Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Right now you can watch Rise of the Planet of the Apes in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on Hulu and fuboTV — and it goes further with its ideas than most genre entertainment bothers to. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. 12,850 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Andy Serkis's performance is the anchor the more ambitious scenes need. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Rise of the Planet of the Apes is worth clearing space for. The world-building is meticulous, but it is the characters who carry Rise of the Planet of the Apes through its more ambitious moments. A highly intelligent chimpanzee named Caesar has been living a peaceful suburban life ever since he was born. But when he gets taken to a cruel primate facility, Caesar decides to revolt against those who have harmed him. Andy Serkis and James Franco lead a cast that never lets the concept overwhelm the characters. It hit screens in 2011. The rules of Rise of the Planet of the Apes's world are consistent enough that the big swings never feel like cheating. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is satisfying on multiple levels — something to watch and something to think about after. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. A contained runtime means every scene is doing real work. Watch for Andy Serkis in particular — the performance elevates the material. Satisfying on multiple levels.