HBO Max Adds Sci-Fi Sequel With 91% Rotten Tomatoes Score You Can’t Miss

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the 2014 sci-fi action hit, is coming to HBO Max tomorrow, giving fans a chance to revisit one of the best sequels of the past decade.

The film is the second installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot series and continues the story of Caesar, the highly intelligent ape played by Andy Serkis, as he struggles to lead his community while tensions with humans rise.

Set in 2026, ten years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the movie follows a group of human survivors trying to stay alive after a deadly pandemic.

At the same time, Caesar must maintain order among the apes, a challenge that threatens to spark an all-out war between the two species. The cast also includes Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Matt Reeves directed the film, taking over from Rupert Wyatt, who directed the first movie. Principal photography took place in 2013 in locations like Vancouver Island, Campbell River, and New Orleans.

The apes were brought to life using motion capture and visual effects by Weta Digital, with a bigger focus on action sequences and realistic animal interactions than in the first film.

Critics praised Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for its mix of intelligence, emotion, and visual effects. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 91% approval rating from 316 reviews, while Metacritic gives it a score of 79 out of 100.

CinemaScore audiences gave it an “A−.” Variety’s Guy Lodge called it “an altogether smashing sequel…besting its predecessor in nearly every technical and conceptual department.” Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter added that it “produces a powerful humanistic statement using a significantly simian cast of characters.”

The movie was noted not just for its action but also for the depth of its story. Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph said it “engages with genuine ideas about diplomacy, deterrence, law and leadership,” while Drew McWeeny from HitFix gave it an A+, calling it “a great science-fiction film, full-stop, and one of the year’s very best movies so far.” Critics also praised Serkis’ performance as Caesar, with Ty Burr of The Boston Globe saying his portrayal carried “almost Shakespearean grandeur.”

Some reviewers were less enthusiastic. Andrew O’Hehir from Salon noted that the movie’s fake-news-style opening montage made the story feel overly familiar but acknowledged the film tried to recover from that setup.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is widely seen as a sequel that improved on its predecessor in nearly every way, balancing stunning visuals with strong storytelling and memorable performances. Its arrival on HBO Max is a perfect opportunity for viewers to experience a film that blends thrilling action with thought-provoking themes about leadership, survival, and conflict.

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