Top 10 Wildlife Documentaries
For our latest Top Docs we’ve teamed up with French wildlife photographer Matthieu Courdesses to bring you 10 of the best wildlife documentaries ever made.
From the mountain gorillas of Rwanda to the orang-utans of Sumatra and South Africa’s black-maned lion, Matthieu specialises in photographing and raising awareness of species that face extinction. Through his work as a ranger in South Africa and as an award-winning photographer in France, Matthieu’s focus is on advancing wildlife conservation efforts. You can follow him on Instagram to discover some of his stunning work.
We’ve reflected this in our list, including investigative films that shine a light on the villains, victims and heroes of the global fight for the protection of wild animals.
Unsurprisingly, heart-throb David Attenborough and the BBC are prominent features of our selection.
Wildlife photographer Matthieu Courdesses
Planet Earth & Planet Earth II
Picked by Doc Weekly
Dazzling state-of-the-art imagery sets this breathtaking documentary series (and its sequel) aside from any other of its kind.
Footage of some of the world's most awe-inspiring natural wonders, from the oceans to the deserts to the polar ice caps, is narrated by Sir David Attenborough - a naturalist icon that continues to dedicate his life’s work to the natural world.
The Ivory Game by Richard Ladkani, Kief Davidson
Picked by Matthieu Courdesses
“Ivory Game” is an investigation on all fronts of the ivory trade: from national parks in Africa to the the streets of Hong Kong. The storytelling is surprisingly fair, and like any good investigation, “Ivory Game” makes the audience think.
This is important watching to better understand the fight against poaching: not only a fight to save the largest land mammals, but also a means of stemming terrorism and crime in other parts of the world. Too often, animal preservation is the last of the battles to be waged, but Ladkani and Davidson successfully show how intimately linked the fate of the elephant is to the survival and development of local people.
Cities: Nature's New Wild by Matt Brandon, Roger Webb
Picked by Doc Weekly
Discover the unbelievable ways that animals around the world are changing their behaviour to better live in cities. From otters living in storm drains in Singapore, to alligators breeding on golf courses in Florida and scorpions spreading through Las Vegas, we loved this series from the day it was released.
While it shines a light on the way humans are negatively impacting the environment, it shows glimmers of hope among strong local communities that are helping new life flourish in the most unlikely of places.
From the delightful to the downright unbelievable, it’s hard to tear yourself away from this three-part series, narrated by Daniel Kaluuya.
The Lost Film of Dian Fossey by Lori Butterfield
Picked by Matthieu Courdesses
“If I chose this film, it is also for personal reasons. On a recent trip to Rwanda, I visited the site where Dian Fossey worked, and where she was eventually buried (with her gorillas). Seeing the the landscapes I saw on my own adventure was particularly moving and my analysis of the film is undeniably biased.”
In “The lost film of Dian Fossey”, brilliant screenwriting helps to better understand the precious work of the primatologist in the conservation of mountain gorillas. We understand that Dian Fossey was not only a scientist, but also a protector, and that her presence with the different families of gorillas was a means of saving them.
Blackfish by Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Picked by Doc Weekly
This unnerving film follows the story of Tilikum, a captive killer whale that through a series of spooky clashes, has taken the lives of several people. Closer investigation points to problems within the sea-park industry, man's relationship with nature and how little has been learned about these highly intelligent mammals.
A documentary classic of recent years that will spook and educate you in equal measure.
Seven Worlds, One Planet by Scott Alexander
Picked by Matthieu Courdesses
“If I say the latest BBC documentary surpasses Planet Earth, it wouldn’t be very original, so let me take a different perspective…
Having been a Ranger in Southern Africa, I was absolutely amazed at the scenes of life that the BBC managed to film for this series. The extreme rarity of the moments captured on film shows the enormous work of investigation and preparation from the production teams. It is inconceivable to imagine filming such scenes without perfect ethological knowledge of the animals of the area.”
With Seven Worlds: One planet, the BBC shows once again its almighty power in the genre of animal documentary, both in terms of narration and footage.
Virunga by Orlando von Einsiedel
Picked by Doc Weekly
A powerful combination of investigative journalism and nature documentary, the Oscar-nominated “Virunga” is the incredible true story of a group of courageous people risking their lives to build a better future in a part of Africa the world has forgotten, and a gripping exposé of the realities of life in the Congo.
We’re massive fans of Orlando Von Einsiedel, a true master of the documentary format who’s films never fail to emotionally connect with their audience.
Night on Earth by Mark Robertson
Picked by Matthieu Courdesses
This Netflix wildlife documentary series is based on one technological feat: night-vision.
“Night on Earth” highlights the nocturnal activities of the animal kingdom and observes the interactions between flora and fauna, from dusk to dawn. Using low-light cameras able to film in ultra-high definition, colour and moonlight; as well as thermal cameras, the team was able to capture some unique images. Paradoxically for a series that takes place after sunset, the amount of colours and saturation is dazzling.
““Night on Earth” is the ultimate proof that with the help of technology, innovation in the making of wildlife films is inexhaustible.”
Blue Planet II
Picked by Doc Weekly
A follow-up to the 2001 award-winning show "The Blue Planet", this natural history series sees Sir David Attenborough return as narrator and host with the BBC. Hourlong episodes capture animals and other living organisms in their natural habitat, presenting viewers with a fascinating insight into life underwater.
From tropical seas to the harsh conditions of the Arctic, the makers of "Blue Planet II" use modern filming equipment and techniques to shine a light on areas of the planet that humans have never seen before.
Sea of Shadows by Richard Ladkani
Picked by Matthieu Courdesses
“Once again, Richard Ladkani takes to his camera to denounce exotic animal trading.”
When Mexican drug cartels and Chinese traffickers join forces to poach the rare totoaba fish in the Sea of Cortez, their deadly methods threaten virtually all marine life in the region, including the most elusive and endangered whale species on Earth, the vaquita porpoise.
“Sea of Shadows” follows a team of dedicated scientists, high-tech conservationists, investigative journalists and courageous undercover agents as well as the Mexican Navyas, sho put their lives on the line to save the last remaining vaquitas and bring a vicious international crime syndicate to justice.
Our Top Docs series brings you a readymade selection of the best documentaries so you can get down to watching instead of searching. Get in touch to collaborate with us on our next collection.
