What it is: Virunga is titled after Virunga National Park in the Congo - “one of the most biologically diverse areas on the planet,” according to the park’s website, and home to an endangered group of mountain gorillas. Critics called the film “spectacular but depressing” and “the most important documentary of the year.” Chasing Ice is a call to attention - and for some, a call to action.įlight of the Butterflies (2012) 100% (SK Films) What it is: Chasing Ice follows a celebrated National Geographic photographer as he documents several years of climate change using time-lapse cameras.
Octopus documentary plus#
Where to watch it: Amazon, YouTube, iTunes, Google Play, VuduĬommitment: ~6 hours (7 episodes, around 50 minutes each - plus an additional 6.5 hours if you want to watch the original series)Ĭhasing Ice (2012) 96% (National Geographic)
Octopus documentary series#
Both iterations in the series provide intimate, breathtaking looks at the undersea world with particular focus on its occupants (from seahorses to squids and whales) and the environmental issues that threaten them.Ĭritics Consensus: Blue Planet II‘s hypnotic beauty is complemented by intense ethical musing, contrasting the micro and the macro in a humbling exploration of humanity’s relationship with the ground it stands on. This follow-up series was released in the U.S. in 2018 - Attenborough returned, and won the series another Emmy for his narration to boot. The original won two Emmys for its cinematography and music composition. What it is: Even before they made Planet Earth, in 2001 the BBC released the first Blue Planet, yet another nature documentary series narrated by Attenborough. Planet Earth II: Miniseries (2016) 100% (Discovery Channel) Where to watch it: YouTube, Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, VuduĬommitment: 9 hours (11 episodes, around 50 minutes each) It won four Emmys the year it was released: non-fiction series, cinematography, sound editing, and music.Ĭritics Consensus: Planet Earth weaves innovative camera techniques and patient observation to deliver viewers an astounding glimpse of the world’s perils and wonders, capturing jaw-dropping scenery and animals on both an epic and intimate scale. Planet Earth is essentially the go-to for nature series. Perhaps no voice is more recognizable in the nature documentary genre than that of British natural historian David Attenborough, who narrates the BBC version of this documentary series (if you watch the Discovery Channel version, you’ll hear none other than Sigourney Weaver guiding you through each hour-long episode). What it is: Like Our Planet, but released a decade earlier and by the BBC, Planet Earth charts the Earth’s ecosystems episodically. Planet Earth: Miniseries (2006) (Discovery Channel) After the introductory episode, each installment focuses on a different habitat - “Deserts and Grasslands,” “Frozen Worlds,” “Forests,” and “Jungles” - and three separate episodes are dedications to freshwater and oceanic environments.Ĭritics Consensus: A cornucopia of visual wonder and environmental advocacy, Our Planet’s breathtaking cinematography explores more of this beautiful, blue marble while presenting an urgent call to action to its inhabitants.Ĭommitment: ~6 hours (8 episodes, around 50 minutes each) Each episode is practically a feature-length documentary in its own right. What it is: This Netflix series showcases the vast ecosystems of Earth, visiting 50 countries in the process. Our Planet: Season 1 (2019) 93% (Netflix)
Whether you’re looking to admire Earth’s beauty or gain some perspective on the challenges it faces, the movies, series, and specials on this list are sure to awaken and inspire, and they’re all available to stream right now.ĭon’t see your favorite nature special on this list? Share your recommendations in the comments. It will also introduce you to some of the most inspiring people of our time, like Jane Goodall. From harrowing investigative films like The Ivory Game and intimate series like Planet Earth (I and II!), to the vast oceans of Blue Planet and the chilly reality of Chasing Ice, this list taps into a number of fascinating ecosystems. We’ve put together a list of some of the best planet-centric and environmentally conscious documentaries to watch on Earth Day. What better way to spend this Earth Day – or any day, really – than learning about the wonders of our planet, all that threatens it, and some of the people working tirelessly to preserve it. (Photo by Jamie McPherson/Silverback/Netflix)
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