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Curiosity

Curiosity

2011–2014Ended2 seasons31 episodes~45 min/epTV-PGMidcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

Curiosity is an American documentary television series that premiered on August 7, 2011, on the Discovery Channel. Each episode focuses on one question in science, technology, and society and features a different celebrity host. Stephen Hawking hosted the premiere episode titled "Did God Create the Universe?", which aired simultaneously on seven Discovery Communications networks: Discovery Channel, TLC, Discovery Fit and Health, Animal Planet, Science, Investigation Discovery, and Planet Green. Season one consists of 16 episodes.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Curiosity?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Curiosity streaming on discovery+ via Prime Video and Yippee via The Roku Channel and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

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Highlights

What stands out about Curiosity?

Curiosity earns 1 badge: Crowd Pleaser.

Reception

Is Curiosity worth watching?

Curiosity's Midcredits score is the 74th percentile of all shows, from 772 ratings across 2 sources. 80% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

74th percentile

Better received than 74% of shows

66th percentile among Documentary72nd percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)71st
Approval (how many liked it)72nd

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

75 /100

71st percentile of all shows

61st percentile among Documentary70th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

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

Approval

How many liked it

80% liked it

72nd percentile of all shows

66th percentile among Documentary70th percentile among 2010s
80% rated it 7–1020% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

51st percentile

756 ratings across platforms

76th percentile among Documentary56th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 9% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

A celebrity-hosted series that skims scientific topics for a casual audience.

Fans praised

  • Morgan Freeman's soothing narration
  • First episode narrated by Stephen Hawking

Detractors panned

  • Shallow, spoon-fed facts with no depth
  • Shaky, blurry cinematography that distracts
  • Factually dubious content presented as breakthrough

What stands out

Acting65

Morgan Freeman's narration praised as soothing

Plot and story20

Thinly spread information; fictional-sounding claims

Pacing20

Repetitive and slow due to thin content

Originality15

Rehashed facts presented as if new; derivative of other documentaries

Cinematography12

Constant shaking, out-of-focus, and distracting angles

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2012 · 14 episodes

  • S2E1
    S2E1

    Plane Crash

    Oct 7, 201255 min
  • S2E2
    S2E2

    The Devil's Triangle

    Oct 14, 201255 min
  • S2E3
    S2E3

    I Was Mummified

    Oct 21, 2012
  • S2E4
    S2E4

    Brainwashed

    Oct 28, 201255 min
  • S2E5
    S2E5

    Battlefield Cell

    Nov 4, 2012
  • S2E6
    S2E6

    Sex in America

    Nov 11, 201255 min

Watch experience

What is Curiosity like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you thinking.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
ContemplativeHopefulTense
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Adventurous · 15% of showsCold and cerebral · 6% of shows: Detached and precise; keeps the viewer at arm's length.
Told as
Anthology episodes · 6% of showsAnthology seasons · 2% of shows
ToneThe series presents its material with earnest intent but employs some dramatic stylization to engage viewers, though it often feels shallow.
The rideThe series maintains a steady, intellectual curiosity with moments of drama in high-stakes subjects like shipwrecks or plagues.
StructureEach episode is a self-contained documentary with no overarching narrative device beyond the series theme.
Episode formatEach episode is a standalone documentary answering a different question, with no recurring characters or ongoing plot.
Season formatWhile the first two seasons ran weekly with varied topics, the series as a whole is an anthology; each episode is independent, and the 'Stonehenge' special confirms a loose format.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Thought-provokingUnsettling
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves the viewer questioning the depth of presented facts, but also unsettled by the superficial treatment of profound topics.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 40% of shows: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeThe series is a documentary anthology exploring scientific and historical questions, not a narrative with a plot archetype.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfTruthIdeas
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5% (this title): Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% (this title) · Hope 4% (this title) · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Ideas

Truth · 6% of showsHope · 4% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series quests for answers to life's biggest questions, examining what we know and what remains unknown.
StanceThe show interrogates big questions with a mix of awe and skepticism, often framing science as a journey rather than a destination.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalWildernessUrbanRealistic
Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score
SettingA global documentary tour across museums, labs, and natural sites, framed by a studio narrator.

Content guide

Is Curiosity okay for kids?

TV-MA

Curiosity is rated TV-MA.

Ratings in 11 other countries
  • CanadaG
  • Germany12
  • France12
  • Brazil14
  • IndiaU
  • ItalyT
  • MexicoA
  • NetherlandsAL
  • PortugalNR
  • Spain7
  • Türkiye18+

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Curiosity have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Curiosity?

Cast

Josh Charles
as Narrator
Benedict Cumberbatch
as Narrator
Bill Paxton
as Narrator (US version)
Phil Cheadle
as Leading Fireman Fred Barrett
Troy Forte
as Adam's Friend
Mitzi Jones
as Elizabeth Dowdell
Christian Rodska
as Captain Smith
Christopher Villiers
as J. Bruce Ismay
Oscar Pearce
as Quigg Baxter
Fred Lancaster
as John 'Jack' Thayer

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