Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)

A direct sequel to the original film, Beneath the Planet of the Apes follows Brent, another astronaut sent to search for Taylor, who has disappeared. Brent discovers the same planet ruled by apes, and, while evading capture, he stumbles upon a hidden society of telepathic, mutant humans living beneath the surface. These mutants worship an ancient nuclear bomb capable of destroying the entire planet. As tensions rise between the apes and the mutants, Brent must prevent an apocalyptic conflict. The film explores themes of war, destruction, and humanity’s self-destructive nature.