Apple TV+showcases some fabulous original content, and they do many things well. One of those is making nature documentaries. Their originals are not only engaging and educational on a much deeper level than the surface, but they’re also the most stunning, mesmerizing documentaries I’ve ever seen. They’re also narrated by hot-shot celebrities, such as Paul Rudd, Morgan Freeman, and Tom Hiddleston.
If you enjoy diving into nature as much as I do, I highly recommend these nine must-see Apple TV+ documentaries.
1
10
Runtime
~ 29 minutes per episode
This big beauty is narrated by Loki himself, Tom Hiddleston.Big Beastsexposes you to nature’s most captivating giants as crew members travel from freezing poles to tropical rainforests. From gray whales, elephant seals, and giant otters to gorillas, hippos, bears, and more, these beasts prove that being big comes with enormous challenges.
Hiddleston guides you through how apes and monkeys train their babies in the treetops with gravity working against them, how the monsoon season affects tigers’ hunting patterns, and how Earth’s biggest bird, the ostrich, protects its eggs in the sun-scorched African savanna.
He also walks you through the dynamic fights between big beasts to protect their families, while peeking in on Makumba, one of the best-studied gorillas in the entire world, and his efforts to maintain his status as king of the jungle.
2011
40 minutes
Head’s up: This short documentary is a heartwarming tear-jerker in the best possible way. Narrated by Morgan Freeman,Born to Be Wildis an inspired story of love, dedication, and the remarkable bond between humans and animals.
In this short viewers are transported to the lush rainforests of Borneo with world-renowned primatologist Dr. Biruté Mary Galdikas and across the rugged Kenyan savanna with celebrated elephant authority Dr. Dame Daphne M. Sheldrick. Together, they and their teams rescue, rehabilitate, and return these incredible animals back into the world and into their natural habitats.
Born to Be Wildis all about saving endangered species one life at a time, and I don’t know about you, but I’m always here for that.
2
12
Earth At Night In Coloris, hands down, the most mesmerizing nature documentary streaming on Apple TV+. It’s absolutely breathtaking to witness the beauty of Mother Nature in all her glory, under the moonlight.
Tom Hiddleston narrates as we travel across six continents to capture the nocturnal lives of animals. The use of cutting-edge, specialized low-light camera technology reveals moonlit dramas and new behaviors of animals filmed in full color, like never before—and you can trust me when I tell you, they mean the whole “like never before” thing.
Earth At Night In Colorwill change your perspective on wildlife, and the narration, cinematography, and stunning visuals will keep you glued to your TV screen. This is your chance to get a fascinating look at nature in a way the human eye has never seen, making it a topApple TV+ show to binge this weekend.
~ 30 minutes per episode
When you think about nature documentaries, the last thing that comes to mind is sound, but that’s the focus of Apple TV+’s coolest nature series to date.
Earthsoundsuses cutting-edge audio technology to reveal the unexpected, unfamiliar, and untold stories of how animals, insects, and critters use, detect, and are affected by sound in the natural world. It also explores the acoustics of the Earth’s landscapes and atmospheres.
This series is, again, narrated by Tom Hiddleston, and it showcases sound through the inclusion of the desert hum, of how sound travels underwater (as is evidenced in the underwater love songs of walruses), of ice shelves vibrating in powerful winds, of icebergs whistling and cracking as they merge with sea ice, and of the Northern Lights' eerie buzz resonating under a celestial symphony.
Earthsoundsis informative, educational, engrossing, and utterly seductive. Not only will you see pieces of nature you weren’t aware existed, but you’ll also learn (and hear) things about insects and animals that sound like something straight out of a science fiction tale. You will crave more once it’s over.
2022 - 2023
~ 40 minutes per episode
I wasn’t kidding when I said hot-shot celebrities were involved in these nature documentary series.Prehistoric Planetis executive produced by Jon Favreau and narrated by David Attenborough, and it’s the first collaboration between the BBC Studios Natural History Unit and Apple TV+.
This epic docuseries offers you the chance to experience the wonders of our beautiful world. Travel back 66 million years ago and see what our planet was like when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed the lands, swam the seas, and conquered the skies.
