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David Attenborough

David Attenborough

Actor and writer, also producer and director · Born May 8, 1926 (100) · London, England, UK

3 Primetime Emmys · 5 BAFTA Awards

Sir David Attenborough (born May 8, 1926) is a broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the respected face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years. He is best known for writing and presenting the nine "Life" series, in conjunction with the BBC Natural History Unit, which collectively form a comprehensive survey of all life on the planet. He is also a former senior manager at the BBC, having served as controller of BBC Two and director of programming for BBC Television in the 1960s and 1970s. He is the younger brother of director, producer and actor Richard Attenborough.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 8, 1926 (100)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Actor and writer, also producer and director
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 112 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 7% in 30 days

What are David Attenborough's films like?

Across their 55 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Ideas and Survival.

Themes

share of theme weight
Ideas
44%
Survival
21%
Society
17%
Self
8%
Bonds
8%
Power
1%
Morality
1%
Nature41 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival26 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity13 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose9 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope9 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 21 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 22 · Stylized 3 · Heightened 1

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 20 · Charged 5 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 25 · Shifting 1 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 25 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 26 · Even-paced 0 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 26 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 2 of 5 analyzed roles.

Hero
2 of 5
Mentor
2 of 5
Herald
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Contemplative
47
Warm
31
Hopeful
18
Joyful
14
Tense
6
Other
18

How their films linger

Hopeful45 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking24 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy16
  • Bittersweet18
  • Ambiguous8
  • Cyclical13

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch David Attenborough's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Attenborough's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

112 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 169 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Mammals(2024)

    Show 6 episodes · Producer · Writer · as Self - Narrator

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet(2021)

    Show 5 episodes · Producer · Writer · as Self - Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Attenborough and the Sea Dragon(2018)

    as Presenter

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Deep Ocean: Giants of the Antarctic Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Narrator

  • Attenborough and the Empire of the Ants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Writer · as Self – Presenter

  • Planet Earth II(2016)

    Show 6 episodes · Casting · as Self - Narrator

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Zoo Quest in Colour(2016)

    Sound Recordist · as Self - Presenter

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Wild City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 6 episodes · Presenter · as Self - Narrator (voice)

  • Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Afrique sauvage - L'avenir en marche (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Presenter

  • Attenborough's Big Birds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator

  • Africa's Fishing Leopards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Attenborough's Paradise Birds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Presenter - Narrator

  • David Attenborough's Conquest of the Skies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

  • Sir David Attenborough – A Life on Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Director · Presenter · Writer · as David Attenborough · as Self

  • Mountain Lions: Big Cats in High Places (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Narrator

  • Conquest of The Skies 3D (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as 自己 · as 编剧

  • David Attenborough's Natural History Museum Alive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Writer · as Presenter

  • David Attenborough's Rise of Animals: Triumph of the Vertebrates (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 2 episodes · Screenplay · as Self - Presenter

  • The Mating Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Narrator

  • Micro Monsters with David Attenborough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 6 episodes · as Presenter

  • Galapagos with David Attenborough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Writer · as Self - Presenter

  • Africa(2013)

    Show 6 episodes · Writer · as Self - Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Galapagos 3D with David Attenborough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

  • Attenborough's Ark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Writer · as Narrator

  • Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hot Tuna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Narrator

  • Superfish Bluefin Tuna(2012)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Secrets of Wild India(2012)

    Show 3 episodes · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • Frozen Planet(2011)

    Show 7 episodes · Writer · as Self - Narrator

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Flying Monsters 3D with David Attenborough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Writer · as Self - Presenter / Narrator

  • Madagascar(2011)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • First Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 2 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

  • In Confidence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Water Life A World of Water (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as 导演

  • Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life(2009)

    Writer · as Presenter

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • NHKスペシャル 映像詩 里山II 命めぐる水辺 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator

  • Clever Monkeys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator

  • Tiger: Spy In The Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Life in Cold Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer · as Self - Narrator (voice)

  • Snow Leopard: Beyond the Myth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Narrator

  • Trek - Spy on the Wildebeest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Actor

  • Can We Save Planet Earth? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Are We Changing Planet Earth? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Gorillas Revisited with Sir David Attenborough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Presenter

  • Desert Lions (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Script Consultant · as Self - Narrator (voice)

  • Planet Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 11 episodes · Writer · as Self - Narrator

  • Life in the Undergrowth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 5 episodes · Writer · as Self

  • Bears: Spy in the Woods (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • Satoyama: Japan's Secret Watergarden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • The Amber Time Machine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Narrator

  • The Minsmere Year (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Actor

  • The Many Lives of Richard Attenborough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Actor

  • The Terry and Gaby Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Deep Blue(2003)

    Writer · as Self

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Life of Mammals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 10 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

  • Great Natural Wonders of the World(2002)

    as Presenter

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Blue Planet(2001)

    Show 8 episodes · Writer · as Self - Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Bowerbirds: The Art of Seduction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Writer · as Narrator

  • Lions: Spy in the Den (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Narrator

  • State of the Planet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

  • Living with Dinosaurs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Presenter

  • The Lost Gods of Easter Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Screenplay · as Himself - Presenter

  • The Song of the Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Writer · as Narrator

