The 15 best nature documentaries and docuseries

Even for those of us who snoozed in biology class (sorry, teach), there is something undeniably magical about a good nature documentary. The combination of killer shots and powerful narration can transport us around the world without ever having to leave our comfy couches.

Some of these stories wordlessly follow conflicts in the animal kingdom, while others have a lot to say about the mechanizations of Earth, the state of our climate, and how humans are inextricably connected to the world around us.

Here is EW’s list of the 15 best nature documentaries and docuseries.

01 of 15

“Planet Earth” (2006)

For nature documentary lovers, Planet Earth is an important part of television history. It was the BBC’s first high-definition doc, and it still looks gorgeous all these years later. The dulcet tones of David Attenborough guide us through a different part of the planet in each episode, treating our home with the majestic reverence (and huge budget) typically reserved for blockbuster films. Planet Earth went on to spawn multiple sequels that are amazing in their own right, but for our money, nothing beats the epic scope and sheer creativity of the original.

Where to watch Planet Earth: Max

02 of 15

“Home” (2009)

Planet Earth walked so that Home could run — or should we say fly. Director Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s documentary consists largely of aerial shots that help us see the Earth from an angle typically reserved for birds. Of course, this film will also inspire worry for said birds and other wildlife; much of the narrative focuses on the potentially irrevocable ecological harm human activity is doing to the world and its many living creatures. That makes for a sobering watch, but these breathtaking views help the medicine of the message go down a bit easier.

Where to watch Home: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

03 of 15

“My Octopus Teacher” (2020)

Winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, My Octopus Teacher is a story about connection told by a free-diving filmmaker who bonds with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest. As the creature invites him into her underwater life, she inadvertently informs and transforms his human relationships — especially with his son. It takes a talented production team to make a nature documentary feel like an important story about humanity, but this crew pulls it off, creating a piece of art that is affecting, educational, and inspiring.

Where to watch My Octopus Teacher: Netflix

04 of 15

“Honeyland” (2019)

Honeyland is a unique nature documentary because it has a human protagonist in Hatidže Muratova, a lone beekeeper in the mountains of Macedonia whose life and livelihood are upended by a new neighbor. The lauded film does a spectacular job of showcasing how the lives of humans and bees are inextricably intertwined — and what’s at stake when one doesn’t take care of the other.

Where to watch Honeyland: Max

05 of 15

“The Hunt” (2015)

Most predator/prey documentaries voyeuristically focus on the grisly outcomes of these encounters. However, this David Attenborough-narrated series is more concerned with the clever ways that targets evade their would-be killers and the increasingly savvy (and savage) ways that hunters learn to overpower their victims. With each episode focusing on different parts of the planet, The Hunt is as diverse as the creatures it follows. That being said, it may be a tough watch for animal lovers or the faint of heart.

Where to watch The Hunt: Max

06 of 15

“Africa” (2013)

While many great docs take audiences all around the world, there is something special about deep dives into a specific place. That’s the case with Africa, which focuses on the different wildlife and ecosystems across the titular continent. David Attenborough narrates the BBC version, and Forest Whitaker leads Discovery's take. Regardless of who’s at the helm, though, each episode does a fantastic job of shedding light on regions that are too often glossed over in other nature documentaries.

Where to watch Africa: Max

07 of 15

“Our Planet” (2019–2023)

Netflix has been busy churning out original content for years, and Our Planet was the first nature documentary series created by the streamer. Aided by David Attenborough’s familiar voice, this doc offers the thrilling views we’ve come to expect, but it also carries an urgent message. It's a large-scale, big-budget production that implores us to take action at individual, national, and international levels to address the damage caused by climate change. Otherwise, we global citizens may destroy the home we collectively share.

Where to watch Our Planet: Netflix

08 of 15

“Samsara” (2011)

Those who are interested in unique nature documentaries should make time for Samsara. This movie notably has no narrator, allowing the montage of imagery shot on 70mm film to tell its own story as viewers get to tour 25 countries across the globe. As much as we love narrators like David Attenborough, this film is stronger for its simplicity, and its good vibes inspire an inner harmony that few other docs can match.

Where to watch Samsara: Tubi

09 of 15

“Wonders of the Universe” (2011)

If you miss Carl Sagan making every aspect of the galaxy sound fascinating, then Wonders of the Universe is the nature documentary series for you. Narrated by physicist and professor Brian Cox, this program focuses on crunchy concepts such as light, gravity, time, and how each of these “wonders” has shaped the material universe around us. The Sagan connection is particularly strong in the second episode, which dives into how stardust is a building block for both the cosmos and humanity. All these years later, we still enjoy good reminders that all of us are made of “star stuff.”

Where to watch Wonders of the Universe: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

10 of 15

“The Blue Planet” (2001)

A great irony of most nature documentaries is that even when they touch on all the continents, they’re still ignoring most of the world. The Blue Planet addresses this gap by having David Attenborough narrate deep dives into the oceans, which comprise a whopping 70 percent of Earth. Each episode examines different aspects of life under the sea, and the narratives are just as concerned with history as they are with biology.

Where to watch The Blue Planet: Discovery+

11 of 15

“South Pacific” (2009)

South Pacific is almost hypnotic to watch, and you don’t have to be a detective to understand why. This BBC documentary series about the South Pacific islands is narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch, and his steady, stentorian tones are preferable to the Discovery Channel's narration by Mike Rowe. No matter who’s handling narration duties, though, the visuals remain stunning as each episode covers a different aspect of the world’s largest ocean, from deserted islands to underwater volcanoes.

Where to watch South Pacific: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

12 of 15

“Nature’s Great Events” (2009)

Nature’s Great Events is narrated by David Attenborough for the BBC and by Hasani Isa for Discovery. Each episode focuses on how weather and wildlife have combined to create incredible events that equal (and often surpass) feats of human achievement. You’ll witness polar bears, buffalo, elephants, and more face seemingly insurmountable challenges, and it’s genuinely captivating to see how they navigate matters of life or death.

Where to watch Nature’s Great Events: Max

13 of 15

“Life in the Undergrowth” (2005)

While many nature documentaries feature aerial views of settings and species, Life in the Undergrowth takes the opposite approach by plunging us beneath the earth. Special cameras help us get up close and personal with each episode’s various invertebrates and the qualities that make them invaluable parts of our ecosystem. That may sound (ahem) smaller in scope than docs that focus on large mammals, but we promise the world down below is just as fascinating as the one up above.

Where to watch Life in the Undergrowth: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

14 of 15

“The Life of Mammals” (2002)

David Attenborough has narrated several works in the Life of lineup, but we found The Life of Mammals to be the most compelling. As the name implies, this nature documentary series dedicates each episode to a different mammal group, exploring how evolution shaped them and the ways that history informs their modern-day activities. Whether you love Attenborough, animals, or perhaps both, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into.

Where to watch The Life of Mammals: Not available to stream

15 of 15

“Frozen Planet” (2011)

It’s not exactly science fiction, but like Star Trek, Frozen Planet takes us where no (or at least few) documentarians have gone before. David Attenborough narrates this visual journey through the Arctic and the Antarctic with intimate looks at exotic species, including Adelie penguins, Arctic wolves, albatrosses, and polar bears. Back in 2011, the documentary series made waves due to its honesty about how climate change has caused major harm to these areas and their inhabitants. Now, such honesty is certainly needed more than ever.

Where to watch Frozen Planet: Max

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