28 Best Nature Documentaries on Disney Plus [2023 Updated]

Nature-Documentaries-on-Disney-Plus

Want to watch nature documentaries on Disney Plus? We are here to help!

The good thing about documentaries is that they provide you with new information every time you watch them. They are interesting and suitable for all ages. They bring contentment, joy, amazement, and curiosity to the viewers.

The good thing about documentaries is that they take us to places that we will never be in. And one genre that’s responsible for taking us on such as journey is nature documentaries.

Besides nature documentaries, you can stream not only the best shows but the best movies on Disney+ as well. Among the best shows, you can stream marvel shows, mystery shows, star wars shows and so much more! With the movies section, you will find movies for all occasions, seasons, and even family movies too!

But, with the nature documentaries, we get the privilege of spending time with the animals and learning more about how they live. From dry land to the deep seas to meet all creatures on earth.

If you love nature documentaries, you will get the best nature documentaries on Disney Plus. If you reside in a geo-restricted region, you will need a Disney+ VPN for streaming!


Best Nature Documentaries on Disney Plus [Updated List]

There are many nature documentaries available, and all are interesting; it’s hard to find a boring nature documentary. Let’s just say the animals do know how to entertain. Nature documentaries include all genres, from action, romance, music, etc.

Here, you will see animals fighting, hunting, and how they care for their families. You will be entertained with music as some of the birds must dance and sing in order to get a mate. The reasons nature documentaries are entertaining.

As we mentioned, no nature documentary isn’t worth your time but below are the best nature documentaries on Disney Plus worth watching right now.

Growing Up Wild (2016)

Growing Up Wild (2016)

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

Director: Mark Linfield, Keith Scholey

Cast: Daveed Diggs

Runtime: 1h 18m

Synopsis: Growing up in the wild is not easy, especially if you experience little guidance from your parents. That’s what faces five different animals in the wild.

Release Date: December 8, 2016

A newborn animal has so much to learn about life. This documentary takes viewers to the weirdest places on the planet. Here, you will see five different species of animals and how they tackle the life challenges they face at a young age.

The African Lion (1955)

The African Lion (1955)

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

Director: James Algar

Cast: Winston Hibler

Runtime: 1 hour 15 minutes

Synopsis: Enjoy watching a Lion hunting for her cubs in order for all to survive.

Release Date: September 14, 1955

You will be thrilled to watch a lion in action hunting and how the mother lion keeps her playful cubs safe.
It’s not an easy task to film a nature documentary. So we thank Elma Milotte and Alfred Milotte for spending three years in Africa following and studying the king of the jungle.

The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008)

The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008)

IMDb rating: 7.3/10

Director: Matthew Aeberhard, Leander Ward

Cast: Mariella Frostrup, Zabou Breitman, Karoline Herfurth

Runtime: 1 hour 18 minutes

Synopsis: Here, you get a clear view of the African Flamingos and learn about their Mysterious lives.

Release Date: September 25, 2009

We learn about nature and one of its greatest mysteries in a forgotten wilderness. Millions of crimson-winged flamingos face birth, life, and death. Yet, the birds are not having it easy, as they struggle to survive daily. They fight for survival, as they must overcome fate and danger.

The film was filmed in East Africa, North Tanzania, in lake Natron.

Deep Blue (2003)

Deep Blue (2003)

IMDb rating: 7.4/10

Director: Andy Byatt, Alastair Fothergill

Cast: Pierce Brosnan, Michael Gambon, David Attenborough

Runtime: 1 hour 23 minutes

Synopsis: Join the journey of heading deep into the ocean where man has never dared to go until now.

Release Date: June 24, 2005

Enjoy watching life in the deep sea by first meeting the playful penguins, the ever-hungry sharks, and the biggest mammal, the whale. Here, you will see creatures that you could have never imagined existed. In addition, you will enjoy the film as it is well narrated by none other than David Attenborough.

You’ll picture yourself skiing on those beautiful stormy waves.

