wildlife documentaries with subtitle free download East African Tales: Top 9 Wildlife Documentaries To Watch. It’s usually while you’re watching an epic wildlife documentary that the idea of going on safari is born and you begin plans to make this dream come to life. Whether it be a look into the endless battle for survival in The Great Migration,a captivating story from the vantage point of a predator, or a critical analysis of the state of the planet and it’s precious creatures – there is a wildlife documentary out there that is sure to teach, inspire and fascinate all. We’ve put together a list of our top 9 wildlife documentaries – each tellsa powerful story and beautifully captures the essence of the wild in their own way. Thought-provoking, inspiring, and entertaining, these nature documentaries take into account the impact we as humans currently have on nature’s delicate ecosystems. Take the time to watch the following series and share them with your friends and family to ignite thepassion for change. Our Planet. “Share the wonder of the one place we call home.” The makers of “Planet Earth” have partnered with Emmy and BAFTA winner, Sir David Attenborough and Netflix to bring us the brand new documentary, “Our Planet”. Attenborough’s iconic narrative style showcases the planet’s natural beauty and tells the tale of habitats all around the world, from remote Arctic landscapes to the vast and seemingly neverending grass plains of Africa. There is an undertone to Our Planet’s message though, it closely examines how humans are having a negative impact on our fragile ecosystems and their wildlife and asks it’s viewers to take a critical look at the individual impact they have and what can be done to protect these areas. The series’ first episode aired on the 5th of April 2019 and featured a moment close to our hearts – a wild dog hunt, shot in the Serengeti National Park, it was one of the first times they have been filmed since 1991 when the endangered species disappearedfrom the protected area, a testament to the conservation efforts we continue to endorse and support. Keep an eye out for the remaining 7 episodes of Our Planet – we cannot wait! Planet Earth II. “10 years ago Planet Earth changed our view of the world. Now we take you closer than ever before. This is life in all its wonder.” Credits: Sharp Magazine. The sequel to the Emmy-winning Planet Earth series, Planet Earth II transports its viewers to some of the world’s most iconic habitats. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough, take a journey through the eyes of the animals and venture through jungles, cities, mountains and more overcoming any challenges they may face along the waywhile fighting for survival. Blue Planet II. The second installment of the Blue Planet series takes a fascinating look into the underwater world and lesser-known parts of our planet, the deep blue ocean. This series took almost 5 years to create and used revolutionary technology in order to transport its viewers to depths deeper than what was possible before – some of the most spectacular natural events were able to be captured on film and highlighted surprising intelligence and complexities in creatures of the deep. Credits: The Independent. The Ivory Game. “The hunt for the hunter begins.” Another Netflix original series, The Ivory Game highlights the poaching of African elephants in relation to the ivory trade in Hong Kong and China and what exactly the repercussions will be if this trade does not end. Credits: The South African. This documentary called for a worldwide ban on the trade of ivory and had messages from prominent wildlife activists such as Leonardo Dicaprio, Prince William, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, and more to shed light on this cruel and unnecessary practice, hoping to help put an end to it all. Blood Lions. “A call to stop canned lion hunting.” Credits: Intrepid Travel. In South Africa, captive bred lions are killed every day in canned hunts and hundreds more are slaughtered in order to feed the demand for lion bone in the illegal wildlife trade. Blood Lions looks at how tourism is being exploited in a negative way and makes a compelling argument to end damaging interactive practices such as lion cub petting, walking with lions and other unethical offerings. You can read more about Blood Lions here. Racing Extinction. Racing Extinction is a film which focuses onthe overarching theme of theAnthropocene Extinction – the time when human population sizes first starting having a considerable impact on the Earth’s ecosystems and geology. The spread of humans has resulted in the biggest mass extinctions that have happened in the past 66 million years some of which include our impact on global warming and poaching of our wildlife. Credits: Art Net. Oscar-winning director Louie Psihoyos, who directed the documentary The Cove, highlights pivotal efforts of some of the world’s greatest scientists, photographers, and volunteers who have pledged to protect the planet’s endangered species. Dynasties. BBC Earth brought us one of the most epic, adventure-packed documentaries of the