Best On Netflix

The 17 Best Nature and Science Documentaries On Netflix With The Highest Rotten Tomatoes Scores

By Kayla Cobb @kaylcobb

Published Sep. 4, 2018, 8:15 a.m. ET

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collage of A Planet Earth II animal The Chasing Coral diver Bill Nye from Bill Nye: Science Guy — To shocking docs to love letters to Bill Nye, Netflix has it all.Photos: Everett Collection, NETFLIX ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps

coral reef — ***Chasing Coral***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
If you don't think that coral can make you cry then you've never seen this. Director Jeff Orlowski's in-depth documentary showcases how pollution as destroyed one ecosystem. It's a celebration of aquatic life as well as a warning about what we're doing to it.
[Stream Chasing Coral on Netflix]Everett

skyline — ***Dream Big: Engineering Our Future***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
From Academy Award winner Jeff Bridges, *Dream Big* is a love letter to engineering. The documentary dives into the innovations of the field while questioning what drives these people to guide us to a better future.
[Stream Dream Big: Engineering Our Future on Netflix]Everett

medical tech — ***The Bleeding Edge***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Unlike other titles on this list, filmmaker Kirby Dick's documentary won't make you feel better about the future of science and technology. The doc explores the profit-driven mindset that has overtaken the $400 billion medical device industry. It's sure to leave you shocked.
[Stream The Bleeding Edge on Netflix]Everett

***Bill Nye: Sceince Guy***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
So it's not technically about science, but there are few people who can say that they were responsible for making several generations of kids excited for science. Directed by Jason Sussberg and David Alvarado, this film follows Nye as he tries to use his celebrity to advocate for reason and evidence-based research. It's an interesting look at an influential personality as well as our current culture.
[Stream The Confession Tapes on Netflix]Photo: Netflix

***The Farthest: Voyager in Space***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Directed by Emer Reynolds, if you're looking for a visually gorgeous documentary about space, this is it. The film chronicles NASA's 1977 launch of twin space probes. The story of the launch and watch happened next are worth checking out.
[Stream The Confession Tapes on Netflix]Photo: Netflix

firefighters — ***Fire Chasers***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
This docuseries is one of the more relevant titles you can watch right now. The series focuses on the 2016 California wildfires, following the brave men and women dedicated to putting out these flames. Each episode dives into different reasons for why these fires were so bad from climate change to altered vegetation patterns.
[Stream Fire Chasers on Netflix]Everett

hyenas — ***The Hunt***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Created by the same team behind *Planet Earth*, *The Hunt* is a must-watch if you love predators. The documentary explores the complex relationship between predators and their prey. And before you ask, yes, of course Sir David Attenborough narrates.
[Stream The Hunt on Netflix]Netflix

cat — ***Planet Earth II***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
You can't think of calming nature documenatries without Sir David Attenborough coming to mind. The first *Planet Earth* was an extraordinary feat of documentary filmmaking, and its sequel created 10 years later is even more impressive. Prepare to enjoy some up-close encounters with species you've only read about.
[Stream Planet Earth II on Netflix]Netflix

***Blackfish***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite's chilling expose on Sea World is another powerful documentary that hurts to watch. The film follows the story of Tilikum, a captive killer whale who's responsible for killing several people. But, as the documentary proves, it's the system surrounding this animal that's the real monster.
[Stream Blackfish on Netflix]Photo: Netflix

***Food Inc.***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
Ever wondered where your food comes from? This POV special will tell you in graphic detail. Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner explains how huge corporations have taken over all elements of the food change in the United States and why that's not always for the best.
[Stream Food Inc. on Netflix]Photo: Netflix

chimp — ***Planet Earth***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
This was the award-winning docuseries that started it all. Though its sequel contains more intimate camerawork thanks to the evolution of technology, this BBC series is one of the greatest and most soothing nature documentaries of all time.
[Stream Planet Earth on Netflix]Netflix

man in hazmat suit — ***Into the Inferno***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
Werner Herzog's deep dive into the world of volcanoes is both fascinating and shocking. He and his team visit volcanoes in Indonesia, Ethiopia, and North Korea in an attempt to understand man's relationship with this natural phenomenon. The documentary does drag in some places, but if you love volcano footage, this is for you.
[Stream Into the Inferno on Netflix]Everett

***The Most Unknown***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
Ian Cheney's documentary about bacteria is more interesting than any documentary on bacteria has a right to be. The film follows nine scientists who travel to extraordinary parts of the world to test relatively unknown substances. Along the way they also try to answer some of humanity's biggest questions.
[Stream The Most Unknown on Netflix]Photo: Netflix

***Life 2.0***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
This title dives more into the technology side of things and the implications of it. Directed by Jason Spingarn-Koff , *Life 2.0* explores the super players of the online game *Second Life*. It's a quiet reflection on what people are looking for when it comes to digital escapism.
[Stream Life 2.0 on Netflix]Netflix

tundra — ***Happy People: A Year in Taiga***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
Directed by Dmitry Vasyukov and Werner Herzog, this film is sure to make you happy. The film follows the indigenous people on the Siberian Taiga who are living in a village on the river Yenisei. How their relationship with nature has affected their lifestyle is something to behold.
[Stream Happy People: A Year in Taiga on Netflix]Everett

***The Ivory Game***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
Directed by Richard Ladkani and Kief Davidson, this film isn't something you want to watch if you're having a bad day. Filmmakers went undercover for 16 months to document the corruption at the heart of the global ivory trafficking crisis. African elephants have been dying in record numbers and this documentary attempts to understand why.
[Stream The Ivory Game on Netflix]Netflix

***Before the Flood***
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 71%
Directed by Fisher Stevens and helmed by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, this documentary about climate change isn't the best, but it makes some interesting points. DiCaprio meets with scientists, activists and world leaders to discuss the dangers of climate change and possible solutions.
[Stream Before the Flood on Netflix]Photo: Netflix

Where to Stream:

Chasing Coral

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Scripted television is wonderful, but sometimes you’re in the mood for something a bit more enriching and visually fulfilling. After a long day of dealing with the stresses of life, you need a show or movie that’s soothing and speaks to the goodness of the world, something like a nature documentary or a doc on the joys of science. We get it, and thankfully Netflix does too.

The streaming service always has a strong collection of nature and science-focused documentaries so that we can learn a thing or two in the middle of our marathon TV sessions. Whether you’re looking for quiet and reflective works of art about the beauty of nature or thrilling takedowns about corrupt systems, Netflix has your back. And we’re here to help you sort through the clutter.

Though there’s a huge library of documentaries on Netflix, only a handful have received the Rotten Tomatoes seal of approval. If you’re in the mood for a documentary that’s both educational and shocking look no further than Blackfish, The Ivory Game, or the excellent Netflix original Chasing Coral. Want something calmer? We hear you. Check out Planet Earth, Planet Earth II, and last year’s insightful spotlight on a beloved icon, Bill Nye: Science Guy.

Whatever kind of nerdy binge you’re in the mood for, Netflix has you covered. So kick back, press play, and get ready for an education from your couch. These are the 17 best nature and science documentaries on Netflix, ranked by their Season 1 Rotten Tomatoes Critic Scores.

Stream Chasing Coral on Netflix