Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Sometimes it can be so easy to become so sick of everything our world has to offer. Every day the news seems to get darker, the discourse cruder, and we can find ourselves losing faith.
That’s when it’s time to cast a wider gaze. This world is overflowing with beauty, kindness, and light. There’s no time to be numb to it. Rather, we should be in awe of it.
Last week, a clip of an iguana escaping a hive of snakes went viral. The heart-stopping (and ultimately inspiring) scene was from the very first episode of David Attenborough’s Planet Earth II, a sequel series to the epic nature documentary series that swept the world 10 years ago. Though packed with raw nerve and dread, the clip is a perfect example of how vastly wonderful life on earth can be.
Planet Earth II isn’t landing stateside until January, but you can still watch a plethora of life-affirming, soul-inspiring, heart-lifting documentaries on Netflix right now.
Here are 10 feel good documentaries on Netflix.
‘Planet Earth’
The original Planet Earth was a glorious spectacle that forced the viewer to see the inherent beauty all over our vast world. You can binge all eleven episodes or graze through the various vistas at your leisure. One thing you can’t do: deny the wonder of our world after watching this.
[Watch Planet Earth on Netflix]
‘Baby Animals In The Wild’
The greatest gift the internet gave us wasn’t access to information, but a never-ending collection of adorable baby animal videos. If the vast collection of clips on YouTube isn’t enough for you, Baby Animals in the Wild is a carefully curated documentary series featuring non-stop cuties. We mean it: THERE ARE 20 UNIQUE EPISODES.
[Watch Baby Animals In The Wild on Netflix]
‘Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey’
It can be easy to feel like a small, insignificant speck in the universe. Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey is the rare show that affirms our tininess while exalting how special we are. Neil DeGrasse Tyson takes viewers on a journey through time and space to teach us just how “magical” our lives are when you look at them through the prism of science.
[Watch Cosmos on Netflix]
‘An Idiot Abroad’
You can watch any number of travel documentaries hosted by empathic experts and you’ll get the glossy, glamorous view of a foreign land. However, if you watch An Idiot Abroad, you’ll get something more. You won’t just experience international cultures, but you’ll see how indefatigable human goodness is. Even as the idiot in question, Karl Pilkington, blusters through his journey, you’ll seen countless examples of human joy and the kindness that transcends all language barriers.
[Watch An Idiot Abroad on Netflix]
‘Life’
Sir David Attenborough’s follow up to Planet Earth switched things up and focused on the various species struggling to make their way on this tumultuous world. The series is an ode to life in all its different forms and a treatise on how life always seems to overcome the greatest of odds.
[Watch Life on Netflix]
‘The Blue Planet: A Natural History of the Ocean’
Okay, I know it may seem like we are overdoing it on the BBC nature docs love, but Sir David Attenborough knows what he’s about. Before Life and Planet Earth, the British scientist and presenter gave us landlubbers a fresh look at the underwater world. Discover the other side of our majestic world with The Blue Planet: A Natural History of the Ocean.
[Watch The Blue Planet: A Natural History of the Ocean on Netflix]
‘Isabella Rossellini’s Green Porno Live!’
Think nature documentaries have to be all pomp and circumstance? Isabella Rossellini says otherwise. The legendary actress traveled the world with a stage show devoted to the unique ways animals have sex. It’s not dirty, per se, but it is a very revealing look at the birds and the bees.
[Watch Isabella Rossellini’s Green Porno Live! on Netflix]
‘Flight of the Butterflies’
This is exactly what it sounds like: It’s the story of a scientist who devoted his life to tracking the migration of monarch butterflies over North America. Come for the fluttery fliers and stay for the fuzzy feels.
[Watch Flight of the Butterflies on Netflix]
'Chef's Table: France'
Netflix’s Original docuseries Chef’s Table is a triumph for culinary nerds. However, the series reaches its most poetic heights when it’s focused exclusively on France. This four episode miniseries is a beautiful look at the link between nature and culture, nourishment and the soul.
[Watch Chef’s Table: France on Netflix]
‘Iris’
Need a new hero? How about Iris Apfel? The legendary fashionista and interior designer has made a name for herself by marching to the beat of her own drum. Now, at the age of 95, she’s more relevant than ever. Her joyous look at the world will inspire you to live loud and to live more beautifully.
[Watch Iris on Netflix]