century when Dynasties was launched. Narrated by the beloved SirDavid Attenborough, Dynasties takes you on a journey through the lives of five of the world’s most celebrated, yet endangered animals – penguins, chimpanzees, lions, African wild dogs, and tigers. Their heroic fight for survival is shown in this awe-inspiring documentary that takes a grittier look into the world of these animals. The Serengeti Shall Not Die. Tn Oscar-winning movie was directed by Dr. Grizimek and Alan Root. It is older than the other documentaries featured in this blog, produced in 1959, it is a true classic and is known as the movie that made the Serengeti famous. Credits: Amazon & eBay. Because of its powerful message and the way in which it showcases the true, unfiltered, beauty of Africa, the impacts from this film have played a large role in the conservation of the Serengeti and protecting the journey taken by the millions of animals that are a part of The Great Migration. Virunga. Virunga may not be purely a wildlife documentary, however, it tells an extremely important story. Following the lives of four characters who are fighting to protect the Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is home to the world’s last mountain gorillas. Cai Tjeenk Willink, our Group Camp Operations Manager, says this is one of his favorite documentaries. “I think this is one of the most powerful conservation documentaries out there, but filmed form a peoples perspective, not an animal perspective.” – Cai Tjeenk Willink. Nature. Coral reefs are believed by many to have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet. A lot of the life found here can seem very alien at first, they occupy less than 1 percent of the ocean floor but yet are home to more than 25 percent of all marine life. Warm water reefs typically come to mind when thinking of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, these reefs are very well known. The Indigenous Island Tribe Of Anuta. Located deep in the South Pacific is a little known island, once so remote that the islanders are entirely self-sufficient. The island is known as Anuta and after months of preparation the producers of this film set sail from the main cluster of Solomon Islands which lie east of Papua New Guinea, towards this elusive destination.Anuta is one of the smallest inhabited islands on Earth being j. The Life Exotic. With the March 2020 release of the Netflix documentary miniseries, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness the world seems to have gone Joe Exotic crazy. Those of you who have seen the series will know that it is a bizarre true crime tale that dives straight into the little-known but deeply interconnected society of big cat conservationists and collectors in America. It takes us inside the pr. Guardians of the Amazon. It is the frontline of the worlds most dangerous battle, a battle which involves the entire Earth. As the Amazon Rain Forest faces a crucial tipping point amidst the increase of illegal logging activities, deforestation rates have nearly doubled, there are nearly three football fields worth of forestation being cut down every minute.This being said it is the Brazilian indigenous people who are. Steve Irwin: Sidewinders of Arizona. The harsh hot deserts of Arizona are home to a couple of heat seeking species of snake known as sidewinders, they are both fast and deadly accurate. Sidewinders of Arizona sees legend Steve Irwin and The Crocodile Hunters crew invited on to a military range by the United States Airforce to help fill in the gap in their quest to bring us the worlds greatest reptiles.With 2.7 million acres in th. Steve Irwin: Crocs Down Under. In the northeastern corner of Austrailia where the top end meets the sea, lurks a relic from the days of the dinosaurs, the saltwater crocodile which is one of the most fearsome predators on the face of the Earth. However these predators have a sweeter side to them, like most wild animals they just want to be left alone t0 feed, breed and rear their young.Crocs are complex creatures, finely tu. Congo: A Journey to the Heart of Africa. One of the worlds great rivers flows from the heart of Africa, it cuts through the largest rainforest outside of the Amazon and contains wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. The Democratic Republic of Congo is a vast beautiful but tormented place.The country is mineral rich but the people are among the worlds poorest, for centuries its resources have been plundered and it has been ravaged by. Steve Irwin: The Ten Deadliest Snakes In The World. Steve Irwin takes us on an incredible journey through some of the most remote parts of Australia in order to discover and come face to face with The Ten Deadliest Snakes In The World.Irwin’s enthusiasm is truly infectious and makes for some extremely interesting viewing as he explores the biology and behaviour of these maligned creatures. It is clear that Irwin is attempting to dispel much of. Attenborough and the Empire of the Ants. David Attenborough takes us to the Jura Mountains, located on the French, Swiss border. At the time of filming the mountains were in