Warning: This list spoils several deaths from the Planet of the Apes reboot movies.The Planet of the Apes movies, especially those in the new series, have introduced audiences to a truly fascinating world where apes rise up to challenge humans for control of Earth. These apes, with their enhanced intelligence and communication skills, are more than just animals — they are a force to be reckoned with. Since Rise of the Planet of the Apes revived the classic sci-fi franchise in 2011, the series has introduced a wide variety of ape characters, with several that have stood out as being exceptionally strong.
Their strength is not just measured in their physicality but in their leadership, resilience, and their ability to plan ahead. Including characters from the surprising revival to the most recent Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ cast, these are the apes that play the biggest role in shaping the post-human world that Planet of the Apes depicts, with each contributing greatly to the saga’s impressive world-building.
10 Maurice (Karin Konoval)
From All Modern Planet Of The Apes Movies
Maurice is a compassionate orangutan who features prominently in all three of the movies from the modern Planet of the Apes trilogy. As Caesar’s most trusted advisor, Maurice uses his wisdom and experience to help the apes in many ways. From helping to liberate them during the Ape Rebellion, to playing a key role in stopping Colonel McCullogh (Woody Harrelson) from eradicating their clan, Maurice is an invaluable asset. He may not be the most physically dominant ape, but it is Maurice’s wisdom that gives him true strength.
|
Movie (reboot series only) |
Release date |
|---|---|
|
Rise of the Planet of the Apes |
2011 |
|
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes |
2014 |
|
War for the Planet of the Apes |
2017 |
|
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes |
2024 |
Maurice is a gentle giant who becomes disillusioned with humanity after being exploited in the circus, but does not harbor resentment towards humans because of this. This is evident when, in War for the Planet of the Apes, Maurice essentially adopts Nova (Amiah Miller), a human who is unable to speak, and looks after her. Maurice’s wisdom, compassion, and courage all make him one of the strongest apes of the entire franchise.
9 Noa (Owen Teague)
From Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
Noa serves as the main protagonist of the latest movie, set over three hundred years after Caesar’s death, with Noa being part of a new clan of apes called Eagle Clan. Noa proves his strength almost immediately in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes by embarking on a treacherous climb up to retrieve an egg to use for his clan’s bonding ceremony. Besides his limber physicality, Noa is also seen to be more intelligent than most over-evolved apes.
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Proximus Caesar even recognizes that Noa is a particularly intelligent ape, and attempts to recruit him in his scheme to open the bunker. This part of the story reveals yet another source of Noa’s strength — his courage. He stands up to the tyrannical leader and eventually overthrows him with the help of the eagles. While his youth and immaturity hold him back, rumors of a Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes sequel trilogy suggest that audiences may well see Noa as a fully grown, incredibly strong ape.
8 Raka (Peter Macon)
From Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
Like Maurice before him, Raka is a gentle orangutan who appears in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. He was a member of the Order of Caesar, a group of apes who sought to continue the teachings of Caesar centuries after his death. However, the Order was eventually hunted down and virtually destroyed by Proximus Caesar and his soldiers, leaving Raka as the sole survivor.
What makes Raka such a strong ape isn’t just his wisdom, but his survival instincts that have enabled him to survive for this long. He evidently has experience fighting off some of Proximus’ soldiers and is also shown to be extremely courageous. This courage is exemplified in Raka’s apparent death in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes while trying to protect Noa and Mae (Freya Allen) from Sylva, becoming one of the most emotional sacrifices of the entire franchise. Battle-hardened, brave, and wise, Raka is stronger than he seems.
7 Rocket (Terry Notary)
From All Modern Planet Of The Apes Movies
Rocket is one of Caesar’s most reliable lieutenants throughout Rise, Dawn, and War, having been with him since the very beginning. He is a fiercely loyal character who refuses to serve Koba during his coup and also proves his worth in the Ape Army. His character arc from a violent and aggressive alpha to a dedicated follower of Caesar is one of the franchise’s most compelling narratives, showcasing his inner strength as well as his physical dominance.
As the second-in-command of the Ape Army, Rocket is, by nature, a very tough character. His experiences with both humans and apes alike mean that he is well aware of the dangers of both, while his loyalty is unquestionable. He may not be as intelligent or cunning as some of the other apes, but Rocket is undoubtedly one of the most valuable apes in Caesar’s army, contributing in ways that don’t necessarily require the wisdom of Maurice.
6 Sylva (Eka Darville)
From Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
As a gorilla, Sylva is one of the most physically intimidating apes in the entire franchise. He serves as the chief enforcer of Proximus Caesar’s army and is responsible for the death and destruction of Eagle Clan at the beginning of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. His sheer brute strength and cruel demeanor make him an incredibly intimating opponent for any ape to face.
Sylva is a villain who might return in future Planet of the Apes movies, as his death by drowning in the bunker is not confirmed. Indeed, he appeared to be an unstoppable force in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, killing Noa’s father easily and throwing Noa from the tower of their village. Sylva is one of the most frightening apes of the entire franchise, combining his raw power and battle experience to strike terror into the hearts of all who oppose Proximus.