  • The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Presenter - Narrator

  • Tiger: The Elusive Princess (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Islands of the Vampire Birds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Writer · as Narrator (voice)

  • Satoyama I: Japan's Secret Watergarden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Narrator

  • The Life of Birds(1998)

    Show 10 episodes · Writer · as Self - Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The Dragons of Galapagos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • Sperm Whales: Back from the Abyss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Narrator

  • Attenborough in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Writer · as Self - Narrator

  • Attenborough in Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 7 episodes · Writer · Actor

  • Survival Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Writer · as Narrator

  • Wildlife Specials (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 30 episodes · Actor

  • The Private Life of Plants (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 6 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

  • Great White Shark - The Silent Stalker (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Actor

  • Life in the Freezer(1993)

    Show 6 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Killer Whales: Wolves of the Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Narrator

  • Barn Owl: Bird of Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • The Trials of Life(1990)

    Show 12 episodes · Writer · as Self - Narrator (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Lost Worlds, Vanished Lives(1989)

    Show 4 episodes · Writer · as Presenter - Narrator

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The First Eden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Show 4 episodes · as Presenter - Narrator

  • Birds of the Sun God (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Narrator

  • David Attenborough's Animals of the British Countryside - Land Mammals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Narrator

  • The Million Pound Bird Book (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Writer · as Presenter

  • Television (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Living Planet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 12 episodes · Writer · as Self

  • Aliens From Inner Space (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Narrator

  • Natural World(1983)

    Show 28 episodes · Writer · as Narrator · as Narrator (voice) · as Presenter · as Self - Host · as Self - Narrator

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Nature(1982)

    Show 5 episodes · as Host · as Narrator (voice) · as Self

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • General Studies: An Everyday Miracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Narrator

  • Squirrel on My Shoulder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Narrator

  • Life on Earth(1979)

    Show 13 episodes · Writer · as Self - Presenter

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • At Home with Badgers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Narrator

  • Wildlife on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator

  • Fabulous Animals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 6 episodes · Creator · as Self - Presenter

  • The Tribal Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 7 episodes · Actor

  • Nova(1974)

    Show 3 episodes · Writer · as Narrator

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Eastward With Attenborough (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • A Blank on the Map (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Screenplay · as Himself - Presenter

  • Baobab: Portrait of a Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Narrator (voice)

  • The Miracle of Bali (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • The World About Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Narrator

  • Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 9 episodes · Actor

  • Elsa the Lioness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Producer · as Self

  • The People of Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Trans-Antarctic Expedition 1955-1958 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

  • Zoo Quest to West Africa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Producer · Writer · as Self

  • The Ascent of Kangchenjunga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Producer

  • Zoo Quest(1954)

    Show 42 episodes · Director · Producer · Actor

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Flying Casanovas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Show Creator

Career shape

Star power in the 72nd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 108 titles, 107 of them dated from 1954 to 2018.

Biggest box office

Deep Blue (2003)

$19M worldwide

Highest rated

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Prehistoric Planet (2022)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting74 of 108: 62 only acting, 12 with another role · typical Midcredits score91stDirecting1 of 108: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting38 of 108: 25 only writing, 13 with another role · typical Midcredits score97thProducing3 of 108: 2 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew7 of 108: 6 only other crew, 1 with another role

108 titles, 13 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 12 of them.

By decade

1950s4 · 2 acting · 2 crew1960s6 · 5 acting · 1 crew1970s10 · 7 acting · 4 crew1980s11 · 10 acting · 3 crew1990s16 · 12 acting · 7 crew2000s29 · 21 acting · 11 crew2010s31 · 17 acting · 17 crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

3 Primetime Emmys and 5 BAFTA Awards from 22 major nominations, 1980–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated ×2 · Outstanding Narrator
  2. 2025
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Narrator
  3. 2024
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Narrator
  4. 2022
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Narrator
  5. 2021
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated ×2 · Outstanding Narrator
  6. 2020
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Narrator
  7. 2019
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Narrator
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Program
  8. 2018
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Narrator
    • BAFTA Award, won · Virgin TV's Must-See Moment
Show 10 earlier years
  1. 2017
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Specialist Factual
  2. 2016
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Narrator
  3. 2014
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Specialist Factual
  4. 2012
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Specialist Factual
  5. 2011
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Specialist Factual
  6. 2001
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Richard Dimbleby Award for the Best Presenter (Factual, Features and News)
  7. 2000
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Richard Dimbleby Award for the Best Presenter (Factual, Features and News)
  8. 1996
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Informational Series
  9. 1985
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Programming - Writing
  10. 1980
    • BAFTA Award, won · Television

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do David Attenborough's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 89th percentile, the median of all 6; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 95th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

49thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up23
  • 50th to 74th1

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 24 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved13
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser7
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor, writer, producer

The Earthshot Prize: Repairing Our Planet (2021)

88th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, writer

Life on Earth (1979)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 86, detractors 78. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is David Attenborough's work okay for kids?

Across up to 5 MovieCove titles with content scores, 1 of the 5 categories sits near the median of all films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore4 titlesmedian 29 · mildMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 14 · minimalMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 1 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 5 · minimalMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense5 titles31–41 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does David Attenborough work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Attenborough's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Gavin Thurston shares the most, 13.

Directors

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles