Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise with this action-adventure spectacle from 20th Century Studios. Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, apes are living harmoniously as the dominant species — and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

For in-depth thoughts on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, please see my colleague Dom Fisher’s review from its original theatrical release here.

Video Quality

The 4K UHD Blu-Ray of Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes offers a tremendous presentation that shines with the best of the format. The degree of the upgrade over the Blu-Ray is impossible to judge in this configuration as the 4K UHD release does not contain a traditional version of the movie on Blu-Ray, as discussed in the special features section below. The difference is likely not night and day, but the level of fine detail in the environments, the textures of the digital apes, the production design, and the clothing are greatly appreciated.

The HDR10 brings out the nuances of every color in a way that reminds you of the importance of the format. When we explore the impressive environments, we experience a notable sense of scale and vitality. Skin tones appear perfectly natural with crisp detail apparent in close-up and medium shots. The highlights in the film are brilliant and crisp with white levels deftly controlled with no instances of blooming to be found. The elements in the film taking place in darkness are firmly defined thanks to deep black levels. This 4K UHD presentation is a pure visual spectacle throughout. The 4K UHD Blu-Ray is the ideal way to experience the film at home.

Audio Quality

This disc comes equipped with a bombastic Dolby Atmos presentation that delights with a completely immersive soundscape. The movie indulges in numerous action set pieces designed to bring the house down, and this track obliges on that front. Rather than a swirl of noise, you get an experience that balances power and complexity. Sounds are faithfully rendered with precise directionality from the more thrilling scenes to interpersonal moments of dialogue. The low end comes to play more than we often expect from Disney properties with plenty of room-shaking going on.

Dialogue is presented clearly without ever being drowned out by any of the competing sonic elements. The track is replete with environmental details that emanate throughout the rear and overhead channels. The height channels take on a notable amount of information which enhances the enveloping nature of the track. The score from John Paesano complements the narrative beautifully during many of the more emotional moments, and it fills up the room with confidence. The sounds of the various environments provide a first-rate soundscape that radiates throughout all the speakers. This audio track delivers on all fronts. There are English SDH and an array of different subtitles provided.

Special Features

Inside The Lens – The Raw Cut (Blu-Ray): A full-length alternative cut with a split-screen comparison between the final cut of the film and a version with unfinished VFX with optional audio commentary by director Wes Ball, editor Dan Zimmerman, and VFX supervisor Erik Winquist. The never-before-seen alternate cut gives fans a unique opportunity to see the actors’ performances before the visual effects were completed. This is provided in place of a regular Blu-Ray presentation of the final film.
Inside The Forbidden Zone – Making Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes: A nearly 24-minute making-of documentary is provided that takes a look at how the cast and creative team brought this world to life, the expansion of the lore, the preparations that go into being an ape, the shooting locations, and much more.

Deleted Scenes/Extended Scenes with Optional Commentary by Wes Ball: There are 14 unused scenes provided totaling 32 minutes. There are some good moments in here, but we understand why these were cut for time.

Final Thoughts

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a respectful and very entertaining step forward in this franchise. The previous trilogy was incredible and had a lot to live up to if it was going to continue under the new Disney purview. Any hesitation felt heading into this one was quickly dissipated as director Wes Ball puts forth some of his finest work yet that honors what came before while forging a new path that holds wonderful possibilities. There are a handful of sluggish moments, but the narrative does a nice job of keeping you invested throughout. The visual effects continue to amaze and the performers shine through the digital technology for an effective display of emotion. 20th Century Home Entertainment has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and some supremely cool supplements. If you typically enjoy the franchise, you will be pleased with how it is handled here. Recommended

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Disney Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.