Beneath the Planet of the Apes

After a perilous mission toward a distant beacon, a lone astronaut crashes on a world ruled by talking apes. The survivor, Brent, struggles to understand a civilization where guardianship and science are defined by ape kinds, while humans linger under suspicion and control. He teams with sympathetic scientists and an uneasy protector to explore this strange society, hoping to find a way back home. But as he navigates the shifting loyalties among the apes, he uncovers evidence that the surface calm hides a deeper, unsettling reality. The mission becomes a race to uncover the truth before the world he knows is overturned, forcing him to question what civilization really means in this strange, fractured epoch. He encounters whispers of a political fracture that shadows the planet.

Released in 1970 and directed by Ted Post, the film expands Pierre Boulle's Planet of the Apes premise as a direct sequel to the 1968 hit. It uses the same source concepts with practical effects that give the world texture.

Worldwide the film grossed about 18.999 million dollars against a 3 million budget, delivering a solid return for a mid range science fiction sequel of the era. It performed well internationally, especially in Europe and Latin America, helping sustain the franchise's visibility.

It solidified the franchise's darker path by revealing a hidden underworld beneath ape society and introducing the franchise's recurring theme of civilization versus primal power. Its bold setup influenced later sci fi films, television spin offs, and even pulp science fiction writers who built on its premise.

Critical response leaned mixed to positive, praising production design, atmosphere, and performances while noting pacing and narrative strength compared with the original. The film probes authority, propaganda, and the fragility of peace when different groups clash, generating debate among fans. Its tone remains darker and invites viewers to question power.