Best of National Geographic, a list by burnsr4

8.4

/15010/

80

/575/

79

/108/

Letterboxd

4.2

/4309/

100

/36/

95

83

/17/

RogerEbert

3.5

age 14+

Twentysomething Miep Gies didn't hesitate when her boss Otto Frank came to her and asked her to hide his family from the Nazis during World War II. For the next two years, Miep, her husband Jan, and the other helpers watched over the eight souls in hiding in the Secret Annex. And it was Miep who found Anne’s Diary and kept it safe so Otto, the only one of the eight who survived, could later share it with the world as one of the most powerful accounts of the Holocaust.

87

58

8.3

/908/

77

/93/

83

/22/

Letterboxd

3.8

/704/

100

/6/

93

age 6+

Octopuses are like aliens on Earth: three hearts, blue blood and the ability to squeeze through a space the size of their eyeballs. But there is so much more to these weird and wonderful animals. Intelligent enough to use tools or transform their bodies to mimic other animals and even communicate with different species, the secrets of the octopus are more extraordinary than we ever imagined.

82

80

8.7

/8571/

82

/362/

76

/85/

83

/12/

93

71

/4/

age 8+

A mind-bending, thrilling journey exploring the fragility and wonder of planet Earth, one of the most peculiar, unique places in the entire universe, brought to life by the only people to have left it behind – the world’s most well known and leading astronauts.

68

59

7.3

/2772/

65

/169/

63

/34/

55

/11/

91

65

/6/

age 16+

A disparate group of outcasts and dreamers battle to escape their pasts while navigating the brutal frontier hardships, competing interests, and tangled loyalties at the crossroads of civilization: the New World. Based on the novel by Pulitzer-winner Annie Proulx.

72

50

7.9

/857/

70

/74/

66

/23/

80

/5/

86

55

/5/

age 10+

Host Neil deGrasse Tyson brings together celebrities, scientists and comedians to explore a variety of cosmic topics and collide pop culture with science in a way that late-night television has never seen before. Weekly topics range from popular science fiction, space travel, extraterrestrial life, the Big Bang, to the future of Earth and the environment. Tyson is an astrophysicist with a gifted ability to connect with everyone, inspiring us all to to "keep looking up."

69

7.3

/10279/

72

/730/

71

/131/

57

/37/

75

69

/12/

age 14+

In this anthology series, heroic scientists risk all to deal with deadly outbreaks.

72

67

7.3

/3707/

72

/220/

66

/57/

77

/13/

69

80

/8/

Relive a heroic fight for survival during the Iraq War, when the 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood was ferociously ambushed on April 4, 2004, in Sadr City, Baghdad — a day that came to be known in military annals as “Black Sunday.”

71

8.2

/21015/

78

/826/

74

/293/

71

/100/

62

62

/59/

age 14+

The life stories of history's greatest minds. From their days as young adults to their final years we see their discoveries, loves, relationships, causes, flaws and genius.

63

43

6.6

/754/

65

/96/

58

/20/

72

/18/

61

58

/11/

age 14+

An adrenaline-fueled ride through the culture of speculation, innovation and disruption during Silicon Valley’s unprecedented tech boom and subsequent bust in the 1990s. This mostly scripted series weaves in select documentary elements that help tell the true inside story of the internet’s formative years.

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6.5

/15/

10

/1/

In the ultimate forensic challenge, a crack team of investigators comprising of a forensic scientist, a psychologist and a detective must identify a mystery target using the power of forensic science alone.

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70

/1/

70

/1/

The rise and fall of the Inca is a story of a civilization marked by gold, power and ingenuity. From monumental cities and vast empires stretching across the Andes to dazzling treasures that inspired legends, the Incas conquered millions and reshaped South America. But their golden age ended suddenly, leaving behind mysteries, monumental ruins, and a legacy that still captivates the world.

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70

/1/

A deep dive into the enigmatic world of water. From our vast, powerful ocean to dynamic life-giving rivers, nurturing lakes and the ghostly world of our mysterious swamps, we explore the charismatic characters and intricate stories of the wildlife that call each of these water bodies home. Through their connection to these contrasting habitats, we reveal the many secrets to how water shapes all life on Earth.

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Derek Hough, renowned as one of the best dancers of his generation, will be our guide on a journey to discover the roots of the most popular dance styles and trends around the world from the cultures, environments and people who forged them. In each episode, Derek will team up with a celebrity guest to embark on a quest to uncover the global cultural traditions that shape dance. Unleashed and inspired, every step in their adventure will culminate in a once-in-a-lifetime spectacular performance.

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10

/1/

Joel Sartore photographs some of the rarest animals in the world, with an aim to support wildlife conservation efforts.

