The film is set in a world where a simian flu has wiped out much of the human population, and intelligent apes, led by Caesar (played by Andy Serkis), have formed their own society in the Redwood Forest. The remaining human survivors, who have established a community in San Francisco, discover the apes’ existence and attempt to establish a peaceful coexistence.
As tensions rise between the humans and apes due to a series of misunderstandings and betrayals, a war between the two factions becomes inevitable. Koba (played by Toby Kebbell), a scarred and vengeful ape who harbors deep resentment towards humans, orchestrates a series of attacks against them, driving a wedge between the two communities.
The climax of the movie occurs when Koba leads an assault on the human settlement in San Francisco. A full-scale battle ensues between the apes and the humans, with both sides suffering casualties. However, Caesar realizes the destructive path they are on and attempts to stop the bloodshed.
In a dramatic confrontation between Caesar and Koba, Caesar ultimately triumphs but chooses not to kill Koba. Instead, he lets Koba fall to his death, symbolizing Caesar’s commitment to a more humane approach to coexistence.
The film ends on a somber note as Caesar stands at the edge of his apes’ home, watching the surviving humans leave. The events of the movie set the stage for the next installment in the franchise, “War for the Planet of the Apes,” exploring the continued struggle for dominance and survival between humans and apes in a world altered by the simian flu.