissive.
Similarly, Mae wants to reclaim the dominance of humans. In Proximus’ settlement, she meets Trevathan (William H Macy), a human prisoner who works as an advisor for Proximus and teaches him about human evolution. He firmly believes that the order of the world cannot be restored. So, he supports the dominant apes’ clan and urges Mae to join the cause. However, Mae can’t accept the defeat without trying to restore human dominance. On the other hand, Proximus tries to pit Noa against Mae due to his pure disdain for humans. But inspired by Caesar’s principles, Noa values compassion.
Enter the Vault
At night, Mae tells Noa about how Proximus’ clan attacked her human camp and killed all except her. She tells him about a hidden entrance to the vault to get hold of a special book to restore humans’ ability to speak. She also informs him about the previous order of the world that was dismantled due to an outbreak that led to their present situation. Noa agrees to help Mae. With Soona and Anaya, they secretly plant explosives around the settlement. When Trevathan catches them, she chokes him to death – to keep their mission a secret. Eventually, Mae, Noa, Soona, and Anaya enter the vault. Mae restores the electric grid and walks them through the building.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
Does Noa’s clan escape Proximus’ regime?
Mae, Noa, Soona, and Anaya enter the vault, where Mae finds a key to help her return to her people. The apes find picture books that inform them about a world where humans were the dominant species and animals like them stayed locked in zoos. Eventually, when they open the gates to the vault, they find Proximus’ entire clan standing outside, waiting to kill them. Suddenly, Mae takes out her gun and shoots a raider ape to death. So, Proximus agrees to let her leave and wants to claim the treasures of the vault. But she runs out and triggers the explosives. It leads to a massive flood that traps all the apes inside the vault.
After Mae escapes, Noa drowns Sylva and escapes the vault. Outside, Proximus beats him black and blue. Noa motivates his clan to summon the eagles, who help them rescue Proximus’ wretched regime. Soon after, Noa’s clan returns to their homeland. Mae meets him before she part ways. Noa worries whether peace between the apes and the humans is ever possible since humans have historically wished to dominate other species. Regardless, Mae returns to a secret human camp and delivers the key she found in the locker. With its help, the humans activate their satellites to contact humans living in other hidden sanctuaries.
