Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

The cinematic canvas is set ablaze with the poignant tale of humanity's demise, as the opening scenes pay tribute to Caesar, the revered leader of the ape clan. A somber funeral procession unfolds, as his devoted followers lay wreaths on his head before igniting the pyre, a poignant expression of their deep-seated grief.

Centuries later, the apes have fragmented into distinct clans, each with its own unique identity. Three young primates - Noa (Owen Teague), Soona (Lydia Peckham), and Anaya (Travis Jeffery) - embark on an odyssey to procure eagle eggs for a sacred bonding ritual, a testament to their clan's symbiotic relationship with these majestic birds. As they venture forth, Soona and Anaya successfully collect their eggs, while Noa, driven by an insatiable curiosity, dares to scale the highest nest, only to narrowly avoid becoming the mother eagle's prey.

With their eggs in tow, the trio begins its descent, but Noa's keen senses detect that his prized blanket has vanished from his horse. Their attention is soon diverted by a fleeting glimpse of a human outsider, an enigmatic figure known as "Echoes" who seems to be shrouded in mystery. The apes give chase, only for the elusive human to abandon their blanket and vanish into the darkness of a labyrinthine tunnel.

As night falls, Noa returns to his village, where he resides with his parents, Koro (Neil Sandilands) - the clan's chief - and Dar (Sara Wiseman). Noa shares his concerns about the impending ritual with his father, warning him of the dangers that lurk beyond their valley. However, it is clear that Noa's mind is elsewhere, consumed by the enigmatic human woman (Freya Allan) who has piqued his interest.

Under the veil of night, Noa stumbles upon the same mysterious human, who delivers a cryptic blow, shattering the egg he had carefully safeguarded. As Soona and Anaya are willing to postpone their rituals in solidarity with Noa's distress, he refuses to yield, driven by an unyielding sense of duty. With the dawn approaching, Noa sets out to procure a replacement egg, only to stumble upon a grisly discovery - the lifeless body of one of his own kind.

As he hides from the shadows, Noa is confronted by a group of masked apes, their faces obscured by the very fabric of their existence. They discover Noa's horse, and with a calculated precision, they prompt it to lead them back to their village, as if fate itself has conspired against our young protagonist.

As the village erupts into chaos, the once-peaceful landscape is now ablaze, and the masked apes fan out to round up Noa's clan members, including Dar, Soona, and Anaya, shouting "For Caesar!" in unison. Meanwhile, Noa returns to find his family's fate sealed, only to be confronted by a ruthless gorilla general named Sylva (Eka Darville). The patriarchal figure Koro, Noa's father, puts up a valiant fight against the beastly Sylva, but ultimately falls victim to the merciless ape. As Noa attempts to defend his fallen father, he finds himself overpowered and sent tumbling from the tower.

Morning brings only devastation as Noa surveys the ruins of his home, the silence broken only by the distant calls of Koro's eagle, a haunting reminder of what has been lost. The bereaved Noa embarks on a perilous journey to find his missing clan, pausing to pay his respects to Koro with a solemn burial. As he continues on his quest, the eagle reappears, but instead of offering solace, it lashes out at Noa's arm, a stark reminder that even the most innocent creatures can be driven by primal instincts.

Noa's travels take him through treacherous landscapes and hidden dangers, including a trap set by an unseen force. As he frees himself from the snare, he encounters Raka (Peter Macon), a gentle orangutan who initially mistakes Noa for a member of the masked apes. However, as their paths converge, Raka learns of Noa's true intentions and joins forces with him to locate his missing clan.

As they journey together, Raka reveals himself to be a devout follower of Caesar's original teachings, belonging to an enigmatic group known as "The Order of Caesar". This order has been corrupted by the tyrannical Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand), who has hijacked Caesar's ideals for his own nefarious purposes. Raka shares tales of a time when humans and apes coexisted in harmony, a golden era cherished by Caesar.

Noa and Raka's odyssey leads them to cross paths with the enigmatic young woman once more, as they set up camp. Raka's compassion and generosity lead him to share his food with her, earning Noa's trust, despite the latter's initial wariness. As they settle in for the night, Nova (the rechristened young woman) gazes up at the stars through a telescope, her wonder mirrored by Noa's own awe-inspiring reaction as he contemplates the celestial expanse alongside Caesar himself.

The day after their chance encounter with the mysterious woman, Noa and his companions - Raka and a newly introduced Mae (her name revealed as she emerges from her hiding place) - stumble upon a serene lake, its tranquil atmosphere shattered by the arrival of a herd of zebras. However, it's not long before humans appear on the scene, seemingly oblivious to the impending danger lurking in the shadows. The apes, led by the ruthless Proximus, emerge from the trees, their intentions far from friendly. As the group of humans is rounded up for sport, Mae finds herself at risk, prompting Raka to take drastic measures to protect her. Meanwhile, Noa, ever the hero, sets out to find his friends and rescue them from the clutches of the villainous apes.

