47 Essential Animal Documentaries

In Botswana's Okavango Delta, an outcast lioness and her two cubs must struggle for survival against numerous dangers. Their only hope is to reach Duba Island, offering them an uncertain future. The story unfolds in one of the few remaining…

Sir David Attenborough and his team journey around the world to film intimate encounters with polar bears, grizzlies, pandas, and other remarkable types of bears.

Each year, thousands of emperor penguins undertake an incredible journey to Antarctica to raise their families. They walk tirelessly, day and night, for 70 miles across the coldest, driest, and darkest continent on Earth. This true story is filled with…

In his final documentary, wildlife expert Steve Irwin, known as "The Crocodile Hunter," joins forces with oceanographer Philippe Cousteau to investigate the most dangerous marine animals inhabiting the waters off Australia's Gold Coast and the Great Barrier Reef.

Sir 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…

This 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,…

Director Koreyoshi Kurahara follows Flep and Leila, two foxes in Hokkaido, Japan, through a year of challenges. The island's long winters and brief summers shape their lives. After Flep wins a fight for Leila's affection, they become mates and have…

Jonathan Scott tells the remarkable story of the leopard, the only major cat thriving across much of the globe while other big cats face decline. Focusing on leopard mothers and their cubs in East Africa, the film explores the natural…

In the Serengeti, cheetahs face a constant struggle for survival. Mothers must abandon their cubs to hunt, leaving them vulnerable to larger predators and even scavengers. This story follows two cheetah mothers as they fight to protect their young amidst…

Blackfish examines the troubling effects of keeping highly intelligent and emotional animals like killer whales in captivity. The documentary focuses on Tilikum, a notorious orca who has been involved in the deaths of three people, including a trainer. It reveals…

Wild Ocean offers a breathtaking, large-screen look at one of nature's most impressive migrations. Experience an underwater feeding frenzy teeming with dolphins, sharks, whales, gannets, seals, and billions of fish. Filmed along the Wild Coast of South Africa, this documentary…

David Attenborough narrates the intimate story of a leopard mother and her two cubs as they navigate the challenges of Botswana's wilderness. This close-knit family faces fierce competition for survival from lions, wild dogs, and hyenas. To secure their future,…

Born to Be Wild follows orphaned jungle animals as they grow up under the care of the people who rescue them. The film is set in two different locations: the rainforests of Borneo, where Dr. Birute Galdikas helps baby orangutans,…

Last Day of the Dinosaurs, a 2010 Discovery Channel documentary, examines the extinction of the dinosaurs. The film presents the Alvarez hypothesis as the primary explanation for this event.

Central America is home to incredible wildlife, from colorful parrots that live in volcanoes to massive whale sharks and powerful colonies of tropical ants.

A Disneynature filmmaking team journeys to the mountains of China to find and film the rare snow leopard. They face harsh weather and difficult landscapes as they explore the world's highest plateau.

David Attenborough explores the captivating history of birds of paradise, detailing how these stunning creatures have fascinated explorers, naturalists, artists, filmmakers, and members of royalty alike.

In 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…

Alastair 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…

Anthony Powell's documentary uses breathtaking time-lapse footage of Antarctica to showcase life there throughout the year at McMurdo and Scott Base. It's a powerful celebration of the icy continent and its vast skies.

David Attenborough explores the captivating yet fragile wildlife of a Caribbean island. Dedicated conservationists are working to protect the island's most endangered animals. The film follows the inspiring recovery of species like Puerto Rican parrots, manatees, and sea turtles.

Arctic Tale, a 2007 National Geographic documentary, follows the life cycle of a walrus and her calf, as well as a polar bear and her cubs. It shares a similar approach with the 2005 National Geographic film, March of the…

This 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…

EARTH, 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.

In Namibia's desert, cattle farmers seek new grazing land, leading to conflict with the resident lions. Lions are hunted, sometimes even killed after attacking livestock. Will and Lianne Steenkamp spent two years in an area ruled by a 17-year-old lioness,…

One Life offers stunningly intimate footage of animal behavior, providing an unparalleled connection with the natural world. The film also includes a bonus disc with exclusive behind-the-scenes content, featuring a making-of featurette narrated by Daniel Craig.

Tasmania, 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…

A wildlife filmmaker documents a cheetah mother's relentless struggle to protect her cubs.

A journey to find Earth's biggest and least understood ecosystem begins. Advances in ocean science and technology now make previously unreachable depths accessible.

Whales 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,…

"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…

A beautiful love story is in danger – our future depends on it. The intricate relationships between bees, butterflies, birds, and bats, which enable plant reproduction, form a delicate and vital connection. Flowers, far from being merely beautiful, use their…

Alaska's wild coastline is home to an extraordinary array of wildlife. During the brief Alaskan summer, animals thrive in the abundant sunshine before the return of long, dark winters. This film explores the lives of these creatures as they navigate…

Narrated by David Attenborough, this stunning UHD film explores the remarkable biodiversity of Karnataka. Using cutting-edge technology, it showcases the state's rich natural world, home to a high concentration of tigers and elephants, highlighting its diverse plants and animals in…

"Growing Up Wild" journeys to the most remote places on Earth to follow the early lives of five animals as they face their first challenges. Guided by their families, each must learn to find food and recognize danger. From exploring…

Deep in the remote wilderness of Lake Natron, northern Tanzania, a remarkable natural phenomenon occurs: the entire life cycle of a million flamingos, from birth to death.

This 3-D documentary follows the incredible journey of a sea turtle as it navigates the world's oceans.

In North America, 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period, a young Edmontosaurus named Scar journeys with his herd south for the winter. The animated documentary drama reflects new scientific discoveries about dinosaurs, including evidence of feathered Tyrannosaurs.

This film offers an unprecedented look at mountain lions, following two families in Wyoming's Rocky Mountains. Through their eyes, we witness the challenges faced by mothers raising their kittens, revealing new insights into the behavior of these elusive predators. The…

This ecological drama/documentary follows a global journey. It blends elements of a thriller with a thoughtful look at the disappearing beauty of underwater ecosystems.

In 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…

This 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…

African 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…

This film showcases stunning footage of omnivorous bears, from polar bears in the Arctic to black bears in the Northern Rockies. Witness salmon-fishing grizzlies on Alaska's McNeil River and a close look inside a den with a mother black bear…

Experience the age of dinosaurs, from the first creatures of the Triassic to the giants of the Cretaceous, in a massive IMAX® film. Follow leading paleontologists as they find new fossils and find clues suggesting dinosaur relatives exist today. Stunningly…

David 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,…