37 Captivating Nature and 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…

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…

A team of researchers journeys to Darin Island to study shark migration. Their work involves attaching tracking devices to the sharks, a challenging process. Strong currents and powerful tail swipes from the sharks create dangerous obstacles. The film follows the…

Deep 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.

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…

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…

A journey across New Zealand, the final undiscovered habitable land, unfolds. This country, roughly the size of Colorado, boasts dramatically varied landscapes. From snow-capped mountains and beaches to glaciers, fiords, and volcanic lakes, New Zealand presents a world of extremes…

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.

In a remote part of the South Pacific, National Geographic Explorer Enric Sala leads a small team into a pristine underwater world. In the Line Islands, where few people go and life is a constant struggle, sharks are dominant. The…

Driven by a love for the ocean, a filmmaker documents the damage humans inflict on marine life. The project leads them to uncover a disturbing worldwide conspiracy.

This cinematic nature documentary explores the incredible diversity of life on Earth. Featuring a wide array of fascinating creatures from across the globe, it aims to captivate viewers of all ages and foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world.…

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.

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.

This film offers a stunning view of Earth from space, providing a new understanding of our planet and galaxy. Created with NASA, it features breathtaking footage captured by astronauts on the International Space Station, showing our planet and the impact…

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…

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.

OCEAN ODYSSEY, commissioned by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, takes viewers on an undersea exploration of remote and captivating locations. The film follows Feodor Pitcairn, a leader in underwater HD cinematography, as he documents marine ecosystems across the…

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.

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…

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

"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…

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…

"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.

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.

Ultimate Shark offers the world's first MRI scan of a great white shark, revealing the impressive engineering and hunting skills of this highly evolved predator. The film features firsthand stories from people who have survived dangerous encounters with sharks, including…

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…