Prehistoric Planetutilizes cutting-edge technology along with paleontology to depict dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures in their natural habitats. It combines wildlife filmmaking techniques with CGI to create a much more realistic and immersive experience of the Cretaceous period than you could ever imagine.
~ 33 minutes per episode
Exposed animal secrets? Yes, please! In this sweet little gem, which is the second collaboration between Apple TV+ and the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, we discover the clever and creative ways that animals navigate life’s most extraordinary challenges, from leaving home to finding a life partner.
Narrated by Hugh Bonneville,The Secret Lives of Animalsis a series that showcases footage of rare animal behaviors across 77 species in 24 countries, focusing on their intelligence and adaptability through pivotal life moments.
Highlights of this beautifully filmed documentary series include a trashline orb-weaver spider constructing a deceptive self-portrait puppet to deter predators, a wood mouse that creates its own signposts, and a unique symbiotic relationship between a dotted humming frog and a burrowing tarantula.
6
~ 22 minutes per episode
The Wild Onesis one ofApple TV+’s new shows premiering this summer. This awe-inspiring journey takes you along for the ride as a team of world-class filmmakers and scientists venture into challenging, remote environments to try and save six endangered species from extinction.
Dubbed by the streamer as one of the most ambitious wildlife series ever filmed,The Wild Ones—originally titledEndangered Planet—explores Earth’s most fragile ecosystems, unearthing clues about how to help save and protect the most precious endangered species.
Each episode features groundbreaking, often first-time footage of the planet’s most charismatic species using cutting-edge technology. The rare species profiled include the Gobi bear, Malayan tiger, Javan rhino, Caucasian leopard, Cross River gorilla, and the North Atlantic right whale. All the elusive animals captured on film have one thing in common: There are fewer than 1,000 of them left in the wild.
As a bonus, you’ll get to meet this fun crew and enjoy watching them work and interact with each other.The Wild Onesis also the third collaboration between Apple TV+ and BBC Studios Natural History Unit.
2021
48 minutes
Through never-before-seen footage, David Attenborough shows us how our life during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted nature.The Year Earth Changedis a mesmerizing portrait of the natural world in a year of lockdown. The 48-minute TV movie shows how our many-months-long quarantine opened the door for nature to bounce back and start to thrive again.
Attenborough points out the planet’s remarkable powers of resilience as it responded to the shutdown-induced calm and snapped into recovery mode in just a few short months. For example, in big cities, without the noise of traffic, we could hear songbirds again. Free from the incessant, rhythmic hum of boat engines, humpback whales communicate over greater distances, freeing up nursing mothers to roam farther in search of food.
Even sea turtles were affected. They were able to leave clutches of eggs on the undisturbed beaches. Because of this, their tiny babies were not only able to survive but also thrive as they returned to the ocean in numbers not seen for years.
From there, we venture into the suburban fringe, where the collective message becomes crystal clear: Nature is healing.
Paul Rudd narrates this captivating docuseries that spotlights Mother Nature’s lesser-known tiny heroes, while witnessing the extraordinary things they do to survive, then thrive.
Each episode focuses on the unique behaviors and adaptations of various species as they meander through their world, emphasizing the importance of even the smallest members of the animal kingdom. Over the course of two seasons and 12 episodes,Tiny Worldreveals surprising stories through spectacular cinematography. You’ll get an up-close-and-personal look at the challenges faced by tiny creatures in diverse habitats, like the African savanna, the Australian Outback, the jungle, and even a backyard garden.
Tiny Worldis meant to be both educational and entertaining, which it is, especially with Rudd narrating. It appeals to a wide range of ages and inspires a child-like sense of wonder about the natural world. Just so you know how much work went intoTiny World, the docuseries took nearly a decade to film. The team captured over 200 different species on camera, highlighting the dedication and effort involved in bringing this unique perspective to interested, curious viewers.
These docuseries and short films amazed me at how far documentary filmmaking techniques have come since Mutual of Omaha’sWild Kingdom. After you finish these, see what otherApple TV+ shows you’re missing out on, and binge those next!
Apple TV+
Don’t miss these mesmerizing nature documentary originals streaming on Apple TV+.
