There are a variety of animal documentaries out there that are perfect for animal and nature lovers to enjoy. From soothing nature documentaries to more political ones about how humans impact animals, there are many animal documentaries to choose from. For fans who love to learn about animals and are fascinated by them, these 10 documentaries are perfect to add to that Netflix watchlist.
Here are 10 of the best animal documentaries that you can stream right now on Netflix.
10. BBC EARTH: LIFE
There are a variety of fascinating and beautifully shot BBC Earth specials available to stream on Netflix, and Life is one of the most interesting. This documentary focuses on many different kinds of life forms and how they are all connected.
Life specifically focuses on adaptations different species have had to survive, and the documentary focuses on strange and bizarre behaviors that different species have adapted to live and thrive. This series has 11 episodes and focuses on life forms all across the world. This is an ideal documentary to watch for those who like to learn about the oddities of the natural world.
9. 72 DANGEROUS ANIMALS
This series of documentaries didn’t start as a Netflix original series, but Netflix then took it up. The first in the series is set in Australia and goes over the most deadly and frightening animals to be found on that continent. Netflix has also made two more versions of the show, one set in Latin America and one set in Asia.
If you love strange, creepy, and deadly animals, you’ll love the 72 Dangerous Animals series. Learn about species you’ve likely never even heard of before and be amazed/horrified at how dangerous nature can truly be.
8. FROZEN PLANET
Frozen Planet is another BBC documentary that you can stream on Netflix right now. This is a broad, sweeping, and stunning documentary that looks at the coldest regions on earth. Focusing on animals such as killer whales, wolves, and polar bears, fans will love seeing these species up close and in high definition. This documentary is extremely informative and also looks at how global warming is impacting the frozen areas of our earth, and how this is impacting all life on earth. Frozen Planet focuses on the Arctic and Antartic and took 2,300 days to make.
7. 72 CUTEST ANIMALS
Similar to the 72 Dangerous Animals series, but without the desire to scare the viewer, this documentary gives details about many animal species. However, if you’re not so into the scary parts of nature, this is the perfect choice for you. So many animals are really adorable, and this doc is all about the cutest animals out there. 72 Cutest Animals is a count-down style list that gives facts about many animal species including penguins, koalas, and ducks. This is a great animal documentary to watch with the whole family.
6. BORN IN CHINA
Born in China was a documentary created by Disneynature, and it’s now available to stream on Netflix. Born in China was filmed by Lu Chuan who follows three different animal families in China. This documentary also shows the beautiful, diverse landscapes that can be found in China.
The animals featured are the giant panda, golden monkey, and snow leopard. These beautiful animals are shown in HD, and you’ll love seeing these families and the different ways they have adapted to survive in their environments.
5. SWIMMING WITH KILLER WHALES
Orcas are one of the most compelling animals in the seas. They are fierce predators but have been known to be extremely friendly to humans. While most people wouldn’t just jump into the water to swim with them, this documentary tells the story of a woman who does just that. Dr. Ingrid Vasser swims with killer whales, and after watching this documentary, you’ll be jealous that you don’t get to, too. The cinematography in this documentary gets you up close and personal with these stunning cetaceans.
4. ROTTEN
Rotten isn’t solely an animal documentary, and it’s different than any of the other films on this list. Rotten is a Netflix documentary that explores where our food comes from.
It looks at some of the less desirable aspects of making food. Some of the episodes in this documentary focus on animals such as chickens at factory farms and fish that are caught for food. This documentary is an insightful look at food and the animals we use for food.
3. BLUE PLANET I AND II
Blue Planet and the sequel, Blue Planet II, are two of the most fascinating as well as soothing documentaries about animals and nature out there. The series were both made by BBC earth, and the production value is very high. This documentary looks at many different species across the world’s oceans from seahorses to dolphins to sharks. Seeing the mysteries and wonders of the oceans and the creatures that live there is a major treat.
2. BLACKFISH
Blackfish is a more political documentary as opposed to an in-depth nature doc. This influential documentary is all about SeaWorld’s killer whales and their cruel treatment. The documentary also focuses on all of the orca attacks on humans that have happened at SeaWorld, a strange phenomenon as orca attacks on humans don’t really happen in the wild. Blackfish is really well made, and it was so influential that it caused SeaWorld to end their shows that put trainers in the water with the orcas.
1. OUR PLANET
Our Planet is the most recent animal documentary to make some major waves online. Our Planet was a series made for Netflix that released this month, and people can’t stop talking about it. The documentary specifically focuses on how humans are connected to the natural world and how our actions have an impact. The episodes focus on different habitats such as forests, oceans, and jungles. Our Planet shows the stark reality of how climate change is impacting our world and the animal species we share the planet with.