5 Buck (Richard Ridings)
From Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Buck is the first gorilla introduced in Rise of the Planet of the Apes and quickly proves himself as one of the most dominant characters of the story. Even though he may be trapped in a cage for a significant duration of the movie, his presence and sheer strength are still felt. While the audience never truly gets the measure of how intelligent he is, Buck’s strength derives from elsewhere.
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During the battle between apes and humans on the Golden Gate Bridge, Buck ends up sacrificing himself to protect Caesar from a gunman. It’s one of the most emotional scenes in the movie, and is a testament to Buck’s bravery, especially considering this was quite early on in Caesar’s leadership. While certain parts of Rise of the Planet of the Apes may have aged poorly, Buck’s character, strength, and sacrifice, definitely haven’t.
4 Luca (Scott Lang & Michael Adamthwaite)
From Dawn & War For The Planet Of The Apes
First appearing in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Luca quickly establishes himself as the most powerful gorilla in the series. He is an integral part of Caesar’s forces in Dawn, and remains loyal to him during his imprisonment at the hands of Koba. In War, Luca also takes on a senior role in Caesar’s Ape Army, assisting them greatly in the Battle of Muir Woods Park against the Colonel’s forces.
Luca is also fiercely loyal to Caesar, following him to the very end. During Caesar’s mission for revenge after the death of his wife and son, Luca follows him without question, a decision that would eventually lead to his death at the hands of a bayonet while protecting his leader. Besides Caesar himself, Luca is probably one of the most heroic apes in the franchise, deserving recognition among all the series’ characters.
3 Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand)
From Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes
Image via 20th Century Studios
As the main antagonist of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Proximus Caesar is a genuinely intimidating presence whenever he is on-screen. Like Caesar, he assumes command of vast amounts of apes, but, unlike Caesar, he relies on fear, oppression, and violence to keep them in order. Proximus is responsible for the destruction of Eagle Clan and seeks to open a bunker in order to gain access to a vast amount of human weaponry and technology.
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Proximus is not only physically strong but evidently possesses a cunning intellect as well. He seizes power over thousands of apes, and his “What a wonderful day” speech is a testament to their reverence for him. However, Proximus’ kingdom is held together by very fragile forces of fear, and when this fear is destroyed at the end of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, his followers turn on him easily.
2 Koba (Christoper Gordon & Toby Kebbell)
From Rise & Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes
Koba makes a ghostly cameo in War after appearing in both Rise and Dawn and is one of the most fearsome apes of the entire franchise. A bitter and power-hungry bonobo, Koba is freed from scientific experimentation during the Ape Rebellion and quickly establishes himself as Caesar’s second in command. However, he eventually betrays Caesar, seizing power for himself to wage an all-out war on the humans.
Koba is not just physically strong when much of his strength comes from his willpower and emotion. He hates humans with a burning passion, as they are responsible for causing him immense pain and leaving him scarred. His prowess in battle is evident, as he can easily take on multiple opponents, and even manages to go toe-to-toe with Caesar himself during the climax of Dawn. If his rage and bitterness did not lead to his downfall, Koba could be in contention for the strongest ape of the entire franchise.
1 Caesar (Andy Serkis)
From Rise, Dawn, & War (Referenced In Kingdom)
Close
Caesar is the greatest, most iconic, and strongest of all the apes in the Planet of the Apes franchise. While Caesar doesn’t properly appear in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, he is the main protagonist of the modern trilogy, leading the apes through their liberation, and eventually to war with the Colonel. Caesar is the embodiment of everything that is needed to survive in the world of the apes: physically intimidating, but fair, skilled, and wise. He knows that humans aren’t intrinsically bad, but is still willing to sacrifice everything to protect his own kind.
Caesar’s strength also lies in his emotional willpower. During the trilogy, he loses his human, is betrayed by Koba, and witnesses the death of his wife and child, yet he still carries on. Caesar does not rest on his journey for justice and survival until his tragic death at the end of War. Even after his death, Caesar’s strength is still talked about centuries later as if he were some kind of god. He inspired unity among the apes, protected them whenever he could, and left a lasting legacy on the Planet of the Apes franchise.
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Planet of the Apes is a multimedia sci-fi franchise that began in 1963 with Pierre Boulle’s novel, which was later adapted into a film in 1968 starring Charlton Heston. The success of the movie led to four sequels, two TV shows, a remake from Tim Burton, and a reboot trilogy. The Planet of the Apes franchise has also seen success in video games and comic books.
Created by Pierre Boulle First Film Planet of the Apes First TV Show Planet of the Apes Cast Charlton Heston , Roddy McDowall , Kim Hunter , Maurice Evans , James Whitmore , Linda Harrison , Mark Wahlberg , Helena Bonham Carter , Tim Roth , Michael Clarke Duncan , Paul Giamatti , James Franco , Andy Serkis , John Lithgow , Freida Pinto , Gary Oldman , Keri Russell , Kodi Smit-McPhee , Jason Clarke , Toby Kebbell , Judy Greer , Woody Harrelson , Amiah Miller , Kevin Durand , Dichen Lachman , William H. Macy , Owen Teague , Freya Allan TV Show(s) Planet of the Apes , Return to the Planet of the Apes Video Game(s) Planet of the Apes , Revenge of the Apes , Planet of the Apes: Last Frontier , Crisis on the Planet of the Apes Expand $214 at AmazonSee at TargetSee at Walmart