“As the world around us continues to unfold like a canvas of breathtaking beauty and complexity, it’s no wonder that our fascination with the natural world has never been stronger. From the majestic migrations of wildebeests to the intricate social hierarchies of ants, the wonders of nature have long captivated our imagination and sparked a sense of awe. And what better way to experience the thrill of the wild than through the lens of a masterful documentary filmmaker? With Netflix offering an ever-growing library of stunning nature documentaries, we’re excited to share our top 10 picks for the must-watch nature documentaries on the platform in 2025. From the frozen tundras of the Arctic to the lush rainforests of the Amazon, these films will transport you to the most remote and awe-inspiring corners of our planet, and leave you with a newfound appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our natural world. So grab some popcorn, get cozy, and get ready to embark on a journey of discovery and
Top Picks
10 Night on Earth gets us off to a strong start. Not to be confused with the 1991 action movie starring Winona Ryder, the Netflix series follows the lives of nocturnal species through an entirely new lens. And when I say a ‘new lens’, I mean literally; it uses state-of-the-art, low-light camera technology. It shows viewers the nighttime activities of everything from lions to bats, allowing a whole new angle of their activities. The 6-episode series is narrated by Samira Wiley. Sadly, the documentary never made it past season 1. But what we do get is a masterful, unique look at the nighttime activities of animals.
Seaspiracy is an eye-opening, fascinating documentary about the human impact of fishing on marine life. The film comes from British filmmaker Ali Tabrizi. I appreciate that it sheds light on an issue that’s seldom addressed. There’s also another similar documentary on Netflix, Conspiracy, which highlights the immense impact animal agriculture has on the environment. I highly recommend them both as eye-opening films!
Wild Babies I watched Wild Babies the day it was released in 2022, and it has stuck with me ever since. I keep going back to it. The 8-episode limited series chronicles the wholesome, interesting lives of baby animals. Nature has its struggles, trials, and tribulations, and it’s so fascinating to see the nurturing process of baby animals in the wild. The series follows a number of species, from the Skeleton Coast of Africa to the super harsh conditions of Antarctica.
More Must-Watch Documentaries
Our Universe
Our Universe shows the scale of everything, from the unique position of life on planet Earth to the origins of our lifeforms to the physical geography of our planet. Masterfully narrated by Morgan Freeman, this 6-episode series is a one-stop tour of the functions of Earth. It’s visually stunning, offering a bigger-picture view. It’s one of those shows that makes you feel so small in the universe, connecting the dots of our 13.8 billion-year history
Great National Parks
Our Great National Parks is a five-part documentary series narrated by former U.S. President Barack Obama. The series takes viewers on a tour of some of the world’s most famous national parks, such as the Great Barrier Reef and Kenya’s Tsavo National Park. Obama’s brilliant narration offers myriad insights about the parks home to innumerable animals. It offers stunning visuals and guarantees you’ll finish the series more knowledgeable than when you began.
Our Oceans
We all wish we could be world travelers; there’s so much of the natural world to discover, so many new environments and landscapes to explore. Unfortunately, dropping everything and traveling to the farthest reaches of the African savanna or diving into the depths of the Pacific Ocean isn’t always an option. But there’s more than one way to get your fill of the natural world, and while a good old-fashioned documentary may not ever take the place of a true journey, it can get us a little closer. Get immersed in the world around you — without leaving your own natural habitat — by hitting play on these nine nature docs you can watch right now, on Earth Day or any other time of year.
Series with a Focus on Conservation
Life on Our Planet
This is your chance to walk with dinosaurs in a way you never have before. Life on Our Planet gives you a glimpse at the four billion-year story of Earth’s past, using modern CGI to bring long-extinct creatures back to life. Steven Spielberg, the director who brought us Jurassic Park, is an executive producer on this eight-episode series that tells the story of life and its battle to survive on Earth through five mass extinction events, and the looming possibility of a sixth. This isn’t your average nature documentary — you’ll have front row seats to a battle between a Tyrannosaurus rex and a triceratops, and you’ll see saber-toothed tigers in their natural habitat, all narrated by Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman.
Our Planet
Our Planet is a remarkable story that explores the natural wonders of the world through the lens of how climate change is potentially threatening its existence. The eight-episode series is narrated by David Attenborough and is the product of a four-year collaboration of massive scope between Netflix, Silverback Films and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Each episode of Our Planet showcases animals in their home regions and explains the human impact on the living world — and once you finish watching, you can continue the story by queuing up Our Planet II.
