35 Nature Documentary Films
35 titles
- 1
PenguinsMovie · 2019 · 76m · Documentary, FamilySteve, an Adélie penguin, journeys to find a mate and build a family. He befriends Wuzzo, an emperor penguin, but life in the Antarctic isn't without its challenges.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.1 - 2
Attenborough and the Sea DragonMovie · 2018 · 59mSir David Attenborough explores the recent discovery of a 200-million-year-old Ichthyosaur along the Jurassic Coast of southern England. Employing advanced technology and CGI, Attenborough vividly recreates the fossilized creature, bringing to life what this ancient animal was like during the Jurassic period.IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.0 - 3
Jaguars: Brazil's Super CatsMovie · 2016 · 51m - 4
Deep Ocean: The Lost World of the PacificMovie · 2015 · 110mThe submarine that captured the first footage of a giant squid in its natural habitat is now exploring deep-sea cliffs off New Guinea. The crew encounters remarkable, living fossils. Prepare for an exciting deep-sea adventure!IMDb 7.4TMDB 7.8 - 5
Fabulous FrogsMovie · 2014 · 60mSir David Attenborough explores the fascinating lives of frogs in this film. Using firsthand stories, new scientific discoveries, and advanced technology, he reveals the remarkable diversity of these colorful creatures. The film showcases frogs from across the globe, highlighting their unique anatomy, appearances, and behaviors. Their incredible adaptations and survival strategies have made them the most successful amphibians today.IMDb 8.4TMDB 8.3 - 6
ChimpanzeeMovie · 2012 · 78m · DocumentaryThis nature documentary follows a family of chimpanzees in the rain forests of Ivory Coast and Uganda. We experience the world through Oscar, a young chimp, as he navigates life in the African jungle – a journey filled with humor, emotion, and hardship. After a devastating event separates him from his mother, Oscar must learn to survive alone in the challenging environment. Eventually, he finds refuge with an older chimp who offers him protection.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.0 - 7
Dolphin ReefMovie · 2018 · 76m · Documentary, FamilyEcho is a young dolphin struggling with the decision of whether to embrace adulthood and responsibility or indulge in playful fun. Life in the dolphin community is complicated, and their coral reef home relies on everyone working together. However, Echo finds it hard to resist the many exciting experiences the ocean presents.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.9 - 8
Monkey KingdomMovie · 2015 · 81m · DocumentaryIn the dense jungles of South Asia, a mother monkey and her infant face a challenging life within the Temple Troop. This lively community of monkeys navigates a complex social order while living in ancient ruins. They must fight to survive.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.0 - 9
Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruyMovie · 2020 · 83m"Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy" chronicles the life of Mike deGruy, a relentlessly curious and passionate underwater filmmaker who passed away unexpectedly in 2012. For over thirty years, deGruy filmed the ocean, gaining recognition for both his engaging on-camera narration and his beautiful, personal depictions of marine life. To honor his legacy as a filmmaker and storyteller, and to advance his commitment to ocean conservation, his wife and filmmaking partner Mimi deGruy assembled "Diving Deep: The Life and Times of Mike deGruy."IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.0 - 10
BearsMovie · 2014 · 78m · DocumentaryAlastair Fothergill and Keith Scholey document a year in the lives of Sky, an Alaskan brown bear, and her cubs, Scout and Amber. The film follows the family from their awakening after winter hibernation. Throughout the year, they rely on each other to find food and avoid dangers, particularly from other bears. While their lives are full of adventure, survival depends on staying together as a family.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.4 - 11
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 - 12
Deep Ocean: Descent into the Mariana TrenchMovie · 2018 · 52mA film crew from NHK ventures into the unexplored depths of the ocean, 10,000 meters below the surface. Following their capture of footage of a giant squid, they journey to the Mariana Trench, the Earth's deepest point, nearly 7 miles down. There, they investigate the extreme pressure and environment of this long-isolated world, questioning what life could possibly thrive there. Narrated by David Attenborough, this is an expedition to the planet's ultimate frontier.TMDB 9.3 - 13
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 - 14
Legends of the Deep: Deep Sea SharksMovie · 2015 · 52mThis documentary follows a Japanese team of scientists studying the elusive world of deep-sea sharks. Fewer than 50 megamouth sharks have ever been seen. Over four years, the team used small submarines in Suruga Bay and Sagami Bay to film these creatures. They also encountered prehistoric sharks like bluntnose sixgill sharks, goblin sharks, and frilled sharks. To study the sharks, the team placed a sperm whale carcass on the ocean floor, observing their behavior from the submersibles. The film reveals new insights into the behavior of these deep-sea sharks, exploring another mystery of the planet’s biodiversity.TMDB 7.0 - 15
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 - 16
EarthMovie · 2007 · 90m · DocumentaryEARTH, from Disneynature, follows the journeys of three animal families: polar bears, elephants, and humpback whales. It's an epic adventure showcasing the courage and magnificence of these creatures as they navigate life across the planet.IMDb 7.9TMDB 7.6 - 17
National Parks Exploration Series: The EvergladesMovie · 2011 · 80mThe Everglades is a truly unique place. This episode of the National Parks Exploration Series journeys to this remarkable area where tropical and temperate ecosystems converge, covering a large portion of the continental United States.IMDb 6.6 - 18
National Parks Exploration Series: Great Smoky MountainsMovie · 2011Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a vast area of over 500,000 acres known for its stunning scenery: beautiful meadows, waterfalls, clear streams, and a remarkably diverse natural environment.IMDb 6.1 - 19
