A decade after a deadly virus has decimated humanity, a band of human survivors in San Francisco struggles to rebuild civilization amidst constant threat. Meanwhile, a growing nation of genetically evolved apes, led by the wise and formidable Caesar, has established a thriving community in the Muir Woods. The two species have thus far lived without contact, but their fragile peace is set to be tested. When a small group of humans, desperate to restore power to the city, ventures into the apes' territory, an uneasy tension arises. One ape, Koba, holds a deep grudge against humans and is quick to distrust, while Caesar, who has a past with humans, advocates for caution and peace.

The initial encounter leads to a fragile agreement between Caesar and the human group, headed by a compassionate man named Malcolm. As Malcolm and his small team work closely with the apes to repair a hydroelectric dam that could restore power and hope to the human settlement, bonds of friendship and understanding begin to form. However, mutual suspicions and fear monger among the ranks on both sides threaten the tentative truce. As the two leaders, Caesar and Malcolm, struggle to maintain order and peace among their own, the specter of conflict looms over the horizon, testing the very essence of both humanity and ape society.