Chimp Empire
Shot in a remote rainforest setting, Chimp Empire exposes facets of chimp life that have never been seen on film before. (No, not even in that other blissfully revelatory nature show you love to binge.) The Ngogo community is the largest known group of chimpanzees in the world, and at the time of filming this series from director James Reed (My Octopus Teacher), it had splintered into two competing factions. Filmmakers were present on the front lines for the life-or-death fight for supremacy between the Central and Western groups, making Chimp Empire a nature documentary that feels more like a historical conquest epic or a cutthroat boardroom thriller.
New Nature Documentaries Coming to Netflix in 2025
Documentaries
Pulse For years, procedurals have performed exceptionally well regarding viewership (see how NCIS has topped the Nielsen charts for years and continued fantastic viewership for Grey’s Anatomy), so it’s all the more confusing why Netflix has avoided the type of program for all these years. Next year, that changes with the release of the new medical drama series Pulse, following the personal and professional lives of a vast collection of doctors and nurses working at the Miami Trauma Center. Not only is the format exciting for Netflix, but the cast will almost certainly get people to tune in, too, with over 70 people tied to the cast of the first season so far, with headliners being Willa Fitzgerald, Jessie Usher, Justina Machado, Colin Woodell, and Jack Bannon. We’ve high expectations for this, given that veteran screenwriter Carlton Cuse (Locke & Key, Jack Ryan, Bates Motel) is one of the showrunners of the new series. Filming took place in New Mexico between March and July 2024.
Ransom Canyon
Shows like Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias are sneaky Netflix hits in that they don’t pull in the biggest viewership numbers, but given the audience they serve and their budgets, they are able to keep getting renewed. Sitting firmly in the same genre is Ransom Canyon, a new romance series mixed with some Western vibes based on the book series by Jodi Thomas. The story revolves around three ranching families operating and competing in the heart of Texas. It’s a bit of a mix of the aforementioned shows plus a bit of Yellowstone, which we all know has been going great guns in recent years, and from some small set leaks, this could prove to be a big ticket show for 2025. Among the cast for Ransom Canyon are Minka Kelly, Josh Duhamel, Eoin Macken, and Lizzy Greene. Filming took place at Netflix’s Albuquerque studio in New Mexico in the first half of 2024, with 10 episodes making up the first season.
House of Guinness
One of several projects originating from the United Kingdom on this list is House of Guinness. This ambitious new Succession-style period drama documents the life of the Guinness business empire, which is still alive and kicking today. It tells the story of the death of Benjamin Guinness, the founder of the brewery, and the battle for control by his four adult children following his death. We’ve been tracking the limited series pretty in-depth, and it looks like no expense has been spared with lavish sets and a fantastic cast. That cast is headlined by Anthony Boyle, Louis Partridge, Emily Fairn, and Fionn O’Shea, who all play the surviving heirs. If we haven’t sold you yet, know that the series is being written by Steven Knight, who has had a long history of creating well-reviewed hits wherever he goes. He’s best known for his work on all six seasons of Peaky Blinders (he’s also working on the new Netflix movie) for the BBC and Netflix and Taboo for FX and the BBC, but he is also known for his film work on titles like Locke, Serenity, Dirty Pretty Things, and Eastern Promises.
Conclusion
As we conclude our list of the 10 Must-Watch Nature Documentaries on Netflix in 2025, it’s clear that these films offer a profound glimpse into the wonders and complexities of our planet. From the majestic beauty of our oceans to the resilience of our forests, these documentaries showcase the intricate relationships between species and ecosystems. By exploring the natural world through the lens of these documentaries, viewers are reminded of the importance of conservation, sustainability, and preserving our planet’s biodiversity.
The significance of these documentaries extends far beyond mere entertainment, as they serve as a call to action, urging us to take a closer look at our impact on the environment. As climate change and environmental degradation continue to pose significant threats to our planet, these films provide a powerful reminder of the urgent need for collective action. By highlighting the beauty and fragility of our natural world, they inspire us to make conscious choices that prioritize the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.
As we look to the future, it’s clear that the importance of nature documentaries will only continue to grow. With the world at a crossroads, these films will play a vital role in shaping our understanding of the natural world and our place within it. As we move forward, it’s crucial that we continue to prioritize the production and dissemination of high-quality, impactful nature documentaries that inspire and educate audiences. By doing so, we can ensure that the beauty and wonder of our planet will continue to captivate and inspire generations to come, and ultimately, drive meaningful change for the sake of our planet’s future.
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