Planet of the Apes 1968 Charlton Heston and Roddy McDowell star in this legendary science fiction masterpiece. Astronaut Taylor (Heston) crash-lands on a distant planet ruled by apes who use the human race for experimentation and sport. Taylor soon finds herself among the hunted, with her life in the hands of a benevolent chimpanzee scientist. Winner of an Academy Award® Honorary® for Outstanding Makeup Performance and two Academy Award nominees (Best Costume Design and Best Original Composition in 1968), Planet of the Apes is a great entertainment with visually stunning debuts and a chilling finale. moment.