Planet of the Apes is a motion picture.
Planet of the Apes is a 1968 American science fiction film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner . Directors J. Lee Thompson and Blake Edwards were approached , but the film 's producer Arthur P. Jacobs , upon the recommendation of Charlton Heston , chose Franklin J. Schaffner to direct the film . The film was released on February 8 , 1968 , in the United States and was a commercial success , earning a lifetime domestic gross of $ 32.6 million . The film was groundbreaking for its prosthetic makeup techniques by artist John Chambers and was well received by critics and audiences , launching a film franchise , including four sequels , as well as a short-lived television show , animated series , comic books , and various merchandising . Planet of the Apes is a 2001 American science fiction film directed by Tim Burton and starring Mark Wahlberg , Tim Roth , Helena Bonham Carter , Michael Clarke Duncan , Paul Giamatti , and Estella Warren .