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 - 20
Whale WisdomMovie · 2018 · 50mWhales have always presented a deep mystery. They inhabit a world vastly different from ours, making their lives almost unimaginable to us. Their environment, senses, and social structures are all unlike our own. What is it like for these creatures, so different from us, to perceive the world?IMDb 8.5TMDB 7.3 - 21
Born in ChinaMovie · 2016 · 76m · Documentary"Born in China" offers a close look at wildlife in the Chinese wilderness. The film follows a panda mother and her cub, a golden monkey who feels overshadowed by his new baby sister, and a snow leopard mother raising her two cubs. It captures intimate moments in their lives.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.4 - 22
National Parks Exploration Series: YosemiteMovie · 2011The Sierra Nevada mountains boast some of the world's most remarkable natural wonders, encompassing Lake Tahoe, three National Parks, two National Monuments, and vast stretches of wilderness.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.0 - 23
Pluto: Back from the DeadMovie · 2020 · 58mThis is the remarkable story of Pluto, transforming from a simple icy object at the solar system's edge into a surprisingly complex world. The film explores the possibility that this distant world may harbor some form of extraterrestrial life.IMDb 7.6TMDB 7.3 - 24
Mars: One Day on the Red PlanetMovie · 2020 · 88mThis film takes you on an extraordinary journey across Mars, using actual data from satellites and rovers to show you the planet in a completely new way.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.7 - 25
Queer PlanetMovie · 2023 · 90mThis documentary explores the surprising variety of sexual behaviors found in the animal kingdom. Through vivid and humorous examples, it reveals the diverse ways animals approach mating and reproduction.IMDb 5.5TMDB 6.4 - 26
Climbing Redwood GiantsMovie · 2009 · 46mThese are colossal trees, towering over 300 feet tall, with hidden ecosystems and strange creatures within their branches. National Geographic documents an extensive, year-long journey into the unknown world of California redwoods. Redwood expert Steve Sillett from Humboldt State University climbs to the tops of these giants, finding new record-breaking trees while navigating dangers like falling limbs and whole trees. Meanwhile, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Mike Fay maps the entire redwood range to understand the trees' history and future, as they face threats in modern California.IMDb 7.7 - 27
National Parks Exploration Series - Glacier Crown of the continentMovie · 2011 · 65mThis film explores the beauty of Glacier National Park, a hidden wilderness in the Rocky Mountains. Located within one of the world's major mountain ranges, the park’s landscape has been shaped by glaciers and water erosion into dramatic valleys and peaks. A hiker's paradise, Glacier offers over 700 miles of trails through alpine meadows, mountains, lakes, and waterfalls, revealing nature's powerful history. Through interviews and stunning visuals, the film examines the history and remarkable scenery of the Crown of the Continent. Adventure awaits in Glacier National Park – a place of unique and ever-changing beauty.IMDb 7.3 - 28
National Parks Exploration Series - Voyageurs Spirit of the boundary WatersMovie · 2011 · 70mDiscover the natural wonders of Voyageurs National Park on a breathtaking journey into the heart of the wilderness.IMDb 8.0 - 29
OceansMovie · 2010 · 84m · Documentary, FamilyThis ecological drama/documentary follows a global journey. It blends elements of a thriller with a thoughtful look at the disappearing beauty of underwater ecosystems.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.4 - 30
Pangolins: The World's Most Wanted AnimalMovie · 2018 · 59mIn Namibia, conservationist Maria Diekmann unexpectedly becomes a surrogate mother to an orphaned baby pangolin named Honey Bun and finds herself deeply involved in the fight to save these endangered animals. Driven by emotion, Diekmann travels to Asia to learn more about the global threats facing pangolins. There, she teams up with a famous Chinese actor to launch a campaign raising awareness about the plight of these surprisingly endearing creatures.IMDb 8.7TMDB 6.5 - 31
AntarcticaMovie · 2020 · 45mAntarctica is Earth's most extreme place – colder, higher, and drier than anywhere else. Though remote, events there impact everyone on the planet.IMDb 7.9TMDB 6.3 - 32
Attenborough's Big BirdsMovie · 2015 · 59mThis film explores the lives of flightless birds – ostriches, kiwis, and others – a family of creatures who have never learned to fly. The story of their origins and survival has long fascinated Sir David Attenborough. It's a tale of devoted fathers, huge eggs, and a constant struggle for speed. These often-underestimated animals were once dominant creatures on Earth.IMDb 7.6TMDB 8.5 - 33
African CatsMovie · 2011 · 89m · Documentary, AdventureAfrican Cats follows the lives of lions, cheetahs, and other animals on the savanna. It centers on Mara, a lion cub learning from her mother; Sita, a single mother cheetah raising five cubs; and Fang, a lion leader protecting his pride from a returning rival. The film shows their struggles, their bonds, and their fight for survival.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.4 - 34
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 - 35
Attenborough's Wonder of SongMovie · 2022 · 58mIn this film, Sir David Attenborough presents his most cherished recordings of animal song, sounds that have profoundly changed how we understand communication in the natural world. Each recording – from the song of a giant lemur to the whale's complex melodies and the lyrebird’s mimicry – was captured during Sir David’s career. The science of animal song was first revolutionized by Charles Darwin's work on sexual selection, which explains that while singing makes males vulnerable to predators, it also provides a significant advantage in attracting mates and passing on genes. This is why, typically, only males sing.IMDb 8.1TMDB 8.6
