The Blue Planet (2001)
Sir David Attenborough guides viewers into the vast, largely unexplored world beneath the ocean's surface in this landmark BBC documentary series.
The Blue Planet - Series Information
- Original Title: The Blue Planet
- First Air Year: 2001
- Last Air Year: 2001
- Created by: Andy Byatt, Alastair Fothergill
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Documentary
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (51 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 8
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: September 12, 2001 (United Kingdom - U), September 12, 2001 (Germany - 0), September 12, 2001 (Australia - PG), September 12, 2001 (Spain - 7)
- Networks: BBC One
- Alternative Titles: The Blue Planet: Seas of Life (US), 蓝色星球 第 1 季 (CN), BBC. Голубая планета. (RU), Au coeur des océans - La Planète bleue (FR), Unser blauer Planet (DE), 아름다운 바다 (KR), Blue Planet (UK)
- Production Companies: Discovery, BBC, BBC Television Centre
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
The Blue Planet - Plot
Sir David Attenborough narrates this critically acclaimed series that dives deep into the marine environment of Planet Earth. Although two-thirds of the world's surface is covered with water, scientists know less about the oceans than they do about the surface of the moon. This limited series travels from various coasts to the poles to examine watery denizens ranging from the gigantic blue whale to microscopic coral polyps.
The Blue Planet - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a glimpse of the ocean's breathtaking depths:
A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE OCEANS.
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The Blue Planet - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Andy Byatt
- Alastair Fothergill
Main Cast
- David Attenborough
The Blue Planet - FAQs
Is The Blue Planet still considered a landmark documentary?
Absolutely. When it aired in 2001, The Blue Planet was unlike anything audiences had seen before. Its unprecedented underwater footage, captured over five years of filming across 200 locations, set a new benchmark for natural history television and remains one of the most celebrated documentary series ever produced.
Who narrates The Blue Planet series?
Sir David Attenborough provides the narration for The Blue Planet. His calm, authoritative voice has become synonymous with landmark BBC nature documentaries, and his delivery here — guiding viewers through the mysteries of the deep — is widely regarded as one of his finest performances.
Where can you stream The Blue Planet?
You can stream The Blue Planet on Discovery+, YouTube TV, and Planet Earth Amazon Channel. If you prefer to own it, episodes are available to buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home.
How long did it take to film The Blue Planet?
The Blue Planet took approximately five years to complete, with crews filming across more than 200 locations worldwide. The production logged over 6,500 hours of underwater footage, deploying cutting-edge camera technology to capture deep-sea creatures and behaviours that had never been filmed before.
Did The Blue Planet win any major awards?
The series earned widespread critical acclaim and won multiple BAFTA Awards, including Best Factual Series. It also received Emmy recognition and is frequently cited in lists of the greatest documentary series ever made, cementing its legacy as a watershed moment in natural history filmmaking.
Who composed the music for The Blue Planet?
The score was composed by George Fenton, whose sweeping orchestral music became as iconic as the imagery itself. Fenton later recorded the soundtrack with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the album was released to considerable acclaim, earning him a BAFTA nomination for his work on the series.
Is The Blue Planet suitable for children to watch?
The Blue Planet is broadly family-friendly, though some sequences — such as predator-prey interactions and footage of deep-sea creatures — may be intense for very young viewers. The series carries a PG rating in Australia and is generally considered appropriate for older children with parental guidance for younger ones.
What are the best shows to watch after The Blue Planet?
If The Blue Planet left you wanting more, Blue Planet II (2017) is the essential follow-up, revisiting the oceans with even more advanced technology. Planet Earth (2006), Planet Earth II (2016), Our Planet (2019), and Our Oceans (2024) are all outstanding choices that share the same spirit of awe-inspiring natural history storytelling.
More About The Blue Planet
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