The best nature documentaries teach us about the unique ecosystems on the planet and prompt us to take action. Check out our curated list for inspiration.
Whether capturing the hatching of baby penguins, a leopard hunting its prey, or the plight of endangered dolphins, nature documentaries can be found on almost every channel and streaming platform. One of the most popular genres, nature documentaries have gained recognition thanks to the work of broadcasting companies such as BBC Natural History and the Discovery Channel.
Documentary series such as ‘Blue Planet’ and ‘Life on Earth’ draw millions of viewers worldwide. Scientific studies even suggest that viewing this form of nature programming could be good for our mental health. In more recent years, the nature documentary format has also been used to encourage greater environmental consciousness towards global warming, overfishing, and animal cruelty.
Here are 13 of the best nature documentaries that show off the most stunning aspects of the natural world, and call awareness to the threats it is now facing.
1. Samsara
Produced in 2011, Samsara is a nature documentary that aims to capture the most unique and miraculous aspects of the natural world. Filmed in a non-narrative, artistic sense, the word ‘samsara’ refers to the Sanskrit meaning of ‘birth, death, and rebirth’. This documentary contains bird’s eye footage from over 25 different countries, including the Pyramids of Giza, Bethlehem, and Mont Blanc. This documentary is also unique in the sense that it took over five years to be fully filmed, and focuses on our world, both unnatural and natural, as well as the inhabitants that live in it.
Check out the trailer for Samsara (2011) here on Youtube.
2. Planet Earth
An eleven-part nature documentary released in 2006, Planet Earth is perhaps the most famous series on this list. The first documentary series filmed in high definition, Planet Earth uses its episodic format to focus on different biomes and habitats on Earth in beautiful, technicolor detail. From fungi in the Amazon rainforest to polar bears in the Artic circle, it is easy to see why Planet Earth has won multiple awards, including an Emmy for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
Planet Earth (2006) is available to buy on Amazon**.
3. Seaspiracy
Another documentary that has received wide acclaim, Seaspiracy is a nature documentary by Ali Tabrizi that focuses on the corruption and exploitation associated with the negative human impact on marine life. Showcasing marine agriculture in many different parts of the globe, Seaspiracy is a must-see if you are wanting to learn more about marine life and the dangers that species such as turtles, whales, and dolphins are currently facing.
Seaspiracy (2021) is available on Netflix.
4. The Blue Planet
Aired in 2001, The Blue Planet is definitely one of the best underwater nature documentaries/series. Described as the most comprehensive look at our undersea world’s colorful behaviors and creatures, The Blue Planet focuses on a different aspect of marine life in each of its 50-minute episodes. This includes whales and seals in Antarctica and coral reefs and rays in the Indian Ocean. Another award-winning nature series, The Blue Planet has received several Emmy awards for its music and breathtaking cinematography.
The Blue Planet (2001) is available to buy on Amazon**.
5. Life on Earth
Life on Earth is arguably one of the first big nature documentary series to be created. Aired in 1979 by the BBC, each episode focuses on a different area of the globe, and the rare and unique creatures that live in it. As the oldest documentary series on the list, much of the footage of elusive animals such as the Darwin treefrog and mountain gorillas in Rwanda is especially important as it was the first time many of their behaviors had been caught on camera.
Watch the trailer for Life on Earth (1979) here.
6. Planet Earth II
The sequel to 2006’s Planet Earth, Planet Earth II is a nature documentary series released in 2016. Focusing on the aspects of the natural world that have changed (both positively and negatively) since the original series release, each episode showcases a different ecosystem and the rare and beautiful animals that live there. Planet Earth II is also the first nature documentary series produced by the BBC to be filmed in ultra-high definition 4K.
Planet Earth II (2016) and its trailer can be found on Amazon.
7. The Salt of The Earth
A biographical nature documentary, Wim Wender’s The Salt of the Earth explores the work of nature photographer Sebastiao Salgado. Following his 40 years’ worth of trips across the globe to photograph both natural occurrences and international conflicts, The Salt of the Earth captures Salgado’s transition from economist to nature photographer and explorer, as well as the beautiful and often heavily exploited landscapes that caused him to do so.
The Salt of the Earth (2014) is available to buy on Amazon**.
8. The Cove
Aired in 2009, The Cove is a natural documentary focused on the subject of dolphins and the threats they face due to commercial hunting. A documentary that received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for Best Documentary, The Cove calls for greater actions to be taken against exploitative Japanese fishing practices, provides poignant criticism against ‘dolphin safe‘ products, and for mass kills of dolphins to be halted.
Check out The Cove (2009) on Amazon**.
9. March of the Penguins
Detailing the breeding patterns and lives of emperor penguins over the span of a year, March of the Penguins is a 2005 nature documentary by the National Geographic Society. Filmed in real-time, this documentary is both beautifully shot and nail-biting, with the tiny chicks and parents alike struggling to survive against the fierce natural elements of Antarctica.
Check out March of the Penguins (2005) on Amazon**.
10. Life
Life is a nature documentary series focused on capturing the struggle for existence faced by many species in the harshest environments on earth. Consisting of ten 50-minute episodes, Life showcases some of the most dramatic and rare animal behaviors ever captured on film, from lizards walking on water to a timelapse of an oak woodland filmed in real time over the span of two years.
Life (2009) is available on Amazon**.
11. Koyaanisqatsi
Taking a more artistic view of the natural environment, Koyaanisqatsi is a non-narrative nature documentary focusing on the changing landscapes of America. Referring to the Hopi word for ‘life out of balance’, this documentary consists of slow motion and time-lapse footage of natural and unnatural landscapes across the US and claims to show the world in a manner never seen before.
Koyaanisqatsi (1982) is available to buy on Amazon**.
12. Tiny World
The best nature documentary focusing on the smallest animals in the natural world, Tiny World is a unique series that aired in 2020. Featuring footage of tiny animals from all across the globe, the subjects of this series include hummingbirds, frogs, and shrimp.
Check out Tiny World (2020) on Apple TV.
13. Frozen Planet
Frozen Planet is one of the best nature documentaries about the arctic. It was produced by the BBC and details the lives of both Artic and Antarctic inhabitants. From Artic wolves to sea spiders, this documentary series showcases the most beautiful and deadly of the polar animals, while detailing the changes to their environments as the result of climate change and rising sea levels.
Check out Frozen Planet (2011) on Amazon**.
Read more:
- 8 Famous Nature Photographers With a Lasting Impact
- 2022’s Best Netflix Eco Docs
- Top 10 Books About Trees You Must Have Read in 2022
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