Every Disneynature Documentary, Ranked

Animals! They’re just like us. They care for their young. Make friends. Find life partners. They laugh, play and work hard. Sometimes they fight and make enemies. They strive to provide their children with a better life. That’s the inherent premise in all the Disneynature documentaries, which began in 2008 with The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos. This Friday, on Earth Day, Disneynature’s latest offering, Polar Bear, premieres on Disney+.
All the documentaries have inherent drama (which we promise not to spoil) and take certain narrative conceits (we are pretty sure the animals don’t tell the filmmakers their names). Almost all feature a famous narrator and end with footage of how the filmmakers achieved these up-close and positively breathtaking shots. The films are all pretty fabulous, but if you’ve never watched them, you need a place to start. That’s where we come in. [Note: Earth, from 2007, is unavailable to stream and absent from Disney+. It may join this list in the future.]
Here are the Disneynature documentaries, ranked:
12. The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the FlamingosYear: 2008
Narrator: Mariella Frostrup
It’s hard to be first, and The Crimson Wing definitely feels the weight of being the first Disneynature doc. This was before they latched onto the strategy of getting a famous name to give voice to the films or the idea that giving viewers a main character early on is the best way to draw them into the story. The still-fine movie follows a flock of flamingos in Northern Tanzania as they give birth to chicks and try to protect them from both the drought and other species.
11. OceansYear: 2010
Narrator: Pierce Brosnan
The ocean ecosystem is on full display as Oceans takes viewers to the bottom of the sea and sees everything from the crab who doesn’t take kindly to trespassers to the blue whale, the largest animal in the history of the world. While the shots are gorgeous, the movie’s pace is a bit plodding as it follows the slow-moving migration of the humpback whales for feeding season.
10. Wings of LifeYear: 2011
Narrator: Meryl Streep
At the beginning of Wings of Life, Meryl Streep tells us that “good things come in small packages.” The film follows flowers, butterflies, hummingbirds, bees and bats because these are the little things “that actually runs the vast machinery of life.” One of the more lackadaisical of the films, it’s also one of the hardest to connect to because it lacks a main protagonist for viewers to root for.
9. Born in ChinaYear: 2016
Narrator: John Krasinski
Born in China follows four animals native to the country—pandas, antelopes, monkeys and snow leopards—through the four seasons. Did you know pandas eat up to 40 pounds of bamboo a day? Or that the red panda, my personal favorite, is actually closer to a raccoon than a panda? EEEK! It’s a fascinating and beautiful look at the animals, but viewers may feel less of personal connection given the breadth of information covered.
8. African CatsYear: 2011
Narrator: Samuel L. Jackson
African Cats intimately takes viewers inside the world of lions and cheetahs by following two families. Laya, her cub Mara and the Fang, the father of all of the lion cubs, are part of a pride. A Cheetah named Sita lives alone until the birth of her five cubs. Fun facts are dropped along the way. For instance, cheetahs are fast but have no endurance. Who knew? Although lions and cheetahs are among the most powerful animals in Kenya, they too must hunt for food and endure the constant struggle to stay away from danger.