Ocean with David Attenborough

Sir David Attenborough delivers his most powerful message yet in a spectacular new film, Ocean with David Attenborough. 

Co-produced by Open Planet Studios and Silverback Films, the film takes viewers on a breathtaking journey, uncovering how we’re living in the greatest age of ocean discovery, and showing that there is nowhere more vital for our survival than the ocean. 

Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing practices to mass coral reef bleaching. 

Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.

Ocean with David Attenborough launched with a World Premiere event at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London on 6th May 2025, with King Charles III and David Attenborough among those in attendance.

The film was released in cinemas globally on 8th May 2025, coinciding with Attenborough’s 99th birthday, achieving huge box office success. In the UK & Ireland, the film fast-became the highest grossing documentary release of 2025, the highest grossing nature documentary in cinemas this decade, and the widest released documentary of all time – launching across 580 sites.  

Ocean with David Attenborough is now available to stream globally on Disney+ and Hulu.

Ocean with David Attenborough is a Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios co-production, in association with All3Media International, National Geographic, and Minderoo Pictures. The film is directed by Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey and Colin Butfield and produced by Nowlan. The film is co-produced by Arksen & 10% for the Ocean, Don Quixote Foundation, National Geographic Society and Pristine Seas, Revive Our Ocean, and The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

“We’re incredibly proud to see Ocean with David Attenborough embraced by audiences worldwide and making box office history. This film was created to immerse viewers in the beauty and fragility of our ocean as never before seen – and its success shows this timely story resonates. We hope the film and David Attenborough’s powerful message continue to inspire global conversation and action for the ocean.”
— Film directors Colin Butfield, Toby Nowlan and Keith Scholey

  • Watch the film now on Disney+ and Hulu and share your reflections using #OceanFilm, inspiring others to join the conversation.

  • Bring the wonder of the ocean into your community, company or classroom.

    NGOs and other not-for-profit organisations, as well as educators at schools, universities, museums, and libraries can request to screen the film via the routes below:

    • Educators can request free access to screen here. These requests are managed by National Geographic Society.

    • Non-profits and community organisations can request free access to screen the film here. These requests are managed by Revive Our Ocean, coordinated by Dynamic Planet. 

  • We’ve released thousands of inspiring, high-quality ocean clips on Open Planet to help drive storytelling for the ocean on a scale never seen before.

    Footage captured during the filming of Ocean with David Attenborough will soon be published on Open Planet and made freely available for educational and impact storytelling.

    Use the library to create and share your own ocean stories.