It feels like an understatement to say that Sir David Attenborough has had a truly remarkable career.  

Over the last eight decades, the iconic documentarian has worked on countless films, TV series and books, providing viewers around the world with the opportunity to get up-close and personal with some of the planet’s rarest and most fascinating creatures.

It’s hardly surprising, then, that Attenborough’s work – both new and old – continues to captivate audiences all over the world. His documentaries are famed for their stunning footage and engaging narration – and with subjects ranging from the depths of the ocean to the icy expanses of Antarctica, there’s plenty to enjoy.  

Plus, with so many now available to stream online thanks to the likes of Netflix and BBC iPlayer, it’s never been easier to get stuck in.

With this in mind, we’ve put together this list of 11 brilliant David Attenborough documentaries to get you started. So, whether you’re looking for escapism, want to learn more about the world around you or simply find Attenborough’s voice soothing, keep reading to find out what to watch. 

The Green Planet

Whether you struggle to look after the one plant in your home or are the proud owner of a rapidly growing houseplant collection, David Attenborough’s new documentary is guaranteed to teach you something new about the wonderful world of plants.

Taking viewers from the wonderful world of tropical forests to the underwater plants that thrive in the most surprising of places, The Green Planet provides an up-close and personal look at the world’s greenery. 

The Green Planet airs weekly on BBC One on Sundays at 7pm from 9 January

The Year The Earth Changed 

In his first film for Apple TV+, Attenborough explores how the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns not only impacted human life, but the lives and behaviours of the creatures and organisms around us.

Featuring exclusive footage from around the world, the film provides both a positive look at how the pandemic gave nature time to heal and transform, and insight into how even the smallest of changes to human behaviour can make a big difference. 

The Year The Earth Changed is available to stream on Apple TV+

A Life On Our Planet

By giving viewers a closer look at Attenborough’s travels throughout his 60-year career, A Life On Our Planet is as much about the changing natural world as it is about the man who documented it all.

The film sees Attenborough reflect on the defining moments of his career as a naturalist and the effect that climate change is having on the areas he has visited throughout his time on TV. Described by Attenborough as his “witness statement,” A Life On Our Planet isn’t one to miss.

A Life On Our Planet is available to stream on Netflix

Seven Worlds, One Planet

If you didn’t catch Attenborough’s Seven Worlds, One Planet series when it aired at the end of 2019, now’s the time to give it a watch.

With each episode in the series dedicated to a different continent of the world, there’s plenty to learn. From the fireflies that populate the forests of Mississippi to the haunting song of the Sumatran rhino nestled in the tropical forests of the Himalayas, the careful detail of each episode in the Seven Worlds, One Planet series makes it a real treat to watch.

Seven Worlds, One Planet is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

Planet Earth

Known for being one of Attenborough’s most iconic projects, Planet Earth was the most expensive nature documentary series ever commissioned by the BBC when it was released in 2006, and the first to be filmed in high definition.

Filmed over four years across 64 different countries, each of the series’ 11 episodes features a different habitat on Earth, from the deep caves of Mexico to the unforgiving temperatures of Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.

Planet Earth is available to stream on BBC iPlayer 

Planet Earth II

Just when the world thought Planet Earth couldn’t be beaten, the BBC went and produced Planet Earth II.

The first-ever series produced by the programmer in ultra-high definition, each episode of Planet Earth II sees Attenborough look at a different habitat and the animals fighting to survive there, from the peregrine falcons which hunt among New York City’s skyscrapers to the ninja frogs fighting off wasps in flooded forests.

Planet Earth II is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

Extinction: The Facts

Extinction: The Facts may deal with a particularly heavy subject matter, but that doesn’t make it any less worth watching.

With a million species now at risk of extinction, this one-off film – which aired on the BBC earlier this year – sees Attenborough explore the impact such a massive loss of biodiversity could have on our lives, including how it could put us at greater risk of pandemic diseases in the future.

Extinction: The Facts is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

Our Planet

Since its release in 2019, Our Planet has attracted a cult following, won an Emmy and been the subject of critical acclaim – and it’s not hard to see why.

With its incredible cinematography and fascinating narration, Our Planet gives viewers the opportunity to get up-close with creatures, habitats and systems from all over the world. Punctuated with reminders about what’s at stake due to climate change, Our Planet is a seriously eye-opening watch.

Our Planet is available to stream on Netflix

Frozen Planet

Unlike some of his other documentaries, Frozen Planet sees Attenborough focus his attention on a particular area of the planet – the Arctic and Antarctic.

Throughout the seven-part series, Attenborough and his team explore how the polar regions transform throughout the year, and how the animals who live there are equipped to survive the harshest of habitats. 

Frozen Planet is available to stream on iPlayer

Blue Planet II

If you’re itching to learn something new this Christmas, look no further than Blue Planet II, Attenborough’s deep dive into the mysterious depths of the world’s oceans.

Featuring rare footage of some of the ocean’s most unique creatures, Blue Planet II takes viewers on a journey from the bustling atmosphere of the world’s coral reefs to the vast ocean deserts where only the fittest survive. If you plan on watching any Attenborough documentaries this year, make sure this one’s on your list.

Blue Planet II is available to stream on BBC iPlayer

Life On Earth

Although the natural world may have changed since Attenborough made Life On Earth back in 1979, his infectious enthusiasm for the incredible creatures which live on our planet remains unchanged.

Comprising 13 episodes and recognised as one of Attenborough’s most iconic series, the series tracks the origins of life on earth, from the first primitive cells to the plants and animals that came to populate all corners of the world.

Life On Earth is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now

Lead Image: BBC