the grip of winter, the ground has been frozen solid for months. Here Attenborough is searching for the secrets which lie behind a hidden giant.Evidence of it's existance can be seen in the form of strange mounds which are popping out of the ground, it is a si. Free Email Updates. New documentaries straight to your inbox. Categories. Popular This Month. Seven Mile Road located in Detroit is one of the most dangerous no-go zones in the United States. Those who live or dare to come here to visit are literally playing with their lives. It is a territor. There are 2.3 million people locked up in the United States, around half of these people have been sentenced for nonviolent crimes. These inmates are literally costing states billions of dollars each. In April 2010, the drilling rig deepwater horizon blew up in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 780 million liters of crude oil poured into the Gulf, unleashing the most severe ecological disaster in. Highest Rated This Month. Seven Mile Road located in Detroit is one of the most dangerous no-go zones in the United States. Those who live or dare to come here to visit are literally playing with their lives. It is a territor. Killing Gaza is a film created by two independent journalists Max Blumenthal and Dan Cohen, it is a detailed account of Israel’s 2014 assault on Gaza, a conflict that lasted 7 weeks (8 July – 26 Augu. Out of Shadows is a film that attempts to lift the mask on how the mainstream media and Hollywood try to manipulate and control the masses by spreading propaganda via their platform. Released on YouT. Plague, Influenza, Ebola, these are some of the most deadly and contagious diseases in the world. If the latest pandemic caused by Coronavirus (Covid-19) has thought us anything it is that they could. Humanity is going through the largest health crises in more than a century as the coronavirus (Covid-19) has killed nearly 2 million people globally, brought turmoil to the world economy, and caused . Throwback Documentaries. Warp speed, transporters, wormholes and lasers – they are all staples of science fiction books, movies, and TV shows. But the fantastic world of tomorrow is quickly becoming the futuristic world of to. KOMO's Eric Johnson asks the question what if Seattle is dying and the citizens of the United States don't even know it? This is a story about a seething, simmering anger that is now boiling over into. In this amazing HBO special we see the critically acclaimed actor and FDNY veteran Steve Buscemi explore one of the worlds most demanding fire departments. Along side other such veterans, Buscemi expl. A tornado of swirling flames, the most spectacular lightning show on earth, an inferno in the outback and a volcano blowing smoke rings all of which are covered in this film by weatherman Alex Beresfo. Joseph Junior Adenuga, better known by his stage name Skepta, is an English rapper who is best known for the grime music he releases. This summer he booked a tour for the East Coast of America & C. 8 Best Wildlife Documentaries on Netflix Right Now. Sometimes, we wonder what it feels like to go into the outer space and take a look at our gorgeous planet, trying to comprehend its beauty, diversity and vastness. There are several wildlife documentaries that make us think of the beauty of nature and its various species. These films go beyond just leopards, valleys and flowers. Most of them give us an intimate look at how stunning nature and its creations are. Netflix has an impressive collection of wildlife and natural documentaries, which also include some of the gems of National Geographic and BBC films. The streaming giant has also announced its first original nature documentary, ‘Our Planet’, narrated by David Attenborough. With that said, here’s the list of really good wildlife documentaries on Netflix that are available to stream right now: 8. Life (2009) The British nature documentary series ‘Life’ is a stunning portrayal of the survival mechanisms of living beings. The series is written and narrated by David Attenborough and it took around four years to complete shooting. The project showcases wildlife on planet earth in 10 episodes. David Attenborough dedicates the first episode to give an overview of the struggle for existence of all the creatures to survive. The other episodes are dedicated to and titled as Reptiles and Amphibians, Mammals, Fish, Birds, Insects, Hunters and Hunted, Creatures of the Deep, Plants, and Primates. The series depicts the never-ending struggle of vertebrates and invertebrates on land, in the ocean, or in the sky. ‘Life’ is all about staying alive and the it depicts living beings going on to achieve that feat. Apart from David Attenborough, Oprah Winfrey and Doug Allan also serve as narrators. 