Starting in 2018, the ALZ-113 virus causes the collapse of human civilization following martial law, civil unrest and the economic collapse of every country in the world. Eight years later, Caesar leads and governs a new generation of apes in a community located in the Muir Woods. While walking through the forest, Caesar's son Blue Eyes and Rocket's son Ash encounter a human. The human, Carver, panics and shoots Ash, wounding him. Carver calls for the rest of his small party of armed survivors, led by a man named Malcolm, while Blue Eyes calls for the other apes. Caesar orders the humans to leave. The remaining humans in San Francisco, genetically immune to the virus, are living in a guarded tower within the ruined city. Prompted by Koba, a scarred bonobo who holds a grudge against humans for his mistreatment, Caesar brings a large group of the apes to the city where he conveys the message that while the apes do not want war, they will fight to defend their home. He then demands the humans stay in their territory and states the apes will too.
Malcolm convinces his fellow leader Dreyfus to give him three days to reconcile with the apes to gain access to a hydroelectric dam in their territory, which could provide long-term power to the city. Dreyfus, distrustful of the apes, arms survivors using an abandoned armory. Malcolm then travels into the Ape Village but is captured by Stoned and his gorilla guards. Malcolm is then brought to Caesar by Stoned and Maurice. Malcolm tries to talk to Caesar but much to his anger is knocked down by Stoned. After he is allowed to speak with him, Caesar allows Malcolm to work on the dam's generator, provided they surrender their guns. As Malcolm, his wife Ellie, and son Alexander work, they bond with the apes. Mutual distrust of both sides gradually subsides but trust momentarily ends when Carver threatens Caesar's sons with a concealed shotgun. The sides reconcile as Ellie is allowed to treat Caesar's ill mate Cornelia with antibiotics. Meanwhile, Koba discovers the armory and confronts Caesar, questioning his allegiance. In response, Caesar heavily beats Koba, but since he does not kill other apes he chooses to forgive him. Koba returns to the armory, steals an assault rifle and murders two human guards. He then kills Carver, stealing his lighter.
The dam is eventually repaired, restoring power to the city. During the celebration, Koba sets fire to the apes' home. Then while unseen by anyone else, Koba and Caesar lock eyes as Koba shoots Caesar in the chest, causing him to fall from the settlement's main tree. In the panic of the loss of the Alpha and the fire, Koba takes charge, placing the blame on Malcolm's group and orders the apes to war against the humans. Malcolm's group hides as Koba leads the apes into San Francisco. The apes plunder the armory and charge the tower's gates. Despite heavy casualties, the apes overrun the tower and imprison all the humans as Dreyfus flees underground. When Ash refuses Koba's orders to kill unarmed humans, citing Caesar's teachings, Koba kills Ash and jails all those known to be loyal to Caesar.
Malcolm's group find Caesar barely alive and transport him to his former home in San Francisco. Caesar reveals to Malcolm that Koba shot him, realizing his notion that all apes were better than humans was naive. As he enters the city to find medical supplies so Ellie can operate on Caesar, Malcolm encounters Blue Eyes, who decided to spare Malcom's life, and takes him back with him to the house. Caesar grows nostalgic watching video clips from his childhood on Will's old camcorder as Malcolm learns of Caesar's past. Blue Eyes then returns to the tower, freeing the caged humans and the apes loyal to Caesar. After leading the apes to the tower unseen, Malcolm encounters Dreyfus, who informs him that his men have made radio contact with more survivors, located at a military base up north, on their way to help fight the apes. The freed apes join Caesar and confront Koba at the summit of the tower. While Caesar and Koba battle, Malcolm fails to prevent Dreyfus from detonating C-4 explosives underneath the tower. The resulting explosion simultaneously kills Dreyfus and collapses part of the tower. Caesar overpowers Koba, knocking him to the edge of the tower. While lifting Koba from a ledge, Caesar refuses to save him, claiming he is no longer a true ape, and lets him fall to his death.
Malcolm informs Caesar of the impending arrival of human reinforcements. Both lament the lost opportunity for peace. Caesar tells Malcolm the humans will never forgive the apes for the war they started and tells him to leave with his family for safety. As Malcolm slips away into the shadows, Caesar stands before a kneeling mass of apes awaiting the battle to come.
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