While Dawn of the Planet of the Apes can certainly stand on it's own two legs, the character building and set-up from Rise, makes Dawn a little bit more potent.

| Original Score: A | Aug 19, 2024

Positive, nuanced, and brilliant.

| Original Score: A- | Jul 25, 2024

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" maintains a credible tone of seriousness over farce while operating as evocative post-apocalyptic science fiction.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Apr 7, 2024

Matt Reeves... delivers both action spectacle and character drama, and he rightfully centers the entire film on Caesar, the noble leader who understands the best and worst of humanity ...

| Oct 27, 2023

The fact that “Dawn of The Planet of The Apes” is a summer tent-pole with a brain and a conscience shouldn’t be this refreshing...

| Sep 14, 2022

There is some great action, awesome effects, and the performances are strong (none better than the stunning work of Andy Serkis).

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 20, 2022

It's one of the most intelligent films of 2014, and yet, despite its lofty intellectual ambitions, never for a moment does the film skimp on its blockbuster thrills or summer movie requirements.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Aug 5, 2022

As pure escapism it can work, but it's reassuring to experience a film able to deliver both blockbuster visual thrills and characters you care about.

| Original Score: 4/5 | May 25, 2021

A smart movie about race, gun usage and xenophobia. Its masked in allegory but it doesn't shy away from big ideas and that's the thing that transforms it from a run-of-the-mill air conditioner flick to a thought provoking night and exciting at the movies.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Feb 1, 2021

Though it may be a single component to a larger picture, which will likely see director Matt Reeves return to finish off the tale, it's wholly enjoyable all by itself.

| Original Score: 8/10 | Dec 4, 2020

Serkis, and maybe even Kebbell, deserve awards attention here for their nothing short of inspiring performances.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Sep 5, 2020

[Andy Serkis] has become the Roddy McDowall of Planet of the Apes franchise, delivering the emotion and heart that makes Caesar come to life just like his predecessor did as Cornelius.

| Original Score: 4.5/5 | Jul 16, 2020

Epic and bold, it, in true Apes fashion, aims to examine the animal in man by looking at the more human side of the animals.

| Original Score: A | Jul 7, 2020

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes carries on the strong story begun in Rise and improves on it.

| Jun 29, 2020

More than it being boring, more than it being sort of oatmeal-y, the biggest problem with this movie is the score. It's really distracting.

| May 26, 2020

It was competently made... for the most part.

| Original Score: 6.5/10 | Mar 26, 2020

The result is a powerful, well-structured yet slightly biased sequel that further justifies the Planet of the Apes reboot or at least the origins of the franchise.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 20, 2019

There are enough impressive elements to power through its basic tendencies, due mostly to the riveting special effects and primate storylines, and yet another aggressively engaging presence from Andy Serkis.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 30, 2019

The most important thing is this: although these Apes have ditched some of the trippier elements, they have retained the social awareness and have infused summer spectacle with humanistic moralizing.

| Original Score: B+ | Aug 6, 2019

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is the tonic that proves brilliant, deep films can be made by a Hollywood major.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Aug 2, 2019