7. Africa (2013) BBC Natural History Unit’s ‘Africa’ is a wild journey into one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Narrator David Attenborough takes us through the deserts, savannas and jungles of Africa. The series depicts Africa’s amazing wildlife in all its wilderness and grandeur. The vast continent is divided into five regions that cover from the Atlas Mountains to the Cape of Good Hope, as well as from the dense forests of Congo to the roaring Atlantic Ocean. The documentary is full of exotic landscapes rarely touched by humans and chance encounters with awe-inspiring creatures. The narrative also reveals the inevitable drama arising from the tensions between wildlife, wilderness and civilization. The series consists of six episodes titled ‘Kalahari’, ‘Savannah’, ‘Congo’, ‘Cape’, ‘Sahara’, and ‘The Future’. Simon Blakeney and James Aldred also join David Attenborough as narrators. 6. Colombia: Wild Magic (2015) ‘Colombia: Wild Magic’ explores the extraordinary wildlife hidden in the mountain ranges of Columbia. The documentary journeys through centuries-old glaciers, untouched forests, vast grasslands, and hostile deserts. Colombia is a country blessed with gorgeous rivers and roaring oceans on both sides. The geographical position of the country in the South American continent facilitates the growth of one of the most diverse habitats on Earth. The film features jaguars, hammerhead sharks, humpback whales, an infinite number of birds, amphibians, mammals, reptiles and fish among other creatures. ‘Wild Magic’ also warns the viewers about the fragility of nature’s gems. The delicate ecosystem and the vulnerable creatures depending on it can’t bear a slight variation in their balance. 5. The Ivory Game (2016) ‘The Ivory Game’ is a shocking documentary based on the thriving ivory trade business in Africa. The documentary digs deep into the nexus of poachers and Chinese ivory merchants who handle huge deals involving ivory. Illegal elephant poaching in Africa has always been a controversial subject in international venues. The smuggling network is coordinated from China and Hong Kong. Directors Keif Davidson, Richard Ladkani and their crew risked their lives and spent around 16 months undercover to collect materials for their film. They closely follow the brutal murder of wild elephants for their tusks and the complex system of trafficking ivory to China. The film takes us for a covert journey from Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia to China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and London. ‘The Ivory Game’ is a daring whistle-blower attempt and a clarion call for authorities. The film is available for streaming on Netflix now. 4. Encounters at the End of the World (2007) Master filmmaker Werner Herzog takes the viewers to the end of the world in ‘Encounters at the End of the World’. The film explores people, places and other life forms in Antarctica. The two-man crew of Herzog and his cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger document nature and life in the world’s farthest continent. Herzog’s dreamy and contemplative narration leads us to McMurdo Station to meet maintenance and support workers and the geologists working there. Herzog declares that he’s not “making another film about penguins.” He keeps his word till the end of the spectacular journey that reveals scientists, students, animal researchers, plumbers, penguin researchers, and underwater diver among others. The entire film was shot in Antarctica as part of the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Artists and Writers Program. 3. Virunga (2014) ‘Virunga’ is a part investigative report and part documentary. Set in Congo’s Virunga National Park against the backdrop of the bloody M23 riots in 2012, the film follows four park rangers in their struggle to protect the park and its inhabitants. They have the mighty, well-connected British oil giant Soco International on the opposite side. When the company starts oil exploration in the UNESCO World Heritage site, it puts a rare community of the world’s largest mountain gorillas on the extinction map. Their numbers have already been dwindling at an alarming rate due to civil war and illegal poaching. Gorilla caretaker André Bauma, warden Rodrigue Mugaruka Katembo, chief warden Emmanuel de Merode, and the French investigative journalist Mélanie Gouby take us to the mountain gorilla families. The documentary gives viewers an intimate look at the creatures’ lives. Apart from raising a serious issue, the four men also reveal the impact of political and social unrest on the animal life in the park. Being one of the most bio-diverse parks in the world, Virunga is under constant threat of illegal poaching. While militia, poachers and corporate forces scavenge on Congo’s invaluable natural resources, these four men fight their battle in the name of nature and love. Written and directed by Orlando von Einsiedel, ‘Virunga’ has Leonardo DiCaprio as one of its executive producers. 2. Wings of Life (2011) ‘Wings of Life’ is an intriguing documentary that depicts the stunning beauty and harrowing future of butterflies, hummingbirds, bees, bats, and flowers. Narrated by Meryl Streep, the documentary explores the complex relationship between flowers and their partners in the pollination process. It’s a passionate love story written by nature. While flowers seduce the pollinators with their vibrant colour palette and exotic scents, the insects fall head over heels in love with the flowers. The film is a celebration of life and a reminder of the fragility of the pollination system. ‘Wings of Life’ is written and directed by Louie Schwartzberg. 