The 16 best David Attenborough documentaries and movies, ranked
David Attenborough has spoken candidly about nearing 'the end of my life' in a new documentary set to premiere this month.
Ocean, which will arrive in cinemas on May 8 — to coincide with the naturalist's 99th birthday — dives deep into the planet's underwater ecosystems and examines the impact of industrial bottom trawling.
Reflecting on his lifelong relationship with the sea, the celebrated broadcaster said: 'When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity.
'Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true. After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea.'
He added: 'Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all.'
As the film prepares to make waves, we revisit the presenter's best episodes. Our critic shares her top picks below — let us know whether you agree in the comments below.
Some countries found this show's final episode about climate change 'controversial'. Just as well it captured stunning footage of hungry wolf cubs and tiny sea creatures while possible, then — although the polar bear birth was safely filmed in a zoo.
Firsts for this series included Komodo dragons hunting a water buffalo and bottlenose dolphins tricking mullet into their mouths. It was a small creature who stole this grand Darwin-saluting show, however: the pebble toad with its unusual rolling escape tactic.
A riot of time-lapse photography, this precursor to The Green Planet tried to catch the unexpected drama of plant life. Who would have thought, for example, that a bramble could be so aggressive?
Attenborough travelled nearly a quarter of a million miles for this series – partly to cram himself into a termite mound. Elsewhere, killer whales tormented sea lions and 120 million Christmas Island red crabs spawned – nature red in tooth and claw.
This wildly expensive series promised wildernesses away from human encroachment. Infrared shots of night-hunting lions offered big five thrills, but it was the bat guano mountain from the episode on caves that stuck disgustingly in the mind.
Underground salt-mining elephants, wading chimpanzees and grizzly bears are among the stars of this warm-blooded series. Most enchanting scene, though, might be Attenborough creeping up on a sloth ('a mobile compost heap') and saying 'boo!'
From bowerbirds to chimpanzees, this series explored the survival challenges faced by different animals across their lives. Ultimate heart-in-mouth moment: 'resilient' — but not unbreakable — barnacle goose chicks jumping off 400ft cliffs to join their parents.
Deserts, volcanoes, snow, ice: this study of how life adapts to often hostile surroundings demanded a lot of its cameramen. Attenborough even headed into space in a hot air balloon to experience 'the ultimate frontier of life on earth'.
For all its remarkable footage of dolphins feasting on anchovy and sea turtles laying their eggs, the most important episode of this series became the final consciousness-raising look at how plastic pollution threatens the oceans.
The astonishing mimicry of a superb lyrebird or a lammergeier smashing bones on rock were highlights of this high-flying series – although it might be best remembered for Attenborough's fractious encounter with a lusty capercaillie.
Who needed the Marvel Cinematic Universe when heroic marine iguanas outran evil racer snakes in one of natural history TV's most gripping action sequences? This sequel to 2006's Planet Earth used its new technology to stunning close-up effect.
The young Attenborough became TV's ace naturalist by accompanying London Zoo staff on specimen-catching expeditions. Ignore the outmoded methods: the footage remains remarkable, not least the Komodo dragon's film debut in 1956's Zoo Quest for a Dragon.
Antarctica might be 'the loneliest and coldest place on earth, the place that is most hostile to life' but Attenborough's survey was rich in memorable creatures. Villain of the piece? The leopard seal, enemy of cute penguins.
Hares, crabs, monitor lizards, bears: over three decades, this flagship series found space for the great and small. 1987's Meerkats United displayed its star-making power, however, turning the Kalahari's adorably alert mongoose into a household name.
A proper deep dive, this oceanic series turned bait balls and submersibles into water-cooler chat. New discoveries such as the Dumbo octopus pulsed into view, but the wonder was matched by horror when orcas slaughtered a grey whale calf.
A bright-and-beautiful overview of evolution, this blockbusting series gave molluscs and mammals equal care. It was Attenborough's joyful encounter with Rwandan mountain gorillas, however, that stands as an eternal expression of the connection between man and beast.
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