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Earth

Earth

The remarkable story of three families.

200790 minGMidcredits score: 97th percentile of all films
Directors
Mark Linfield, Alastair Fothergill
Starring
Patrick Stewart, James Earl Jones, Ken Watanabe, Ulrich Tukur

An epic story of adventure, starring some of the most magnificent and courageous creatures alive, awaits you in EARTH. Disneynature brings you a remarkable story of three animal families on a journey across our planet – polar bears, elephants and humpback whales.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Earth?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove does not list Earth on any major US streaming service.

Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Earth?

Earth earns 6 badges, led by Modern classic and Top 5% of films.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Earth worth watching?

Earth's Midcredits score is the 97th percentile of all films, from 24K ratings across 5 sources. 88% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

97th percentile

Better received than 97% of films

94th percentile among Documentary97th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)94th
Approval (how many liked it)97th

78 /100

94th percentile of all films

84th percentile among Documentary95th percentile among 2000s

Critics 72 · Audience 78

Audiences liked it more than critics did.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

88% liked it

97th percentile of all films

94th percentile among Documentary97th percentile among 2000s
88% rated it 7–1012% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 3 wins / 1 noms overall

  • NominatedBAFTA Awards· Best Director - Factual

Reach

How many have seen it

87th percentile

24K ratings across platforms

98th percentile among Documentary80th percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 7% in 30 days

Box office

Budget€30M

In euro, not converted to dollars.

Opening weekend$8.8M
Domestic gross$32M
Worldwide gross$109M

99th percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

The film features spectacular, often jaw-dropping nature footage that is visually stunning.

Fans praised

  • breathtaking cinematography and epic scope of landscapes
  • emotional connection to animal families and their struggles
  • effective environmental message without being overly preachy

Detractors panned

  • recycled footage from Planet Earth with nothing new to offer
  • over-dramatic narration and manipulative music score
  • too violent and disturbing for young children despite G rating

What stands out

Cinematography90

breathtaking, jaw-dropping, spectacular photography

Atmosphere85

immersive journey through diverse global habitats

Tension70

predator-prey sequences create suspense, but some find them excessive

Emotional impactDivisive65

fans deeply moved, detractors feel manipulated or traumatized

Sound and musicDivisive60

divisive: fans praise score, detractors call it over-dramatic and manipulative

Plot and storyDivisive40

loose, episodic structure following three animal families

Originality20

heavily recycled footage from Planet Earth, little new material

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men even
  • Critics vs users even
  • US vs non-US 7 points apart

Watch experience

What is Earth like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Food for thought: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you want something to think about afterwards.

It has a few laughs and leaves you hopeful.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Nothing out of the ordinary.

What it feels like

Food for thought.

Moods
ContemplativeWarm
Heaviest: late
Warm humor
Register
Awestruck · 1% of films: Wonder at something vast or marvelous.Warm
Told as
Episodic · 13% of films: Loosely connected incidents rather than one driving plot.
ToneThe film presents nature with wonder and genuine affection, avoiding cynicism or irony.
The rideThe film inspires wonder and tenderness while also stirring contemplation about humanity's impact on nature.
StructureThe film progresses through different animal families and climates in a series of vignettes.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Hopeful.

The answer rests on this: HopefulThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayViewers leave inspired by nature's beauty and concerned about its fragility, pondering their own responsibility.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 22% of films: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeThe film is a nature documentary following multiple animal families across seasons and regions, not a single narrative plot.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfSurvival
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22%: Identity 14% · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15% (this title): Survival 17% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% (this title) · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Survival

SurvivalHope · 5% of films
Warns its theme: Presents its theme as a danger or a coming cost.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe film depicts the resilience and fragility of animal life, urging viewers to appreciate and protect the natural world.
StanceThe film presents the beauty of nature while implicitly warning of the threats posed by climate change and human activity.

The world

ContemporaryWildernessRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score · George Fenton
SettingGlobal natural habitats across seasons from Arctic to tropics.
MusicGeorge Fenton's score complements the majestic visuals with orchestral grandeur.

Content guide

Is Earth okay for kids?

G

Earth is rated G. As of October 2, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (100/100), language at minimal (0/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (0/100) and frightening material at severe (100/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 5 other countries
  • Germany6
  • FranceU
  • DenmarkNR
  • MexicoA
  • Netherlands6
Overall
Intense · 4 of 5 categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Severe
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Profanity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Frightening / Intense
Severe
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (5 votes across 4 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Earth have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Earth?

Cast

Patrick Stewart
as Narrator
James Earl Jones
as Narrator
Ken Watanabe
as Narrator
Ulrich Tukur
as Narrator
Anggun
as Narrator (French version)

Crew

Directed by

Mark LinfieldAlastair Fothergill

Written by

Alastair FothergillLeslie MegaheyMark Linfield

Cinematography

Mike Holding, Martyn Colbeck, Gavin Thurston, Justin Maguire, Paul Stewart, Doug Anderson
+20 more, Justine Evans, Simon King, Andrew Shillabeer, Andrew Penniket, Ted Giffords, Rick Rosenthal, Doug Allan, Adam Ravetch, Nick Turner, Richard Brooks Burton, Michael Kelem, Barrie Britton, Didier Noirot, Peter Scoones, Wade Fairley, John Waters, Paul Atkins, Toshihiro Muta, Warwick Sloss, Rod Clarke

Edited by

Melany MaximusVartan NazarianMartin Elsbury

Music by

George Fenton

Produced by

Mike Phillips, Andre Sikojev, Melissa Caron, Amanda Hill, Martyn Freeman, Stefan Beiten
+8 more, Nikolaus Weil, Michael Henrichs, Wayne Garvie, Don Hahn, Connie Nartonis Thompson, Alix Tidmarsh, Sophokles Tasioulis, Jon Thompson

More like this

What are movies like Earth?

Movies like Earth include Oceans (2008), African Cats (2010) and Bears (2014). Of the 12 closest matches, several are films by Alastair Fothergill, and most are episodic films.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

All 12 share its story type: nature documentary. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Earth?

1.1K other films share the rarest tag below, kind of film: nature documentary. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.