Dolphin Reef (2018)

Dolphin Reef (2018)

IMDb rating: 7.4/10

Director: Keith Scholey, Alastair Fothergill

Cast: Natalie Portman

Runtime: 1 hour 17 minutes

Synopsis: Here, we meet one of the most engaging animals, the dolphins. We have the chance to go deep into the ocean to see what it has in store for us.

Release Date: April 3, 2020

In the deep blue sea, we meet Echo, a dolphin who loves having fun. He’s not ready to take the responsibilities of an adult dolphin. In the sea, he’s surrounded by humpback whales, sea turtles, orcas and cuttlefish, all looking like they are begging Echo for attention, an invitation he can’t refuse.

Dolphin Reef is one of the best nature documentaries on Disney Plus

Earth Live (2017)

Earth Live (2017)

IMDb rating: 5.2/10

Director: Glenn Weiss

Cast: Jane Lynch, Phil Keoghan

Runtime: 1 hour 34 minutes

Synopsis: Take a trip worldwide, an adventure you have never experienced before.

Release Date: July 9, 2017

Jane Lynch and Phil Keoghan will take viewers to exotic places to show you the best world life adventure that you have never seen before. Some of the animals will be dining while others will be dining. They capture everything from the land to the deep sea.

They want you to enjoy the wildlife as if you are there. They make that possible by assembling a dream of the best cinematographers responsible for bringing the best nature has to offer.

The Flood (2018)

The Flood (2018)

IMDb rating: 7.6/10

Director: Brad Bestelink

Cast: Angela Bassett

Runtime: 44 minutes

Synopsis: the film shows us the best beautiful places on the planet, taking you to the center of the Kalahari Desert, where you see the miracle of The Okavango Delta.

Release Date: November 25, 2018

Number of Episodes: 2

The animals in the Kalahari Desert rely on the annual flood, as it is the heartbeat of the Okavango Delta. All life in the Kalahari Desert relies on the flood as it turns the desert into a paradise of wildlife.

Without the water flowing, it is back to the normal filming of just a normal African documentary. But as soon as there is a flood, everything changes.

Jane (2017)

Jane (2017)

IMDb rating: 7.8/10

Director: Brett Morgen

Cast: Jane Goodall, Hugo Van Lawick, Hugo Eric Louis van Lawick

Runtime: 1 hour 30 minutes

Synopsis: Every day Jane Goodall, a renowned primatologist and anthropologist, must climb to the hills to meet the chimpanzees.

Release Date: November 24, 2017

Jane Goodall loves studying the life of the chimpanzees, and for that to be possible, she must climb the hills to where they normally reside. She feels that’s where she was meant to be because Jane does what she loves most.

She dared to travel to places where no man had ever dared to step foot, and her discoveries changed the world. Jane is the best Disney nature documentary about chimpanzees.

Jungle Cat (1960)

Jungle Cat (1960)

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

Director: James Algar

Cast: James Algar

Runtime: 1 hour 9 minutes

Synopsis: Jungle Cat is a documentary that follows the life of a Jaguar in South America.

Release Date: December 23, 1960

Jungle Cat is one of the old Disney nature documentaries available. It focuses on the life of a female Jaguar spotted in the jungle of South America. What makes the film interesting is that it focuses on the Jaguar rather than the big African cats that are common. In addition, the South American forest vegetation and color make the film more entertaining to watch.

The Living Desert (1953)

The Living Desert (1953)

IMDb rating: 7.4/10

Director: James Algar

Cast: Winston Hibler

Runtime: 1 hour 9 minutes

Synopsis: When you hear the word desert, what comes to your mind is sand and rocks, but there is more to that as the desert is much alive.

Release Date: November 10, 1953

The Living Desert is among the best nature documentaries on Disney Plus. Here, you will see the life of the desert and how lively it is. It’s an interesting documentary where you will witness the moving rocks, beautiful flowers, and the battle of survival of creatures of every shape and size.

Penguins (2019)

Penguins (2019)

IMDb rating: 7.0/10

Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Jeff Wilson, Mark Linfield

Cast: Ed Helms

Runtime: 1 hour 16 minutes

Synopsis: In the Icy Antarctic, we meet a penguin named Stevie, who joins up with fellow mates in order to build a nest.

