Punch may have been struggling to make new friends, but he has found love from people across the globe who are rooting for him. The baby macaque at Ichikawa City Zoo in Japan went viral after videos showed him being pushed away by other monkeys and left as an outcast. Abandoned by his mother and lonely, he clings to a DJUNGELSKOG orangutan plush toy given by his zookeepers, almost bigger than him, as he slowly adjusts to his new home.

As Punch reminds people of the love and kindness toward animals, it also brings to mind heartwarming films that speak the same emotional language as the little monkey. One of the most famous franchises about apes, which began in the 1990s and continued all the way to 2024, is a must-watch for those moved to tears by Punch’s story.

After the immense success of Rise of the Planet of the Apes in 2011, the franchise has continued to bless the fandom with more such gems. Both its emotional layers, paired with intense action, were loved by fans. However, the franchise goes all the way back to the 1960s. 

One of the longest-running sci-fi franchises, the original movie Planet of the Apes was released in 1968. It followed astronaut George Taylor landing on a planet dominated by intelligent apes after a spaceship accident. This movie was followed by Beneath the Planet of the Apes 1971, Escape from the Planet of the Apes 1972, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes 1973, Battle for the Planet of the Apes 1974, and Planet of the Apes 2001. 

The 2011 movie was successful in reviving the hype, and since then, there have been Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 2014, War for the Planet of the Apes 2017, and the latest Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 2024. So, it has been running for more than 5 decades. 

Now, the ideal viewing order begins with the 2011 film and continues through to the most recent installment. After that, one can watch the 1968 classic and the rest of the movies till 2001 film. All 10 films are available to stream on Hulu for a complete binge-watch.

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But apart from this iconic franchise, which tells fictional stories based on apes, there have also been real monkey stars who won hearts in much the same way as Punch. 

Binks, the capuchin, caught much attention after appearing in George of the Jungle. He starred alongside Brendan Fraser, who is set to appear in the upcoming The Mummy 4. One memorable scene from the film shows the monkey hilariously imitating the actor. Speaking about it, Fraser had immense praise for the talented animal. 

“He's a bit impatient and wants to get everything right," he said.

Binks also appeared in Outbreak and the Ace Ventura movies. Several other monkeys are quite popular as actors. Now, whether Binks or Punch, these adorable creatures have talent, emotions, and stories. And people have always had open hearts to show love and support for them.

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Will you watch the movies that might remind you of Punch? Let us know in the comments.