Natural History Documentaries
by mrc08 | created - 18 Aug 2013 | updated - 20 May 2014 | PublicNatural history-focused documentaries that I've seen and rated. Not (yet) in any particular order.
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1. The Life of Birds (1998)
TV-PG | 49 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's comprehensive and richly detailed study of birds, examining the variety of different species and their ways of life.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 3,037
2. Yellowstone (2009– )
50 min | Documentary
Filmed over the course of a year in Yellowstone, this documentary tracks the area's wildlife as they grapple with life and death within one of America's last remaining wilderness regions.
Stars: Peter Firth, Mary Beth Schwartz, Jeff Henry, Dick Powell
Votes: 1,884
3. Wild Pacific (2009– )
TV-PG | 50 min | Documentary
A documentary series on life in and adapted to the conditions of the Southern part of the Pacific Ocean, a vast aquatic region with an unequaled number of islands. Both wildlife and human ... See full summary »
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Mike Rowe, Richard Wollocombe, Mark Brownlow
Votes: 2,516
4. Walking with Dinosaurs (1999)
TV-14 | 30 min | Documentary, Animation, History
Documentary-style series about the era of the dinosaurs, mixing real locations and CGI.
Stars: Nikolay Drozdov, Kenneth Branagh, Avery Brooks, Craig Sechler
Votes: 6,886
5. Walking with Prehistoric Beasts (2001)
Not Rated | 30 min | Animation, Documentary
Using the latest digital technology, the era between the dinosaurs and man is superbly recreated by the BBC and Discovery Channel in another winning production from the coalition.
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Stockard Channing, Larry Agenbroad, Frank Fish
Votes: 3,279
6. The Incredible Human Journey (2009– )
60 min | Documentary
This series explains the evidence for the theory of early human migrations out of Africa and subsequently around the world, supporting the Out of Africa Theory.
Stars: Alice Roberts, Jeffrey Rose, Clive Finlayson, Xinzhi Wu
Votes: 909
7. Origins of Us (2011)
60 min | Documentary
We have uncovered the secrets of the atom, travelled to the moon, and dominated planet Earth. But how did humans come to be so successful? This three-part series reveals the powerful ... See full summary »
Stars: Alice Roberts, Brian Richmond, Svante Pääbo, Clive Finlayson
Votes: 322
8. Prehistoric Autopsy (2012)
Not Rated | 60 min | Documentary
A team of experts try to reconstruct how our early human ancestors lived and what they looked like.
Stars: George McGavin, Alice Roberts, Jez Harris, Viktor Deak
Votes: 56
9. Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives (1989)
156 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's comprehensive study of fossils, which give many clues to how life existed on pre-historic Earth.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 887
10. The Blue Planet (2001)
TV-G | 49 min | Documentary
Mammoth series, five years in the making, taking a look at the rich tapestry of life in the world's oceans.
Stars: David Attenborough, Pierce Brosnan, Peter Scoones
Votes: 42,725
11. Being Caribou (2004)
Not Rated | 72 min | Documentary
Environmentalist Leanne Allison and wildlife biologist Karsten Heuer follow a herd of 120,000 caribou on foot, across 1,500 kilometres of rugged Arctic tundra.
Directors: Leanne Allison, Diana Wilson | Stars: Leanne Allison, Karsten Heuer, Peter Josie, Randall Tetlichi
Votes: 74
12. Rise of the Continents (2013)
TV-PG | 60 min | Documentary
The epic story of how the world's continents were created, featuring Professor Iain Stewart.
Stars: Iain Stewart, Kevin Swain, Dean Ah Chee, Josh Griffiths
Votes: 494
13. First Life (2010)
59 min | Documentary
David Attenborough goes back in time to investigate the origins of life.
Stars: David Attenborough, Justin Marshall, Jean-Bernard Caron, Mary Droser
Votes: 1,767
14. Paleoworld (1994–1997)
30 min | Documentary
PaleoWorld tracks the work of leading scientists as they solve baffling mysteries about the prehistoric era and bring our distant past vividly back to life.
Stars: Susan Rae, Robert Bakker, Ben Gazzara, Nick Schatzki
Votes: 64
15. Ice Age Giants (2013)
59 min | Documentary
Professor Alice Roberts journeys 40,000 years back in time on the trail of the great beasts of the ice age. This was the last time that giants like mammoths, woolly rhinos and sabre-toothed... See full summary »
Stars: Alice Roberts, Dominic Frisby, Alun Hubbard, Grigoriev Semyon Egorovich
Votes: 230
16. What Darwin Didn't Know (2009– )
90 min | Documentary
Explores the revolutionary ideas of Charles Darwin on the evolution of species from their very beginnings, to the publication of his On The Origin Of Species, and all the way up to our ... See full summary »
Star: Armand Leroi
Votes: 94
17. The Life of Mammals (2002–2003)
50 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's comprehensive study of how a remarkable group of animals evolved - a group that includes ourselves.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 4,242
18. Life (2009)
TV-G | 43 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's legendary BBC crew explains and shows wildlife all over planet earth. From giving an overview of the challenges facing life to hunting the deep sea and various major evolutionary groups of creatures.
Stars: Oprah Winfrey, David Attenborough, Doug Allan, Roger Munns
Votes: 42,822
19. Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)
G | 90 min | Documentary, History
Werner Herzog gains exclusive access to film inside the Chauvet caves of Southern France and captures the oldest known pictorial creations of humanity.
