21 David Attenborough Documentaries to Watch
21 titles
- 1
David Attenborough's TasmaniaMovie · 2018 · 51mTasmania, an island state off the coast of Australia, feels like a world apart. It's home to unique wildlife like black devils and white wallabies, and boasts towering trees and unusual atmospheric phenomena. As the final landmass before Antarctica, Tasmania’s isolation, cooler weather, and distinct seasons shape its character.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.5 - 2
Deep BlueMovie · 2003 · 83m · DocumentaryDeep Blue is a BBC Natural History Unit documentary film. Using stunning footage, this film takes viewers on an epic journey to explore our oceans and the diverse life within them – a captivating experience for audiences of all ages.IMDb 7.4TMDB 6.8 - 3
Great Natural Wonders of the WorldMovie · 2002 · 57mDavid Attenborough embarks on a journey across seven continents to produce a special television program highlighting the diverse and stunning natural wonders of Earth.IMDb 7.5TMDB 5.2 - 4
Zoo Quest in ColourMovie · 2016 · 90mA remarkable discovery in the BBC archives has restored color to David Attenborough's early *Zoo Quest* series, revealing the story of its creation. First broadcast in 1954, *Zoo Quest* was a hugely popular show that launched Attenborough's career as a wildlife presenter and offered audiences unprecedented glimpses into previously unseen wildlife and tribal communities. Previously believed to be filmed in black and white, *Zoo Quest* was broadcast a decade before color TV became common in the UK. This special uses newly restored color film and behind-the-scenes stories from Attenborough and cameraman Charles Lagus to showcase the best of *Zoo Quest* in West Africa, Guiana, and a search for a dragon, all in stunning HD color.IMDb 8.2TMDB 8.5 - 5
The Penguin KingMovie · 2012 · 78mIsolated in the South Georgia wilderness, a small island 900 miles from Antarctica and only 100 miles long, a penguin named the Penguin King returns to his birthplace: Penguin City. This densely populated area is highly competitive, and he must now find his own space within it and secure a mate. He is returning after three years away.IMDb 6.6TMDB 7.0 - 6
Secret Lives of OrangutansMovie · 2024 · 78m · DocumentaryThis immersive documentary, narrated by David Attenborough, chronicles the lives of a multi-generational orangutan family as they navigate the challenges and successes of life in the trees.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.7 - 7
Survival IslandMovie · 1996 · 42mSouth Georgia Island, a remote location in the Southern Ocean, becomes a haven for massive animal gatherings each spring and summer. This film explores these huge animal communities and the underlying organization within their apparent disorder.IMDb 7.9TMDB 6.0 - 8
A Blank on the MapMovie · 1971 · 60mAttenborough narrates a government expedition into the central New Guinea highlands. The goal is to make contact with a previously uncontacted group of indigenous people.IMDb 8.0TMDB 8.2 - 9
David Attenborough: A Life on Our PlanetMovie · 2020 · 83m · Documentary, DramaThis film chronicles a lifetime spent exploring Earth's natural wonders, as seen through the eyes of the world's most renowned natural historian. In over nine decades, Attenborough has journeyed to every continent, documenting the planet's diverse wildlife and landscapes. The film addresses the critical challenges facing life today, ultimately offering a hopeful vision for generations to come.IMDb 8.9TMDB 8.4 - 10
Gorillas Revisited with Sir David AttenboroughMovie · 2006 · 60mDavid Attenborough shares his intimate encounters with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda. First discovered over a century ago, these incredible animals have faced constant threats from habitat loss, poaching, disease, and political turmoil. Yet, their population has grown. Attenborough narrates the remarkable story of conservationists like Dian Fossey who fought tirelessly to prevent the mountain gorilla from disappearing forever.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.8 - 11
David Attenborough's Natural History Museum AliveMovie · 2014 · 67mForget regular hours. Join Sir David Attenborough for a special after-hours exploration of London's Natural History Museum, a place he holds dear. The museum’s exhibits awaken, bringing dinosaurs, reptiles, and creatures of the ice age to life.IMDb 8.1TMDB 6.8 - 12
Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor: The LinkMovie · 2009 · 59mThis film recounts the story of the discovery of Ida, a remarkably well-preserved 47-million-year-old primate fossil found in a German shale quarry in 1983. For two decades, Ida remained with a private collector before Norwegian paleontologist Dr. Jørn Hurum recognized its potential as a crucial link in primate evolution, connecting modern primates, lemurs, and lower mammals. He convinced the Natural History Museum in Oslo to acquire the fossil and assembled a team of international experts for study. Their findings were publicly announced in a press conference and a scientific paper published online on May 19, 2009.IMDb 7.8TMDB 7.1 - 13
