100 best nature documentaries of all time-Keep updating

From the Oscar-winning team behind MAN ON WIRE comes the story of Nim, the chimpanzee who in the 1970s became the focus of a landmark experiment which aimed to show that an ape could learn to communicate with language if raised and nurtured like a human child. Following Nim's extraordinary journey through human society, and the enduring impact he makes on the people he meets along the way, the film is an unflinching and unsentimental biography of an animal we tried to make human. What we learn about his true nature - and indeed our own - is comic, revealing and profoundly unsettling.

It is happening all across America-rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from an energy company wanting to lease their property. Reason? The company hopes to tap into a reservoir dubbed the "Saudi Arabia of natural gas." Halliburton developed a way to get the gas out of the ground-a hydraulic drilling process called "fracking"-and suddenly America finds itself on the precipice of becoming an energy superpower.

Join Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer's odyssey as this mesmerizing documentary delves into meteorites, shooting stars, and their global impact. Blending science and spirituality, it explores how these celestial visitors have ignited our curiosity and transformed our cosmic understanding. Directed by Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer, the film takes you on a journey across cultures, belief systems, and scientific marvels, reminding us of our deep connection to the universe.

This heartwarming film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them-saving endangered species one life at a time.

Using a trove of never-before-seen footage, the film tells the story of Jane's early explorations and research in Tanzania, focusing on her groundbreaking field work, her relationship with her cameraman and husband Hugo Van Lawick, and the chimpanzees that were the subject of her study.

In the city of Istanbul, there are more than just human inhabitants. There are also the stray domestic cats of the city who live free but have complicated relationships with the people themselves. This film follows a selection of individual cats as they live their own lives in Istanbul with their own distinctive personalities. However, with this vibrant population, is the reality of an ancient metropolis changing with the times that may have less of a place for them.

When a structural-security authority finds himself incarcerated in a prison he designed, he must use his expertise to break free. Alongside an enigmatic inmate, they devise an intricate escape. Spectacular performances, coupled with smartly constructed sets, result in a truly immersive experience, as its smart use of confined spaces is a masterstroke in suspenseful filmmaking. This heart-pounding thrill ride will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Prepare to be moved by this groundbreaking documentary directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite which premiered at Sundance 2013. It delves into the controversial captivity of killer whales, centering on Tilikum, a notorious orca responsible for three tragic deaths. Through shocking footage and honest interviews with experts and former SeaWorld trainers, this film challenges our perception of our relationship with the natural world offering a thought-provoking and eye-opening experience.

National Geographic invites us into the world of Alex Honnold, a climber with a dream that defies logic. This award winning documentary follows his remarkable journey as he embarks on an unparalleled quest to climb El Capitan without ropes or safety gear. His relentless pursuit of perfection despite the extreme challenges he faces, makes this film an impactful testament to the triumph of the human spirit.

Katia and Maurice Krafft are a couple that share the same love for unraveling the mysteries of volcanoes and recording their explosive imagery as well. But this shared passion came at a cost.

Portrait of Andy Goldsworthy, an artist whose specialty is ephemeral sculptures made from elements of nature.

In the city of New Delhi, two brothers rescue and care for Kite birds, victims of the city's pollution. Social problems and environmental degradation permeate the brothers' daily lives.

One of the last female wild beekeepers in Europe must save the bees and return the natural balance in Honeyland, when a family of nomadic beekeepers invade her land and threaten her livelihood. This film which is filmed in Macedonia is an exploration of an observational Indigenous visual narrative that deeply impacts our behavior towards natural resources and the human condition.