Nature Documentaries That Will Amaze You

With the world slowly opening back up in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, people want to spend more time outdoors exploring and “seeing the world.” Our earth is a beautiful and amazing place worthy of protecting and exploring.

So before you get back out into the world, check out some of the best nature documentaries of all time to get you excited for your next adventure!

1. My Octopus Teacher (2020)

The recent Netflix Original took the world by storm last year as South African filmmaker Craig Foster (known as the founder of the Sea Change Project) spent about a year forging a unique relationship with a wild octopus off the coast of Africa. The film is exciting, showing the octopus as she defenders herself from sharks, loses an arm, and even nurtures her eggs, but let’s not give it all away.

My Octopus Teacher is a heartwarming story about a bond that can supersede species and has to be seen to be believed. The film has won countless awards and received critical acclaim from critics and audiences alike.

2. David Attenborough: Life on Our Planet (2020)

Another Netflix Original, this one narrated by English broadcaster and historian David Attenborough, Life on Our Planet is essentially Attenborough’s very own “witness statement” as he shares his very real concerns about how humanity has had a negative impact on the planet. Though that might sound a little preachy, it comes from a place of genuine love and care for the world around us.

David Attenborough: Life on Our Planet is an interesting worldwide look at how we have affected the planet. From nuclear wastelands to the Amazon rainforest, Attenborough shows us the parts of the world we would rather forget.

3. The Ivory Game (2016)

Netflix is really onto something with these nature documentaries. The Ivory Game is an in-depth examination of the worldwide ivory trade, which has become a global epidemic. This film pits governments and environmental preservationists against Chinese ivory merchants and poachers alike, reminding us that if the world governments don’t take action, elephants could be extinct in about a dozen years.

The Ivory Game, executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio (The Revenant), takes us from Africa to Asia in an attempt to raise awareness of the modern genocide of the gentle giants who roam peacefully the plains.

4. Flight of the Butterflies (2012)

Finally, a non-Netflix Original. Flight of the Butterflies is an IMAX 3D film all about, you guessed it, butterflies! This Canadian production takes a deeper look into Dr. Fred Urquhart’s nearly 40 year long journey of researching and observing the monarch butterfly. While Urquhart died in 2002, he is portrayed in the film by the voice of Babar the Elephant himself, Gordon Pinsent. 

Flight of the Butterflies details what has been known as the longest known insect migration as the monarchs take flight from Central Mexico to the United States and Canada, only to go back. It’s really quite fascinating.

5. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014)

This one might be the most controversial on the list. Cowspiracy is exactly what it sounds like, a documentary film about the conspiracy theory that animal agriculture is the largest proponent of global environmental concerns including global warming, water use, deforestation, and ocean dead zones.

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret is an odd one in that the Union of Concerned Scientists has disputed the film’s claims that the majority of greenhouse gases drive climate change when the current consensus is that fossil fuels are the main culprit. Still, it’s a really interesting watch.

6. Blackfish (2013)

This is the one that SeaWorld doesn’t want you to see. Blackfish is all about the captivity of orcas, better known as “killer whales,” in various theme park environments, specifically Tilikum (nicknamed “Tilly”), SeaWorld’s very own killer whale. It’s a heartbreaking documentary that shows the harsh conditions these sea creatures are put under for the enjoyment of others.

Blackfish ended up causing a lot of controversy surrounding the theme park chain and the death of Dawn Brancheau (which sparked the documentary in the first place), and has helped spark change within these communities.

7. March of the Penguins (2005)

The one you’ve probably been waiting for, March of the Penguins was a global phenomenon when first released, forcing parents to take their children to the cinemas in order to see these funny birds wobble around on the screen. It’s really fun for all ages. That is, of course, until the leopard seals show up. That part might be a little traumatizing.

March of the Penguins is amazing. It’s an exciting tale about a family of emperor penguins doing what they do every year: trying to survive. In one sense the film is also a love story too, so if you’re looking for a romantic documentary to watch, this is the one for you.

8. Ice on Fire (2019)

An HBO documentary that was also produced (and narrated) by Leonardo DiCaprio (he really does care about our planet, doesn’t he?), Ice on Fire explores the possibility of a potential extinction-level event caused by Arctic methane releases. Now, if you also didn’t know that the Arctic released methane, you’re not alone (so this one might be for you). 

Ice on Fire did incredibly well critically, but more importantly, the film takes its time to show the newly developed technologies that potentially reverse global warming by sequestering carbon out of the atmosphere. If that sounds way too technical, it is, but this doco is well worth a watch.

9. Elephant (2020)

This Disney+ documentary, released under Disney’s latest ‘Disneynature’ label, is all about, believe-it-or-not, elephants! And watching their lives from a more observational context (instead of just discussing the ivory trade) is beautiful both visually and emotionally.

Elephant, directed by Mark Linfield (whose work includes Planet Earth and Disney’s Earth), is an incredible story about a family that will make sure you hug your loved ones tighter than an elephant’s trunk.

10. Virunga (2014)

Admittedly, some of these films here are less about nature itself and more about our effect on it, and Virunga just so happens to be another one of those. This one is pretty heavy and covers the conservation work of four park rangers in the Congo’s Virunga National Park as well as the violent M23 Rebellion, British oil company Soco International, and even the UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s a lot to take in.

Virunga, once again a Netflix documentary produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, is ultimately about a team of brave men who risk their lives to protect the very last mountain gorillas in their community, and it’s definitely worth the watch.