Planet of the Apes (1968)

Planet of the Apes (1968), an American science fiction film by Franklin J. Schaffner, is loosely based on Pierre Boulle’s 1963 novel. Astronauts Taylor, Landon and Dodge emerge from an extended hibernation following a space voyage at near-light speed. According to Taylor’s theory attributed to scientist Hasslein, the time dilation effect has caused only 18 months to pass for the astronauts despite 701 years having elapsed on Earth since their journey began in 1972. The clock aboard the ship shows time advancing at a rate of approximately one day per minute, while Taylor notes that they are currently 6 months away from Cape Canaveral. After spending additional time on board, aging slightly less than a year, their spacecraft eventually crashes into a lake on an unknown planet identified by Taylor as Orion’s Bellatrix System, located 320 light-years from their home Solar System.

As they flee their sinking vessel, Taylor checks the ship’s chronometer and discovers it is now November 25, 3978 – a whopping two thousand and six years since they departed in 1972. This time discrepancy goes against Hasslein’s theory, which differs from Special Relativity due to the ship’s travel of 320 light-years at a near-light speed, as estimated by Taylor. As they traverse through barren terrain, they encounter hauntingly still figures resembling scarecrows, as well as a freshwater lake surrounded by flourishing plants. While taking a dip in the lake, their garments are pilfered and torn apart by primitve mute beings.