Release Date: April 17, 2019

Penguins is a Disney nature documentary that focuses on the Penguins that live in the Antarctic area. All the male Penguins, including Stevie, assemble as they start to create nests to start a family. It’s not an easy life for Stevie, considering penguins are easy prey for many predators, including killer whales and leopard seals.

Secrets of Life (1956)

Secrets of Life (1956)

IMDb rating: 7.3/10

Director: James Algar

Cast: Winston Hibler

Runtime: 1 hour 10 minutes

Synopsis: Secrets of life is a documentary that shows interesting facts about how the world is changing.

Release Date: November 6, 1956

Secrets of life is a documentary that concentrates on nature, including Plantlife, life under the sea, and volcanos. Showing how the world is connected. The film was released in 1956, so, we can all agree that it’s among the old Disney nature documentaries available.

The Vanishing Prairie (1954)

The Vanishing Prairie (1954)

IMDb rating: 7.3/10

Directors: James Algar

Cast: Winston Hibler

Runtime: 1 hour 11 minutes

Synopsis: Exploring the incredible plant and animal life in the large American Prairie is James Algar. Revealing interesting facts about the animals that flourished in the Prairie before.

Release Date: May 13, 1955

James Algar explores the life of both plants and animals in the American Prairie. It’s a large one, as it stretches from Mississippi to Colorado. In this documentary, you will learn about the animals that flourished in the Prairie long before the arrival of the Europeans.

But unfortunately, that’s a long time ago, and those animals are already extinct, but you will have the privilege of learning about them.

But the documentaries also focus on the currently endangered animals like the buffalo, whooping cane, and the Prairie dog. Showing how they struggle as they fight for their survival.

Wings of Life (2011)

Wings of Life (2011)

IMDb rating: 7.4/10

Directors: Louie Schwartzberg

Cast: Meryl Streep

Runtime: 1 hour 21 minutes

Synopsis: Here, we see the creatures that the world would be different without them as the world food chain depends on them.

Release Date: May 13, 1955

Wings of life is an interesting documentary showing how important the creatures that many humans kill for fun are to be vital to the world food chain. Some of those creatures include; bees, bats, and hummingbirds. The film shows the importance of those creatures and how humans wouldn’t survive if they became extinct.

Winged Seduction: Birds of Paradise (2012)

Winged Seduction: Birds of Paradise (2012)

IMDb rating: 6.4/10

Directors: Molly Hermann

Cast: Josh Goodman

Runtime: 45 Minutes

Synopsis: Winged Seduction Birds of Paradise is a documentary that concentrates more on the filmmaker’s challenges than the birds.

Release Date: November 22, 2012

Despite the title, the documentary focuses on the challenges faced by the filmmakers as they try to document the birds of paradise. It’s an interesting documentary as the explorers find it hard to outsmart the birds. Their mission is to find and photograph different species of birds and capture scenes that have never been captured before.

African Cats (2011)

African Cats (2011)

IMDb rating: 7.5/10

Directors: Keith Scholey, Alastair Fothergill

Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Stewart

Runtime: 1 hour 29 minutes

Synopsis: African Cats is a film based on cat families where every mother has one mission: to take care of the family.

Release Date: April 22, 2011

In African Cats, we meet different families of cats, starting with the lion family; we meet a lion named Mara, a cub that wants to be like her mother. Then, on the other family, we meet Sita, a cheetah raising five cubs on her own. And to defend his family against other male lions is Fang, a proud leader.

Africans Cats is an interesting documentary, and here you will see how hard it is for cubs to make it into adulthood. Especially when facing challenges such as; climate change, rival cats, etc. A documentary well narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and one of the best nature documentaries on Disney Plus

Chimpanzee (2012)

Chimpanzee (2012)

IMDb rating: 7.1/10

Directors: Alastair Fothergill, Mark Linfield

Cast: Tim Allen

Runtime: 1 hour 18 minutes

Synopsis: Oscar is a baby chimpanzee who loves playing and is happy to have the world as his playing ground.

