Planet of the Apes Features the Scariest Shot in Sci-Fi Movie History

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Even after almost sixty years, the original Planet of the Apes still delivers one of the most frightening endings ever filmed, not just in science fiction, but in all of cinema. While many people today know the newer Planet of the Apes films starring Andy Serkis – praised for their stories and special effects – those movies wouldn’t exist without the massive impact and lasting success of the 1968 original.

I still think about the original Planet of the Apes from 1968 all the time. Okay, the special effects haven’t aged perfectly, and it can be a little tough to watch now, but it really broke new ground for sci-fi horror. There are so many memorable scenes, but that final shot? It’s burned into my brain. Even if you’ve never seen the movie, you’ve probably seen something referencing it – it’s been copied and joked about so many times. But honestly, after 58 years, that ending is still the most shocking and terrifying moment in any sci-fi film, in my opinion.

Planet of the Apes Has the Scariest Final Shot in Sci-Fi Film History

The movie Planet of the Apes begins with a spaceship carrying astronauts traveling far into space. They wake up from a deep sleep just before crashing on a mysterious planet. When they emerge from the wreckage, the astronauts, led by George Taylor (played by Charlton Heston), are shocked to find the planet is inhabited by intelligent apes. These apes have built a complex society and culture, much like humans have on Earth.

The story suggests that on this planet, evolution took a different path: humans stayed as simple, non-speaking creatures, and apes became the dominant species. But the movie completely flips this idea in its closing scenes.

Having escaped the apes, George Taylor and Nova wandered into the dangerous Forbidden Zone, hoping to find a safe haven. While traveling along a deserted beach, Taylor was shocked by a haunting sight: the upper portion of a massive statue buried in the sand. It was the Statue of Liberty, with its crown and arm still reaching towards the sky, holding a torch.

In a shocking twist unique to science fiction, Taylor discovers the alien planet he’s landed on is actually Earth. A terrible nuclear war has destroyed civilization, leaving humanity to regress while apes have evolved to become the dominant species. In a famous scene, Taylor collapses to his knees, lamenting the fate of humankind, with the ruined Statue of Liberty visible in the background.

The film’s powerful ending is effective because of subtle clues planted earlier on. Once the astronauts, led by George Taylor, find the society of apes, they’re left wondering about several mysteries: Why is this strange planet so similar to Earth in terms of its animal life? And why haven’t humans developed the same way here as they did back home?

Earlier in the film, a character warns Taylor that seeking information about other humans will only bring him pain. Taylor sadly discovers this warning was true, realizing his enemy had actually been honest.

Nearly sixty years after its release, the ending remains famous. However, when it first aired in 1968, the reveal that Taylor had actually returned to Earth all along was a shocking twist for viewers, as they discovered the grim truth at the same moment he did: there was no rescue coming.

The movie concludes with Taylor’s fate uncertain, prompting viewers to consider what happens to him and the remaining humans in a world now dominated by apes. Later Planet of the Apes films successfully expanded upon and explained the shocking conclusion of the original movie.

How Other Planet of the Apes Movies Build on the Original’s Epic Ending

The famous ending of the 1968 film Planet of the Apes became a lasting tradition for the series. The 2001 remake pays homage to the original, featuring many references to memorable lines and scenes.

As a huge movie fan, I always love a good twist, and this film delivers! It ends much like the original, with Mark Wahlberg’s character, Captain Leo Davidson, thinking he’s finally made it back home. He crash lands right in Washington, D.C., and the shock on his face is incredible when he looks up and realizes the Lincoln Memorial… well, it’s been changed. Instead of Lincoln’s face, it’s an ape! It’s a truly unforgettable moment.

The ending of the 2001 remake, Planet of the Apes, isn’t as effective as the original. Audiences had already figured out the twist, and the film missed a key emotional beat: showing the main character’s reaction to the shocking discovery and his sadness over the fate of humanity, which made the original ending so powerful.

The ending strongly suggests a follow-up story where Captain Davidson has to live in a world populated by even more intelligent apes, whose society is similar to human civilization in the early 2000s. Despite the film’s financial success, Tim Burton chose not to direct a sequel, and the series was later reimagined a decade later.

Despite restarting the Planet of the Apes series, the new trilogy avoids directly recreating the famous Statue of Liberty scene from the original film. However, another well-known landmark does suffer damage due to the intelligent apes. In Rise of the Planet of the Apes, a major fight between Caesar’s ape army and humans takes place on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, ultimately leading to its collapse.

The newest film in the series doesn’t actually show the Statue of Liberty, but before it came out in theaters, the marketing team had actors on horseback posing near it to create buzz.

The famous final scene from the 1968 film Planet of the Apes has been referenced and copied in other shows and movies. For example, in the animated film Madagascar, the character Alex the Lion builds and then accidentally destroys a miniature Statue of Liberty, and playfully repeats a line similar to the famous speech by Charlton Heston.

The ending of , also includes an ape-themed Statue of Liberty in the same arrangement as it is seen in Planet of the Apes. Perhaps most famously, The Simpsons parodied several key scenes from Planet of the Apes in a Season 7 episode that also features the now-iconic song “Dr. Zaius.”

What’s Next for the Planet of the Apes Franchise?

The Planet of the Apes series is continuing with a new film. Set many years after the events of War for the Planet of the Apes and Caesar’s passing, the 2024 movie shows an ape civilization that has become even more intelligent and is close to a major scientific discovery.

The new film reveals that most humans have become wild, silent tribes, similar to those in the original Planet of the Apes movie from 1968, potentially linking the current story more closely to the first film’s timeline. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes finishes with a big, unresolved ending, suggesting that intelligent humans still exist and are plotting to reclaim their planet.

Critics and audiences are celebrating Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, the latest installment in the rebooted Planet of the Apes series. Many are especially impressed with the film’s visual effects, which are a step up from the already excellent effects in the previous three films.

The next movie in the Planet of the Apes series will continue the story from Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and is planned for release in 2027. If the film does well, it will be followed by another movie, making a total of three films in the series.

Fans are wondering about potential sequels and who might star in them. Producers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver are hopeful about creating another three-film series, but its future depends on how well the next films in the franchise perform.

As long as the Planet of the Apes films remain popular, fans can anticipate more movies being made. With the recent films being so well-received, most people are happy about this.

Released in 1968, Planet of the Apes quickly became a classic and continues to be popular almost sixty years later. With a new installment coming next year, audiences will always be captivated by the original film, especially its unforgettable and disturbing conclusion.

Planet of the Apes (1968) is available to rent or buy on YouTube TV, Google Play, and Apple TV+.

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2026-01-11 06:08