Best Animal Documentaries - Best Documentary Films About Animals

Arctic Tale

Paramount Classics

Arctic Tale gives you close up, personal and unforgettable profiles of Nanu, a polar bear cub, and Seelu, a seal pup, as they struggle to survive changing environmental conditions that threaten their habitat and their lives. With these lovable animal tykes leading the way, the film swims directly and deeply into disturbing environmental issues-- like global warming, pollution, and, most especially, the shrinking arctic ice.

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Born To Be Wild

IMAX/Warnr Bros.

The Cove

Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions

Richard O'Barry, the animal trainer behind the phenomenal success of the television show, Flipper and animal rights activist Louis Psihoyos recruit an A Team-like crew of filmmakers and environmentalists to expose Taiji, Japan's fishermen's annual dolphin roundup and slaughter of thousands of dolphins.

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First Saturday in May

Hennegan Brothers

Great Migrations

The habitual behavior of the creatures -- red land crabs on Christmas Island, butterflies in Mexico, zebras and wildebeests in Africa, penguins in Antarctica and Sperm whales in the seas are among the animals that cover vast distances as they follow the annual habitual migratory routes that seem to be imprinted in their DNA. National Geographics' wonderful series tracks these creatures in their treks for survival. Fascinating!

Grizzly Man

Lions Gate Films / Discovery Docs

In October 2003, grizzly bear activists Timothy Treadwell and Amie Huguenard were killed by the Alaskan bears they'd been following and studying. Famed director Werner Herzog uses the pair's archival footage plus interviews with their friends, family, colleagues and bear experts to examine their lifestyle, motivation and experiences. The film is a fascinating study of human interaction with wild animals, and the footage of the bears is absolutely phenomenal.

Jane's Journey

Dr. Jane Goodall is world famous for her ongoing research about the chimpanzees of Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania, and for her ongoing nonprofit Roots and Shoots programs that bring education and eco friendly enterprise to people in need around the world. This remakable biodoc tells the story of Goodall's relationship with the chimpanzees and presents up close and personal footage of their interactions over the years.

The Last Lions

National Geographics Entertainment

March of the Penguins

Jerome Maison, Bonne Pioche Productions

March of the Penguins takes you into the harsh environment of Antarctica, where Emperor penguins gather annually to go through their fascinating rituals of building their nests, finding mates and propagating their species. They endure amazing hardships. And, as this film shows, they may be cute, but penguins are truly tough birds.

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Sweetgrass

Filmmakers Ilisa Barbash and Lucien Castaing-Taylor follow Montana sheep herders as they drive 3,000 sheep through the Beartooth Mountains of Montana during the summer of 2003. This challenging and dangerous journey was the final annual sheep drive along a trail that has been followed since the early 1900s. The film chronicles the end of a tradition, and marks the beginning of a new relationship between men and the beasts they shepherd.