Flying Monsters 3D with David AttenboroughMovie · 2011 · 70m220 million years ago, dinosaurs were starting to rule the Earth. But another group of reptiles was on the verge of a remarkable change: pterosaurs were learning to fly. The story of how and why these mysterious creatures took to the air is more incredible than fiction. In *Flying Monsters 3D*, Sir David Attenborough, the world’s most respected naturalist, investigates the truth about pterosaurs, whose wingspans could reach 40 feet – the same length as a modern jet plane.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.0 - 14
Desert SeasMovie · 2011 · 45mSir David Attenborough explores the remarkable underwater world of Saudi Arabia, showcasing both the vibrant Red Sea and the starkly different Arabian Gulf. The film documents, for the first time, the unusual nocturnal spawning of Palolo worms.IMDb 7.6TMDB 9.0 - 15
Charles Darwin and the Tree of LifeMovie · 2009 · 60m · Documentary, TV MovieDavid Attenborough, renowned for his natural history documentaries, explores the core of his work: Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection. This film offers a personal reflection by Attenborough on his own life and how he embraced Darwin's groundbreaking idea.IMDb 8.4TMDB 7.6 - 16
Attenborough and the Giant Sea MonsterMovie · 2024 · 57mSir David Attenborough explores the groundbreaking discovery of a massive prehistoric skull belonging to a pliosaur – a colossal marine reptile often called the Tyrannosaurus rex of the ocean.IMDb 7.4TMDB 8.0 - 17
Attenborough's Life That GlowsMovie · 2016 · 59mCreatures that produce their own light – fireflies, glow-worms, and luminous plankton – captivate and amaze us. At night, the ocean comes alive with millions of these tiny lights, illuminating marine life in a breathtaking display. Join Sir David Attenborough and a team of leading scientists and explorers as they embark on a journey to uncover the mysteries of living light.IMDb 8.2TMDB 8.1 - 18
A Zed & Two NoughtsMovie · 1985 · 115m · Comedy, DramaTwo twin zoologists, deeply connected by their work and their shared wives, are devastated when both wives die in a car accident. They seek solace in studying animal decomposition, trying to find order in the face of loss. As their research intensifies, they become increasingly immersed in a disturbing world that tests their professional ethics and mental stability. The film examines grief, resilience, and how our connections with others influence our perception of nature, exploring complex emotions through an unusual perspective and the impact of shared experiences.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.0 - 19
The Year Earth ChangedMovie · 2021 · 48m · DocumentaryNewly released footage documents the surprising resurgence of nature during the global lockdown. With human activity significantly reduced across the planet – in oceans, skies, and on land – Earth experienced a period of recovery and renewed vitality.IMDb 8.2TMDB 7.9 - 20
Planet Earth: A CelebrationMovie · 2020 · 58mDavid Attenborough, Hans Zimmer, and Dave collaborate on a special Natural History event: Planet Earth: A Celebration. This one-hour program features eight of the most remarkable scenes from Planet Earth II and Blue Planet II, including racer snakes battling iguanas, dolphins surfing waves, and rare footage of Himalayan snow leopards. The program includes new narration by David Attenborough, new music composed and arranged by Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea, and Bleeding Fingers, performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra and featuring Brit and Mercury Award-winning UK rapper Dave. In these challenging times, the beauty of the natural world offers a source of comfort for all.IMDb 8.6TMDB 8.6 - 21
Attenborough and the Giant ElephantMovie · 2017 · 58mDavid Attenborough explores the extraordinary life and death of Jumbo, a famous elephant who is rumored to have inspired the film *Dumbo*. Attenborough teams up with scientists and conservationists to uncover the truth behind this massive African elephant – an animal many thought was the largest ever. With exclusive access to Jumbo's skeleton at the American Museum of Natural History, they examine the evidence to distinguish fact from legend. The investigation seeks to answer: how large was Jumbo? What were the conditions of his captivity? And what ultimately caused his death? His bones may hold the answers.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.2