Release Date: April 20, 2012

Deep in the African forest, we meet a family of chimpanzees, but one chimpanzee that will get your attention is the baby, Oscar. He’s full of joy and loves to play. Together as a family, they easily navigate through the forest.

But soon, Oscar realizes that nothing lasts forever when they encounter rival chimpanzees. He’s left all alone and must now rely on himself to survive. But unexpectedly, an ally steps in, and Oscar’s life is changed.
You can watch the documentary Chimpanzee in 4k nature documentaries on Disney Plus.

Born in China (2016)

Born in China (2016)

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

Director: Chuan Lu

Cast: John Krasinski, Claire Keim, Xun Zhou

Runtime: 1 hour 19 minutes

Synopsis: Lu Chuan takes you on an adventure in China, capturing intimate moments of a panda and her growing cub.

Release Date: April 21, 2017

Chuan Lu takes you on an epic journey into the wilds of China, a place that only a few people have managed to visit. The documentary follows three different species of animals, including a Panda and her growing cab, a golden monkey who feels displaced by his sister, and a single snow leopard who’s finding it hard to raise her two cubs.

Here, you will see one of the best nature moments captured in a nature film.

Giants Of The Deep Blue (2018)

Giants Of The Deep Blue (2018)

IMDb rating: 6.6/10

Director: Ken Corben

Cast: Bill Graves

Runtime: 44-minutes

Synopsis: The film takes you deep into the sea, where you will learn more about the whales, including how they hunt and their social life.

Release Date: 2018

Are you interested to learn about the different species of dolphins and whales? If so, this is one documentary that is worth watching. Here the giants roam the oceans without any fear of predators; meet these creatures beneath the sea’s surface to see how they live, hunt, and the dangers they face.

Monkey Kingdom (2015)

Monkey Kingdom (2015)

IMDb rating: 7.2/10

Director: Mark Linfield, Alastair Fothergill

Cast: Tina Fey

Runtime: 1 hour 21 minutes

Synopsis: Life is an adventure for a young monkey and her son in the Monkey Kingdom.

Release Date: April 17, 2015

The film, narrated by Tina Fey, follows a newborn monkey with its mother. The two live in the ancient ruins in the jungle. Everything changes when they are forced to flee their home. Now she must lead her baby to safety, passing through new creatures and surroundings.

The film has an emotional narrative that makes you feel for the monkeys. The film won the Golden Trailer Awards and was nominated for the EMA Award. That just shows you how good the documentary is.

The Monkey Kingdom is one of the best nature documentaries on Disney Plus.

Tree Climbing Lions (2018)

Tree Climbing Lions (2018)

IMDb rating: N/A

Director: N/A

Cast: Alexander Braczkowski, Jimmy Kisembo, Steve Winter

Runtime: 44 minutes

Synopsis: Alexander Braczkowski and his team embark on a mission to find out more about the lions that live in trees.

Release Date: December 2, 2018

Big Cat specialist Alexander Braczkowski embarks on a mission to learn more about the lions that live in trees. He wants to understand why only a few lions behave this way. You must watch the documentary to find the answers as Alexander is also eager to find out.

Great Migrations (2010)

Great Migrations (2010)

IMDb rating: 8.1/10

Director: David Hamlin

Cast: Tarkan, Alec Baldwin, Stephen Fry

Runtime: 45 minutes

Synopsis: The great migration concentrates on the animals’ interesting journeys to ensure the survival of their species.

Release Date: November 7, 2010

Number of Episodes: 7

The best Disney nature documentary on this docuseries, some episodes focus on the animals’ challenges that lead to migration. Of course, each episode is different as it covers a completely different story and that of a different species. But, all have in common that they all travel great distances in a migratory pattern.

One Strange Rock (2018)

One Strange Rock (2018)

IMDb rating: 8.7/10

Director: Graham Booth

Cast: Will Smith, Chris Hadfield, Jerry Linenger

Runtime: 47 minutes

Synopsis: Telling a story about Planet earth are astronauts who share unique and interesting views.

Release Date: March 26, 2018

Number of Episodes: 11

Here, you will learn about the earth, why it’s so special, and its uniqueness in providing life for all living things.