In a thrilling sequence of events, the trio manages to evade their captors and make a daring escape to the shore. It's here that Mae reveals her name, sharing with Noa her hopes of finding other humans amidst the chaos. As they continue on their perilous journey, they soon find themselves face to face with Sylva and his apes once more. In a heart-stopping moment, Mae falls into the river, only to be saved by Raka's valiant efforts. However, when he attempts to free her from the clutches of the net that has ensnared her, they are both pulled down into the depths.

Meanwhile, Noa and Mae are taken captive by Sylva and brought before Proximus, who resides in a settlement situated mere feet away from a mysterious vault. As Noa reunites with his fellow primates - Dar, Soona, and Anaya - he is introduced to Proximus, a human who has been schooled in the ways of subservience by Trevathan (William H. Macy). Proximus reveals his grand plan to evolve and conquer once he uncovers the secrets hidden within the vault, deeming Noa a crucial component in achieving this goal. However, he also warns the ape leader that humans cannot be trusted.

As Noa grapples with the weight of Proximus's words, he is reminded of Raka's parting gift - a necklace that serves as a poignant symbol of Caesar's creed ("Apes together strong"). This tangible connection to his friend and leader rekindles Noa's sense of purpose, inspiring him to resist Proximus's tyranny and forge a new path forward.

As Noa seeks out Mae, their tumultuous relationship becomes a catalyst for uncovering the truth behind her cryptic quest. She reveals her desire to find a mysterious artifact akin to a sacred text, capable of reviving humanity's capacity for communication. United in their mission, they join forces with Soona and Anaya to render the vault's contents impotent by exposing them to water, thereby neutralizing Proximus' plans. However, Trevathan's ominous warning that their efforts will be futile is met with disdain as Mae resorts to brutal force, silencing him permanently and disposing of his lifeless body in the water.

Undeterred, the trio plants explosives around the dam and navigates a secret entry known only to Mae, gaining access to the vault's inner sanctum. Inside, they uncover disturbing images depicting apes imprisoned behind bars, while Mae finally finds her elusive "book" - a deciphering key hidden within the vault's machinery.

As they begin their perilous journey out of the vault, the heroes are confronted by Proximus and his loyal ape minions. One of his lieutenants, Lightning (Ras-Samuel Weld A'abzgi), takes Soona hostage at knifepoint, prompting Proximus to demand Mae reveal her plan. However, Mae seizes a gun and takes out Lightning with a fatal shot, before declaring that she will not yield to Proximus' demands. In a bold move, she sets off the explosives, unleashing a torrent of water that sweeps away Proximus' apes, while the Eagle Clan begins their ascent.

Noa narrowly escapes Sylva's pursuit by squeezing through a narrow opening, leaving his formidable foe to meet its watery demise. As the apes emerge from the depths, they are met with Proximus' wrath, who intends to exact a humiliating defeat before delivering the final blow. However, Noa's unwavering determination and ancestral chants stir the eagles into action, as they join forces to overwhelm Proximus, their talons and beaks tearing at his defenses until Dar's eagle delivers the merciful coup de grâce. As the apes claim victory, Proximus is sent tumbling down the water's surface, his malevolent plans foiled once and for all.

As Noa guides his fellow apes back to their ravaged habitat, he embarks on a journey of rebirth and revitalization. The once-barren landscape begins to flourish once more, a testament to the resilience of this primate community. Amidst the reconstruction efforts, Mae arrives to bid Noa farewell, but instead finds herself grappling with the weight of his newfound understanding. He reveals that he has come to share Proximus's bleak insight: humans will stop at nothing to serve their own interests.

Mae confesses her determination to bring about a human resurgence on their home planet, yet Noa challenges her plan, probing the inevitable consequences for the apes. His concerns hang in the balance as Mae departs, leaving behind a community on the cusp of transformation.

Meanwhile, Mae's quest takes her to a human stronghold, where she is greeted by Korina (Dichen Lachman), a steadfast ally in her mission. With the deciphering key in hand, Korina reunites with her team, and together they unlock the secrets of a network of satellites. This breakthrough enables them to establish contact with other scattered human survivors, reigniting hope for a collective rebirth.

As the stars align above, Noa shares a poignant moment with Soona at the observatory, gazing up at the celestial expanse through the telescope's lens. Together, they ponder the mysteries of the universe, their bond strengthened by this shared experience. The fate of their world hangs precariously in balance, as these two species navigate the complexities of coexistence and the uncertain paths that lie ahead.