The best nature documentaries
The top 3 according to 71 votes from people: Planet Earth (2006) · The Blue Planet (2001) · Planet Earth II (2016). (Updated Jul 14, 2026.)
Mostly David Attenborough, and rightly so: the nature series and films that set the standard for wildlife filmmaking, based on StudioBinder, Screen Rant and Time Out.
Top 10
-
1
Planet Earth (2006)
Five years in 62 countries: the series that defined the genre.
-
2
The Blue Planet (2001)
The first great BBC series about life in the sea.
-
3
Planet Earth II (2016)
Stabilised rigs, low-light cameras and the iguana-versus-snakes chase.
-
4
Frozen Planet (2011)
The Arctic and the Antarctic through the seasons.
-
5
Seven Worlds, One Planet (2019)
One episode per continent.
-
6
Our Planet (2019)
Attenborough and WWF for Netflix, with a conservation message.
-
7
Planet Earth III (2023)
The third series, with more on what humans are doing to habitats.
-
8
Microcosmos (1996)
The world of insects in a meadow, up close.
-
9
Dynasties (2018)
Five animal families followed for years.
-
10
March of the Penguins (2005)
Emperor penguins' trek across Antarctica, by Luc Jacquet.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
-
11
Blue Planet II (2017)
The oceans, from coral reefs to the deep sea.
-
12
Life (2009)
How animals and plants survive, in ten episodes.
-
13
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)
His witness statement on the planet's decline.
-
14
Life on Earth (1979)
Attenborough's original history of life on the planet.
-
15
My Octopus Teacher (2020)
A diver's year-long friendship with an octopus; Oscar winner.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first!