The good thing about this docuseries is that it gives you an understanding of how life survives and thrives on the planet.

It’s an interesting series worth watching on Disney Plus.

America’s National Parks (2009)

America's National Parks (2009)

IMDb rating: 8.7/10

Director: Henry Mix, Yann Sochaczewski

Cast: C.T. Taylor

Runtime: 44 Minutes

Synopsis: Exploring the amazing wildlife of America’s iconic wildlife.

Release Date: December 6, 2015

Number of Episodes: 8

The Americans care about their national parks; the docuseries show you the amazing national parks in America. It also shares the National Park’s highs and lows. Finally, if you plan to go on a vacation, the series shares a list of travel destinations that you should consider.

Sea of Hope: America’s Underwater Treasures (2017)

Sea of Hope: America's Underwater Treasures (2017)

IMDb rating: 7.1/10

Director: Robert Nixon

Cast: Max Kennedy

Runtime: 48 minutes

Synopsis: A team of experts has embarked on a mission to show the world the hidden ecosystems beneath the ocean waves.

Release Date: January 2017

A team led by Max Kennedy, a historian, and an author, consists of National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry and Dr. Sylvia Earle, an oceanographer. All embark on the American ocean hotspots to showcase a hidden ecosystem.

Journey to Shark Eden (2010)

Journey to Shark Eden (2010)

IMDb rating: N/A

Director: Adam Geiger

Cast: Salvatore Vecchio

Runtime: 50 minutes

Synopsis: heading in the South of the Pacific is a team of scientists led by Enric Sala. The journey will see them visit five remote Islands that are near Tahiti.

Release Date: 2010

A team led by Enric Sala heads to the southern line islands to explore the coral reefs that bring life to the ocean. They are there to learn more about the sharks, and them seeing the coral reefs is a good sign as sharks do not stay too far away from them. The team wants to start a marine protected area, but it’s not easy, as they encounter challenges that they weren’t prepared for.

Unlikely Animal Friends (2012)

Unlikely Animal Friends (2012)

IMDb rating: 7.6/10

Director: Jörg Fockele

Cast: Mark Keller

Runtime: 6 hours

Synopsis: The world never ceases to have entertaining stories; here, you will see animals acting against their instincts.

Release Date: January 13, 2012

Number of episodes: 29

One of the most entertaining docuseries that you’ll ever see. Here you will see animals acting against their instincts, befriending their prey.

Animals you couldn’t have imagined living together are playing and cuddling. Here you will get rare scenes that you can’t see anywhere else.

You shouldn’t miss out on Unlikely Animal Friends; you will enjoy watching the special friendship of animals with different species.

Wild Russia (2008)

Wild Russia (2008)

IMDb rating: 8.3/10

Directors: Tobias Mennle, Christian Baumeister

Cast: Christian Brückner, Jason Hildebrandt, Paterson Joseph

Runtime: 6 hours

Synopsis: Here, we take a look at what Russia has in store for us regarding natural wonders.

Release Date: July 23, 2009

Number of episodes: 16

Regarding climate, cultures, and wildlife, Russia doesn’t disappoint. Wild Russia is an interesting series; you can compare it with BBC’s Planet Earth series in terms of greatness. Here you will get a unique sight of how the pictures are taken.

Unlike other documentaries, the film censors blood, where bloody killing is always expected. If you don’t like viewing that, then this documentary is for you.

Conclusion

There is nothing as entertaining as nature documentaries; here, you have the privilege of learning about animals and nature. You see animals you have never seen before and learn about their behavior.

If you are a fan of nature documentaries, the documentaries mentioned above will be worth your time. However, we decided to add Growing Up Wild to the list in place of Stage Whisperer. They are both entertaining is just that we couldn’t find the information we wanted for Stage Whisperer, but hopefully, we’ll add it to our next list.

Still, those mentioned above are the best documentaries on Disney Plus.

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Christina William

An avid traveler, always thrilled with the idea of exploring new places, Christina loves to strike off destinations from her bucket list whenever she gets an opportunity. Two constants of her life, whether at home or on the go, are Disney and Marvel shows and movies.

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