As environmental issues continue to arise, more people are turning to nature documentaries for the answers. Whether it's to learn something about sustainability, or perhaps to marvel at the amazing creatures that live on this planet, there's a great deal that can be taken from the nature documentaries currently on streaming platforms.
David Attenborough is, of course, the king of the genre, but there's also a great deal of other great presenters and studios behind some truly memorable documentaries. So whether it's tracking a group of penguins or detailing America's National Parks, there are some brilliant docs that nature enthusiasts should check out soon.
David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet
David Attenborough's latest series for Netflix is a great reflection on his history-making career. His work in broadcasting, specifically in the realm of nature documentaries, is unparalleled. His latest project investigates everything that he's learned over the years.
Breathtaking in its visuals and moving in its narrative, A Life On Our Planet takes a look at what it's been like to live on this amazing home of Earth, with all the fantastical creatures and amazing memories that fans have enjoyed from Attenborough's documentaries.
Blue Planet II
Blue Planet was a massive hit and a series that managed to explore the depths of Earth's oceans, uncovering some fantastic information about aquatic life. Attenborough returns in this documentary, which is available through Netflix and BBC IPlayer worldwide.
Blue Planet II is a spiritual sequel in many ways, as it looks at the changes in the ocean and how global warming is affecting the seas. There is some beautiful cinematography and special moments throughout this series.
March Of The Penguins
March of the Penguins takes viewers on the journey that these flightless birds must go on every year. Full of dangers and obstacles, it's an astounding piece of documentary filmmaking.
Narrated by the luxurious resonance of Morgan Freeman, this tale is really brought to life by its expert film making. It's available to rent or to watch on various platforms, including Amazon and iTunes, and may be one of the most influential movie documentaries of all time in the nature genre.
Chimpanzee
There are some fantastic documentaries on Disney+, but one that stands out amongst the rest is Chimpanzee. Disney Nature has produced some great films over the years, but none have captured a real story quite like this tale.
The relationship of a chimpanzee with its surrounding world and the hardships it must go through to survive is mesmerizing. It's narrated by Tim Allen and is perhaps the best and most emotionally engaging Disney Nature additions to the streaming service.
Our Planet
A partnership between Netflix, WWF and David Attenborough has created a series that truly set out to change the world. With big stars like Selma Hayek and Penelope Cruz providing the narration, this is a huge and impactful series.
Inspiring a book and an online campaign and helping audiences reach a number of resources, Our Planet is really all about protecting what Earth currently has and ensuring that it's around for future generations to experience in the same way.
America's National Parks
National Geographic has produced some outstanding documentaries over the years, which are now available on Disney+. One such film explores the natural beauty and diverse wildlife of America's national parks, an area of pride for the nation.
With this documentary heading from location to location, it gives a real sense of the scale and diversity amongst America's wildlife. It's a bright and beautiful picture and one that is perhaps perfect to show kids to get them exposed to the natural world just outside their windows.
Deadly 60
Steve Backshall is perhaps one of Britain's most talented wildlife presenters. He has since gone on to much larger series and is creating a career that may one day start to step into the footprints of David Attenborough. It really all started with Deadly 60, though.
Originally a children's show on CBBC in the UK, this quickly became popular with adults and is now available on streaming services, such as BBC Iplayer and likely BritBox, soon. Exploring some of the most dangerous creatures in the world, Steve demonstrates his vast knowledge of these deadly species.
The Ivory Game
Oftentimes these nature and outdoor documentaries have quite a positive tone. However, for a Netflix film about the ivory trade, this film carried a very grim message about the crimes being committed against these beautiful animals.
Incredibly emotional and significantly powerful, this film demonstrates the price that elephants have to pay for such a cruel industry. It's a film that's important for everyone to watch to understand the threat these creatures are facing.
Tiny World
If the narration of Paul Rudd isn't enough to pull viewers into this Apple documentary, then perhaps it's the promise of some hilarious and tiny animals in their natural habitat. This is one of the brightest documentaries on this list.
The aim of the show is to take a look at some of the smallest creatures in the world and see the world from their perspective. It's a unique concept and one with great results. The passion that went into making the documentary is clear to see!
Penguins - Spy In The Huddle
BBC's attempt at making a new style of documentary certainly paid off, with this almost "making-of" series that somehow manages to tell the story of the animals and the filming process itself. The show uses a series of spy cams hiding in various objects and fake animals.
The lives of these penguins are therefore explored in great detail, and with the fantastic narration by David Tennant, this BritBox/BBC Iplayer series has continued to spin off into additional spycam shows.