1. Our Planet (2019) Netflix’s ‘Our Planet’ follows the footsteps of the renowned documentaries of the BBC Natural History Unit. Narrated by David Attenborough, the documentary warns us that the wonders of nature are not for eternity. ‘Our Planet’ adopts an innovative way of storytelling by superimposing the cautionary voice-over over the stunning images of nature. While its visuals are engaging and beautiful, the voice-over looms over us like a dark cloud of fear. The film discusses the impact of global warming and climate change on wildlife in detail. The message put forward by the film is clear — if we don’t do it now, we never will. Season one of ‘Our Planet’ is streaming on Netflix now. Subtitled. The Honour Guard at JFK`s graveside were the 37th Cadet Class of the Irish Army.Never before in American history have a sovereign army been invited to carry out such an event on US soil.JFK was greatly impressed by the Irish Cadets on his last official visit to the Republic of Ireland, so much so that Jackie Kennedy requested the Irish Army to be the Honour Guard at her husband´s funeral. The Referee. What does it take to be a world class football referee? Top football referee Martin Hansson had a successful journey towards his vision in life, the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Then one dark night in Paris on November 18th, 2009, all hell broke loose… Hansson’s story has meaning beyond football. The Referee strangely echoes Errol Morris’s portrait of Robert McNamara in The Fog of War. T. Check Point. An ambulance is stopped, and the sick people inside brought out to explain their ailments. A mother is separated from her very young children. Young Palestinians laugh and throw snowballs at Israeli soldiers, who jovially respond in kind. One Israeli soldier harasses a pretty Palestinian girl. Another refers to the Arabs as “animals,” and suggests the documentary crew is making a film for the. Presumed Guilty. This is an extraordinary documentary about a case in Mexico about an innocent guy who was put in jail for "presumed murder". The documentary shows how the Mexico's legal justice system is corrupted from the top posts to the bottom, besides, it shows a determined group of attorneys who fought until the end for the justice of this guy. The Fight For Water. The 'Fight for Water' is about an oil spill that happened on Feb. 28th, 2009 in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rain forest. About 14,000 barrels of crude oil seeped into the Napo and Coca Rivers, both of which are tributaries of the Amazon River.Through the eyes of the local residents, both indigenous and non-indigenous, the film explores not only the specific case of the Santa Rosa spill, but als. ¿Sería Buenos Aires? (Spanish with English subtitles) A universal story that touches upon many of the themes that cross the modern world we live in: dislocation of people, destruction of their dreams overnight by crises they are not responsible for and their efforts to survive. Night And Fog. One of the most vivid depictions of the horrors of Nazi Concentration Camps. Filmed in 1955 at several concentration camps in Poland, the film combines new color and black and white footage with black and white newsreels, footage shot by the victorious allies, and stills, to tell the story not only of the camps, but to portray the horror of man’s brutal inhumanity. Free Email Updates. New documentaries straight to your inbox. Categories. Popular This Month. Seven Mile Road located in Detroit is one of the most dangerous no-go zones in the United States. Those who live or dare to come here to visit are literally playing with their lives. It is a territor. There are 2.3 million people locked up in the United States, around half of these people have been sentenced for nonviolent crimes. These inmates are literally costing states billions of dollars each. In April 2010, the drilling rig deepwater horizon blew up in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 780 million liters of crude oil poured into the Gulf, unleashing the most severe ecological disaster in. Highest Rated This Month. Seven Mile Road located in Detroit is one of the most dangerous no-go zones in the United States. Those who live or dare to come here to visit are literally playing with their lives. It is a territor. Killing Gaza is a film created by two independent journalists Max Blumenthal and Dan Cohen, it is a detailed account of Israel’s 2014 assault on Gaza, a conflict that lasted 7 weeks (8 July – 26 Augu. Out of Shadows is a film that attempts to lift the mask on how the mainstream media and Hollywood try to manipulate and control the masses by spreading propaganda via their platform. Released on YouT. Plague, Influenza, Ebola, these are some of the most deadly and contagious diseases in the world. If the latest pandemic caused by Coronavirus (Covid-19) has thought us anything it is that they could. Humanity is going through the largest health crises in more than a century as the coronavirus (Covid-19) has killed nearly 2 million people globally, brought turmoil to the world economy, and caused . Throwback Documentaries. Out of all of the hits Noel Gallagher wrote for Oasis he calls Don't Look Back In Anger the most important. It is a song which marks the peak of Oasis journey from working-class lads in Manchester to. Diamonds, timeless, beautiful, symbols of love, they come in different colors, shapes and sizes their value measured by carat, cut and clarity. They are the worlds most precious gem but in west and ce. Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures is a 2001 documentary about the life and work of Stanley Kubrick, famed film director, made by his long-time assistant Jan Harlan. 135 minutes long, it consists of. In Europe nuclear energy is more and more often celebrated as saving the climate. Clearly, nuclear power plants need uranium.The aim is to comprehensively illustrate the opportunities and risks po. All around the planet hundreds of millions of people are waiting for events to unfold in the year 2012, that they. believe will bring either the birth of a harmonious new reality. or 'the end of t. 30 best nature documentaries of all time. Captivated by the mating habits of jellyfish, elephants mourning their ancestors, and proud lionesses cuddling their cubs, audiences love to peer into the private lives of creatures great and small—particularly in spectacular settings around the world. A study conducted by the BBC together with the University of California Berkeley revealed just why viewers choose to kick back and tune into programs like “Honey Badgers: Masters of Mayhem” and “The Tigers of Scotland”⁠—nature documentaries trigger the neurochemicals of happiness, reducing stress and anxiety. Some of the best exponents of the genre come from the BBC Natural History Unit, which has been cranking out award-winning nature documentaries since 1957, often in conjunction with natural historian and television producer Sir David Attenborough. Now in his 90s, Attenborough has worked with the BBC for over 25 years and is the genius behind several acclaimed series, including “Life” and “The Blue Planet,” which continue to be watched by millions of people worldwide. In recent years, a growing number of filmmakers have used their platform to raise public consciousness about the many threats posed by global warming. Coral bleaching, rising sea levels, farm animal cruelty, and melting polar ice-caps have all been addressed in documentaries, as well as the significant role played by human beings concerning climate change and environmental degradation. Celebrity activists, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Laurence Fishburne, Oprah Winfrey, and Joaquin Phoenix have also lent their status to the movement, behind the camera as well as in front of it. Stacker put together a list of the 30 best nature documentaries of all time, based on IMDb user ratings. Consideration went to documentaries and single-season documentary miniseries focused on plants, animals, and the environment. Read on to find out which films exposed barbarous ancient fishing practices, employed revolutionary photography techniques, or were recently outed for faking content. - Directors: Kip Andersen, Keegan Kuhn - IMDb user rating: 8.2 - Metascore: data not available - Runtime: 90 minutes. Kip Andersons’ Indiegogo-funded “Cowspiracy” highlights the uncomfortable relationship between big agriculture and carbon emissions. As much a movement as a documentary, “Cowspiracy” urges its audience to eschew animal products in an empowering, grassroots campaign to battle climate change. A 2015 cut of the film released on Netflix was produced by celebrity activist Leonardo DiCaprio. - Director: Fisher Stevens - IMDb user rating: 8.2 - Metascore: 63 - Runtime: 96 minutes. In “Before the Flood,” United Nations Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio takes viewers on a journey around the world, illustrating the threat posed by global warming. Directed by Academy Award-winner Fisher Stevens, this National Geographic production practices what it preaches, offsetting carbon emissions created during production with a voluntary carbon tax. - Directors: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi - IMDb user rating: 8.2 - Metascore: 83 - Runtime: 100 minutes. “Free Solo” is the term for the kind of climbing done alone (“solo”) and without the usual harnesses, ropes, and carabiners that most rock climbers use as a form of security and safety (“free” of that stuff). The documentary captures climber Alex Honnold’s free solo climbs up virtually vertical slabs of rock, capturing with dizzying clarity just how dangerous these climbs are. The film builds to his ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park—a well-known climbing destination of 3,000-plus feet. - IMDb user rating: 8.3 - Votes: 2,650. A sequel to “Walking with Dinosaurs,” this joint BBC/Discovery Channel effort explores life on Earth immediately after the big lizards became extinct. Sir Kenneth Brannagh narrates this three-hour look at the habits and