Few sci-fi franchises in the history of cinema cast as long of a shadow as the Planet of the Apes series. The franchise's eponymous first film executed its twist ending so well in 1968 that it became immediately iconic. The sequels that followed it in the early 1970s offered more than their fair share of interesting, provocative ideas as well, but they all failed to top the artistry and power of their 1968 predecessor. The same goes for Tim Burton's failed 2001 remake. Indeed, it ultimately took nearly 50 years for a Planet of the Apes movie to truly outdo the film that started it all.
