Planet of the Apes
WantedFans keep asking for it. No machine has been announced.
#172on the Hype Index, our daily ranking of themes fans want as machines
Peak #22, Jun 2026 · Rank updated Oct 29.
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Ape uprising mayhem with Statue of Liberty reveal would make an unforgettable multiball experience.
About This Theme
Planet of the Apes pinball machine discussions have been gaining traction among pinball enthusiasts, with the franchise being identified as one of the highest-grossing media properties that has never received a dedicated pinball adaptation. The Planet of the Apes franchise, which began with the iconic 1968 film starring Charlton Heston, has become a cornerstone of science fiction cinema spanning over five decades. The original film's shocking twist ending, where astronaut George Taylor discovers he has been on Earth all along, remains one of the most memorable moments in movie history. The franchise has continued through multiple film series, including the original five-film run from 1968 to 1973 and the critically acclaimed modern reboot trilogy that began with Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2011, with new films still in production. This enduring cultural relevance, combined with the property's status as a multi-billion dollar franchise, has made it an attractive proposition for pinball machine development.
Pinball community discussions about a potential Planet of the Apes pinball machine have highlighted both the original 1968 film and the broader franchise as compelling themes. Fans have expressed enthusiasm for the concept, with some indicating they would purchase such a machine on day one of release. Community members have noted that the franchise has maintained popularity since the 1960s and continues to generate new films, making it a commercially viable and culturally relevant choice. The property has been compared favorably to other successful licensed pinball machines, with discussions suggesting it could be as well-executed as other primate-themed entertainment properties that have been adapted to pinball format.
A Planet of the Apes pinball machine would offer rich design possibilities across multiple dimensions of gameplay and presentation. The visual design could incorporate the distinctive aesthetic of the original films, including the Statue of Liberty reveal, the Forbidden Zone landscapes, and the hierarchical ape society with its gorilla soldiers, orangutan administrators, and chimpanzee scientists. The modern reboot trilogy would provide additional visual elements such as the Golden Gate Bridge sequence, the redwood forest settings, and the advanced motion-capture ape characters led by Caesar. Gameplay mechanics could include modes representing key story moments such as the astronaut's capture and trial, the journey through the Forbidden Zone, the mutant human encounter from Beneath the Planet of the Apes, and the ape uprising from the modern films. The franchise's iconic musical score by Jerry Goldsmith, featuring avant-garde orchestration and percussion, would provide a distinctive audio backdrop, while memorable dialogue such as "Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape" and "Ape shall never kill ape" could be integrated as callouts. The thematic conflict between human and ape civilizations would naturally translate to multiball modes and wizard modes, potentially incorporating the time travel elements from the original sequels to create complex, layered gameplay that rewards repeated plays.