habitats of wooly mammoths and saber-tooth lions. - Director: Jamie Uys - IMDb user rating: 8.3 - Metascore: data not available - Runtime: 92 minutes. Directed by Jamie Uys of “The Gods Must Be Crazy” fame, “Beautiful People” (also released as “Animals are Beautiful People”) takes a gentle and frequently humorous look at South African wildlife. A scene in which inebriated animals indulge in fermented fruit is one of the highlights of this 1975 Golden Globe winner. - Director: Dereck Joubert - IMDb user rating: 8.3 - Metascore: 69 - Runtime: 88 minutes. The brainchild of conservationists and filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, “The Last Lions” plays like a feature film as it chronicles the trials and tribulations of Ma di Tau—a remarkable lioness committed to defending her family in Botswana’s treacherous Okavango Delta. Narrated by actor Jeremy Irons, the film draws attention to the plight of the wild lion population, which has dwindled from approximately 450,000 to 20,000 in the last 50 years. - Director: Louie Psihoyos - IMDb user rating: 8.3 - Metascore: 81 - Runtime: 90 minutes. “Racing Extinction” explores the devastating effects of climate change on the world’s oceans. Human activity—notably energy consumption— currently threatens half of the world’s aquatic species with mass extinction. Helmed by Academy Award-winning director Louie Psihoyos, this 2015 documentary urges viewers to act before it’s too late. - Director: Ali Tabrizi - IMDb user rating: 8.3 - Metascore: data not available - Runtime: 89 minutes. The global fishing industry is bad. That's what director Ali Tabrizi comes to realize, after initially setting out to capture the glories under the ocean’s surface. What he finds instead is a “Seaspiracy,” as the miracles of marine life are poisoned, destroyed, and otherwise harmed by humans. Between damaging fishing practices, wastes like plastic that never really go away, archaic hunting practices, and general pollution and noises, the seas are being slowly killed. - Director: Godfrey Reggio - IMDb user rating: 8.3 - Metascore: 72 - Runtime: 86 minutes. “Koyaanisqatsi” is a Hopi word that translates to “life out of balance” and is also the subject of director Godfrey Reggio’s 1982 documentary, which details the inherent conflict between nature and urbanism. An original score by legendary composer Philip Glass complements the stunning cinematography. - IMDb user rating: 8.4 - Votes: 2,664. This groundbreaking six-part series transported never-before-seen images of Chinese wildlife into homes around the world. A Sino-British production, the project took more than two years to complete and includes rare footage of some of China’s most remote regions, including the Mongolian steppes and the Yuanyang rice terraces. - Director: Louie Psihoyos - IMDb user rating: 8.4 - Metascore: 84 - Runtime: 92 minutes. Using high-definition cameras disguised as rocks, director Louie Psihoyos and his crew exposed the covert and cruel practice of dolphin drive- hunting in Taiji, Japan, whereby schools of dolphins are hoarded into coves, trapped, and killed for profit. Winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, “The Cove” sparked outrage among animal activists worldwide as well as a hotly contested backlash against the Japanese fishing community. - Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Wim Wenders - IMDb user rating: 8.5 - Metascore: 83 - Runtime: 110 minutes. “The Salt of the Earth” follows acclaimed septuagenarian photographer Sebastião Salgado in his quest to document the planet’s most arresting landscapes and their inhabitants. Directed by Juliano Ribeiro Salgado (the subject’s son), together with indie icon Wim Wenders, the film was nominated for the 2015 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. - Director: Ron Fricke - IMDb user rating: 8.5 - Metascore: 65 - Runtime: 102 minutes. From “Baraka” filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, this mesmerizing, non-narrative documentary was filmed over a period of five years in over 25 different countries. Shot using visually superior 70mm film, “Samsara” explores human spirituality as it relates to the Earth’s natural rhythms. - Director: Yann Arthus-Bertrand - IMDb user rating: 8.6 - Metascore: 47 - Runtime: 118 minutes. Earth, home to all human beings, is the star of this stunning documentary by French director Luc Besson. The film showcases awe-inspiring aerial landscapes from 54 different countries while simultaneously citing alarming statistics about climate change and its potentially devastating effects. - IMDb user rating: 8.7 - Votes: 2,230. Released as “South Pacific” in the U.K., this six-part BBC series narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch explores the unique ecosystems of isolated South Pacific islands, including the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Palmyra. Shot entirely in high definition, the final installment highlights climate-related dangers such as rising seas, overfishing, and reef damage. - IMDb user rating: 8.9 - Votes: 3,892. University of Manchester physicist Brian Cox contemplates the origins