From its inception, Disney+ has made a point of offering well-produced, moving, and informative nature documentaries to its subscribers, and it even debuted several new features in time for Earth Day in the spring of 2022. In fact, the steamer has a very strong library of nature documentaries, many of which have been produced under the Disneynature brand.
Though almost all of these docs show signs of the high production value one associates with Disney, it is also helpful to winnow them down, focusing on the ones that have received the highest ratings from the s on IMDb.
Ghost Of The Mountains (2017) - 7.0
Few animals have exerted quite the hold on the public imagination as the snow leopard. With its ethereal beauty and its endangered status, it is a potent reminder of the cost of human effects on the environment. This documentary focuses on this extraordinary creature and its habitat, as well as the trials that the crew endured as they attempted to capture the beast in its natural environs.
And, as is the case with so many of the other Disneynature documentaries, it is beautifully shot, allowing viewers to understand this beautiful if unforgiving habitat and its inhabitants.
Chimpanzee (2012) - 7.1
More than most creatures, the chimpanzee is fascinating to humans, precisely because they are so related. Tim Allen – who has been in many notable roles – narrates this movie, which focuses, in particular, on a young orphaned chimp who is taken in by another band.
It is, to be sure, a beautifully filmed production, one which goes a long way toward capturing the extraordinary forests these creatures inhabit. Just as importantly, however, it also gives viewers a more intimate look into the life of one of humanity’s closest living relatives.
Penguins (2019) - 7.1
Penguins have been the stars of several great nature documentaries (including March of the Penguins), and they also take center stage in the Disney movie Penguins. As with many other documentaries released through Disney, it focuses on a single penguin as it makes its way through the various life stages of its species.
While this is obviously the centerpiece of the story, the documentary is also notable for the exquisite beauty of its cinematography, which perfectly captures the harsh but amazing environment of Antarctica.
The Crimson Wing (2008) - 7.3
Few birds are quite as beautiful as the crimson-winged flamingo, large flocks of which gather on the shores of Lake Natron in Tanzania. This documentary focuses on one member of the species, who has to confront the harshness of life in this environment, particularly predators (including one especially hungry hyena).
This is the sort of documentary that sheds genuine light on the entire life cycle of flamingos, as well as highlighting the devastating impact that humans are having on their environment and the lives that they are able to lead.
Bears (2014) - 7.3
John C. Reilly has been in many great roles, and he lends the charisma of his voice to Bears which, as the title suggests, focuses on a family of the species in Alaska. In keeping with Disney’s general practice when it comes to nature documentaries, the movie focuses on the cubs, their mother, and the various struggles they endure in their environment.
In particular, the movie excels at showing how desperate and uncertain life can be for bears, with the threat of other bears and starvation always lurking just around the corner.
African Cats (2011) 7.5
Though many great movies have been set in Africa, few have managed to capture the beauty and brutality of the lives of the big cats quite like African Cats.
Though there are times when the narration can be a bit distracting (delivered by Samuel J. Jackson), the great strength of this nature documentary lies in its ability to convey to viewers just how deadly these big cats can be. The audience is left in nothing less than awe at their fearsome abilities.
Sea Of Hope (2017) - 7.6
Famed marine biologist and National Geographic explorer, Sylvia Earle, is one of the key elements of this documentary, which focuses on her efforts, along with others, to get President Obama to establish Blue Parks.
Sea of Hope has many of the trappings that one would expect of a documentary of this type, but it also excels because it leans into the adventure component of its story. Most importantly, perhaps, it also reminds the viewer of the importance of preserving the world’s oceans for generations to come.
Oceans (2009) - 7.7
Oceans is a remarkable documentary for a number of reasons, not least of which is the amount of money it took to produce it and the time and effort that went into its creation. Like all of the best documentaries, it is beautifully shot, immersing the viewer in the astoundingly gorgeous world of the world’s oceans.
However, there is also quite a lot of violence in this movie, and it doesn’t flinch away from showing just how unforgiving the oceans can be, particularly for those who occupy the bottom rung of the food chain.
Earth Moods (2021) - 8.0
Those looking for a documentary that will sweep them up in the extraordinary majesty of the natural world should look no further than Earth Moods. It is the type of documentary that, by design, seeks to help those who watch it escape from the prison of everyday life.
It is, moreover, a technically astonishing movie, and it leaves one in awe of just how they were able to capture these shots. If it has one drawback, however, it is that it doesn’t give an indication as to where these locations are, but the beauty of the cinematography more than makes up for this lack.
America The Beautiful (2022) - 8.5
One of Disney’s most recent documentary offerings is America the Beautiful. As its title suggests, the documentary focuses on the various landscapes of North America and the extraordinary animals that inhabit them.
It can be, at times, difficult to watch the unsparing nature unfold – including the moment when a bear hunts down a young caribou calf – but this is precisely what makes it such a fantastic documentary. It doesn’t shy away from showing how, even in the midst of America’s extraordinary beauty, the unfeeling laws of nature still hold sway.