Director: Werner Herzog | Stars: Werner Herzog, Jean Clottes, Julien Monney, Jean-Michel Geneste
Votes: 17,796 | Gross: $5.23M
20.
Horizon (1964– )
Episode:
The Ape That Took Over the World
(2001)
Documentary
Director: Jonathan Renouf | Stars: Bernard Hill, Leslie Aiello, Justus Erus, Robert Foley
Votes: 17
21.
Horizon (1964– )
Episode:
Death of the Iceman
(2002)
Documentary
Stars: Dilly Barlow, Eduard Egarter Vigl, Markus Egg, Paul Gostner
Votes: 9
22.
Horizon (1964– )
Episode:
What Makes Us Human?
(2013)
54 min | Documentary
Professor Alice Roberts is making a new human being. She's five months pregnant. But as an anatomist, and doctor, Professor Roberts has a different perspective on her pregnancy than most ... See full summary »
Director: Toby Macdonald | Stars: Alice Roberts, Holly Dunsworth, Daniel Hanus, Jeffrey Lichtman
Votes: 37
23.
Natural World (1983– )
Episode:
The Himalayas
(2010)
Documentary
Snow leopards stalk their prey among the highest peaks. Concealed by snowfall, the chase is watched by golden eagles circling above. On the harsh plains of the Tibetan plateau live ... See full summary »
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 64
24. In Search of the Bowhead Whale (1974)
50 min | Documentary
A whale expert and a cameraman look for bowhead whales in the Arctic.
Director: Bill Mason
Votes: 9
25. March of the Penguins (2005)
G | 80 min | Documentary, Family
In the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family.
Director: Luc Jacquet | Stars: Morgan Freeman, Romane Bohringer, Charles Berling, Jules Sitruk
Votes: 59,958 | Gross: $77.44M
26. Walking with Monsters (2005)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary
The final installment in the "Walking with" series is a 90-minute documentary about the evolution of life before the dinosaurs.
Stars: Kenneth Branagh, Edward Gero
Votes: 2,414
27. Planet Dinosaur (2011)
180 min | Documentary, Animation, Action
Based on the latest paleontological discoveries from all continents, veteran actor John Hurt narrates the gory, bleak stories of the brutal relationship between the ancient apex predators and their gigantic herbivorous prey.
Star: John Hurt
Votes: 1,751
28. Beavers (1988)
Not Rated | 31 min | Documentary, Short
Several beaver families in their wild surroundings. The interesting process of building a dam can be watched as well as the dangers arising from hungry bears and other influences on the new-built home.
Director: Stephen Low | Star: Earl Pennington
Votes: 295
29. The Temperate Rain Forest (1983)
17 min | Documentary, Short
A documentary about a rain forest in British Columbia.
Director: Don White
30. The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth (2000 TV Movie)
59 min | Documentary
Follow the path of the sun on its annual cycle, from the Equator, across the northern hemisphere and into the South. Witness a world bursting with life, as spring and summer follow the ... See full summary »
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 85
31. Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor: The Link (2009 TV Movie)
59 min | Documentary
A 47 million year old fossil, 'Darwinius masillae', may be the link between modern primates, lemurs and lower mammals.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 98
32. Earth: The Power of the Planet (2007)
Not Rated | 60 min | Documentary
In each episode, geologist Dr. Iain Stewart explains the effects and importance of a specific force of nature, such as wind or volcanism. He also examines the various ways in which it ... See full summary »
Stars: Iain Stewart, Leo Houlding, Victor Baker, Jerry Wiant
Votes: 2,091
33. Winged Migration (2001)
G | 89 min | Documentary
Documentary on the migratory patterns of birds, shot over the course of three years on all seven continents.
Directors: Jacques Perrin, Jacques Cluzaud, Michel Debats | Stars: Jacques Perrin, Philippe Labro
Votes: 12,370 | Gross: $10.76M
34. Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life (2009 TV Movie)
59 min | Documentary, Family
David Attenborough explores Charles Darwin's controversial theory of evolution by natural selection.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 2,227
35. Walking with Cavemen (2003)
120 min | Documentary, History
The great follow-up to 'Walking with Dinosaurs' and 'Walking with Beasts', presented by Professor Robert Winston, explains the story of human evolution.
Stars: Robert Winston, Alec Baldwin, Andrew Sachs, Alex Palmer
Votes: 1,445
36. Great Natural Wonders of the World (2002 TV Movie)
TV-G | 57 min | Documentary
David Attenborough sets out on an intrepid quest across seven continents to create a unique television event to celebrate the wealth of natural features that makes Planet Earth so varied, so distinctive and so spectacularly beautiful.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 131
37. Life on Earth (1979)
54 min | Documentary
David Attenborough's groundbreaking study of the evolution of life on our planet.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 3,252
38.
Wildlife Specials (1995– )
Episode:
Eagle: Master of the Skies
(1997)
TV-PG | 48 min | Documentary
Few animals have captured the human imagination quite so powerfully as the eagle. Throughout the centuries, this majestic bird of prey has been a symbol of strength and courage, such is the... See full summary »
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 38
39.
Wildlife Specials (1995– )
Episode:
Leopard: Agent of Darkness
(1997)
TV-PG | 49 min | Documentary
Advancements in cameras and infrared technology allow for new insights into the lives of leopards.
Star: David Attenborough
Votes: 45
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