of the universe and the history of man in this cerebral, four-part BBC documentary. A follow up to the 2010 series “Wonders of the Solar System,” Cox turns to science for answers to existential questions that have plagued humanity since the dawn of consciousness. - IMDb user rating: 9.0 - Votes: 3,021. “Nature’s Most Amazing Events” turns the camera lens on some of the most fascinating wildlife on the planet, including polar bears, sharks, and enormous schools of sardines. Aerial photography and time-lapse imagery are the hallmarks of this six-hour collaboration between The Discovery Channel and the BBC. - IMDb user rating: 9.0 - Votes: 3,458. Another David Attenborough vehicle, this 2005 BBC documentary exposes the secret lives of insects. Employing the latest technological advances in macrophotography, “Life in the Undergrowth” raised the bar for wildlife documentary filmmaking. - IMDb user rating: 9.0 - Votes: 14,355. “Africa” takes viewers on an unprecedented journey across the deserts, savannahs, and jungles of this geographically diverse continent. Presented by David Attenborough, “Africa” is just one of several BBC documentaries funded by Chinese state broadcasting network China Central Television. - IMDb user rating: 9.0 - Votes: 24,030. “Human Planet,” another BBC/Discovery project, examines how people survive in some of the most brutal environments on the planet by building relationships with animals. Rocked by scandal in 2018, the documentary was pulled from Netflix amidst accusations of faked footage. - IMDb user rating: 9.0 - Votes: 27,270. Polar bears and penguins are front and center in this high-definition look at life both above and below the ice. A BBC classic presented by natural historian and television personality Sir David Attenborough, “Frozen Planet” focuses on the Arctic and Antarctic—the two regions on the planet at greatest risk from global warming. - IMDb user rating: 9.0 - Votes: 35,491. Approximately three-quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered by water—the subject of this riveting eight-part BBC series narrated by David Attenborough, which took home four Emmys and a Peabody Award. In 2018, a newly discovered species of ocean plankton was christened Syracosphaera azureaplaneta in honor of the series. - Director: Chris Delforce - IMDb user rating: 9.1 - Metascore: data not available - Runtime: 120 minutes. Infamous for shocking and disturbing footage of animal cruelty, “Dominion” forces viewers to confront how the sausage gets made—in this case, how the hamburgers, ribs, and chicken breasts people enjoy are the end result of the nauseating practices of meat farming. The creators behind this documentary managed to get footage inside large-scale production farms and plants, using hidden cameras and drones to capture truly upsetting scenes of animal abuse that are a routine part of getting meat onto plates. Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara narrate. - IMDb user rating: 9.1 - Votes: 3,804. A follow-up to BBC’s “The Life of Birds,” “The Life of Mammals” explores the origins and habits of arguably the planet’s most engaging and improvising inhabitants. Highlights include nonagenarian presenter David Attenborough hanging out with a sloth. - IMDb user rating: 9.1 - Votes: 38,298. A BBC/Discovery co-production, “Life” focuses on Charles Darwin’s “struggle for existence.” Presenter David Attenborough narrated the original U.K. version of the film, but was replaced by Oprah Winfrey for the documentary’s U.S. release. - IMDb user rating: 9.3 - Votes: 3,793. It’s “kill or be killed” in this high-stakes BBC series, which casts killer whales and polar bears in a sympathetic light. Narrated by David Attenborough, “The Hunt” employed novel filming techniques to get the perfect shot, including cameras suspended from elephants. - IMDb user rating: 9.3 - Votes: 34,387. This sequel to the 2001 BBC series “Blue Planet” takes a second look at the high seas with new technology built especially for the follow-up series. Presenter David Attenborough guides viewers through the mating practices of ocean dwellers and warns against the dangers of global warming. - IMDb user rating: 9.3 - Votes: 34,571. The new Netflix film “Our Planet” isn’t a BBC production, but it sure looks like one. Produced by the same team responsible for “Planet Earth” and featuring the venerable David Attenborough, the film goes where many earlier nature documentaries feared to tread, compelling audiences to accept their own role in the destruction of the environment. - IMDb user rating: 9.4 - Votes: 169,174. The BBC’s most expensive nature project, this remarkable 11-part series transported audiences to a panoply of natural habitats spread over 64 different countries. Actress Sigourney Weaver narrates the U.S. release, stepping in for icon of British natural history, David Attenborough. - IMDb user rating: 9.5 - Votes: 99,168. “Planet Earth II” treads the same terrain as its predecessor, the 2006 mega-documentary “Planet Earth.” All manner of creatures eat, hunt and mate, but a decade later they do so in Ultra-HD, which makes for even more riveting viewing.