8 Best Number 8 Films In A Franchise

Hollywood has pretty much run out of new ideas now. We know this because reboots and sequels are currently running roughshod in the town, offering a distinct lack of original conception. But this isn't all bad news, as it does mean we are getting some high-quality reboots of some interesting source material, such as the new Planet of the Apes series.

Questions were understandably raised at this new incarnation though, as Tim Burton had tried his hand back in 2001 at rebooting the franchise which ended up as an unmitigated disaster (you blew it up, Wahlberg, you maniac). With Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) on board for directorial duties of the reboot, there was no need for concern as Rise of the Planet of the Apes became the perfect reset for the series. And its sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, turned out even better.

With the seeds of conflict set in Rise, Dawn took this ball and ran further with it, setting up the inevitable war to come (guess what the next film is called?). It fleshed out the apes even more, in partciular Andy Serkis' incredible CGI performance of the troubled simian leader, Caesar.

With stunning effects, and a story that serves as a fascinating parable to the dangers of conflict (one that original Planet of the Apes author Pierre Boulle would be proud of), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is one of the best in the whole series.