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7.8

/30/

80

/5/

80

/2/

Professor Hannah Fry sets off on a global adventure, not just to see the world but to decode it. With curiosity, wit and insight she peels back the layers in six iconic locations: Spain, Vietnam, Greece, South Korea, Ireland, and Iceland. Through stunning landscapes, vibrant cities and off the beaten track treasures, Hannah seeks out extraordinary local voices and unexpected quirks of history and geography that reveal what makes each place truly unique. Always seeking patterns and hidden connections, she uncovers how Spain’s destiny was shaped by mountains, analyses traffic etiquette in Ho Chi Minh City, reveals secrets hidden in the geometry at the Parthenon and how Irish syntax builds a world view. This is much more than a travelogue—it’s a journey into the forces that shape nations and define cultures.

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7.6

/18/

80

/7/

10

/1/

Behind-the-scenes look at Toronto Pearson Airport shows how Canada's busiest hub manages millions of passengers and aircraft through snowstorms, tech problems, emergencies, and security issues.

84

?

8.2

/200/

80

/12/

92

/4/

This is a planet on the move - animals in every landscape are embarking on epic migrations in search of food, shelter, and love.

66

?

6.7

/141/

65

/20/

68

/6/

irected by François Pomès, this two-part documentary chronicles the epic adventure of the Apollo space program, which included both tragic setbacks and historic successes. The first phase takes place against a backdrop of the Cold War, from the disaster of the Apollo 1 mission to the triumph of the Apollo 8 mission. The last stage culminates with the Apollo 11 space flight which landed American astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the Moon. With full-color archival images and 3D reenactments of the mission's key stages, this immersive account details the journey of the men and women who contributed to the celebrated Apollo 11 mission.

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7.4

/27/

50

/3/

60

/1/

In 2018, the eyes of the world turn to Pyeongchang, South Korea, for the Winter Olympics. For thousands of years Korea was known for its staggering natural beauty. Now it is better known for its decades of conflict. But beyond the battle scars and the fortifications there is a land of stunning natural beauty and remarkable wildlife. Lush wetlands and mudflats; soaring mountains and turbulent seas; habitats where the beautiful goshawk, the bottleneck dolphin and the curious raccoon dog thrive alongside Korea’s traditional people as they have for many thousands of years.

61

?

7.7

/221/

Trakt

59

/22/

63

/7/

In 1930s Germany, the Nazi Party created the Hitler Youth to indoctrinate children and adolescents with Nazi ideology and prepare them to become a child army for Hitler. The first programme traces the rise of the movement through to the war. The second programme starts at the height of WW2 and traces the story of the Hitler Youth as they face defeat.

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60

/6/

Australia's creatures adapt to life within varied and often hostile environments.

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A range of National Geographic storytellers and photographers highlight unique places and events from around the United States, offering surprising and inspiring stories that explore what makes America special.

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N/A

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8.1

/9/

80

/1/

This series reveals the extraordinary secrets of Europe’s engineering wonders. Filmed across six great nations, it will explore record-breaking construction projects, innovative machines and vehicles, and ingenious design. It will also reveal the hidden engineering that drives Europe’s most iconic landmarks and the people who keep them working today.

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One person’s lost bag is another person’s found treasure. Lost and Found promises to answer the universal question, “What happens to all the suitcases, bags and stuff travelers lose at airports and on planes?” In this hour-long repeatable special, we follow the journey of the ‘stuff’ from LOST at the Seattle International Airport, to FOUND by a new owner at Unclaimed Baggage (one of the largest tourist attractions in the state of Alabama), or SOLD at auction at the Pittsburgh International Airport.

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80

/1/

N/A

?

10

/1/

100

/1/

A deeper journey into the crucial, fragile interdependence between animal life and the environment. Guided by the most up-to-date research we travel through jungles, forests, mountain ranges, deserts and oceans to discover animals, their habitats and the environment that sustains them. Their behaviour, ability to develop, survive and adapt to a changing environment is evident.

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7.5

/34/

64

/9/

80

/1/

N/A

78

?

8.6

/153/

50

/5/

100

/1/

N/A

83

?

8.1

/429/

79

/18/

90

/2/

There are 50,000 bodies lying unnamed and unmourned across America with no way of identifying them, until now. This powerful new series follows the DNA Doe Project - a leading organization in genetic investigation and identification - as they partner with law enforcement agencies to solve the coldest of cases, name these unidentified bodies, and bring resolution to families across the country.

75

48

7.9

/1176/

68

/71/

51

/13/

Letterboxd

4.1

/1959/

100

/9/

80

/4/

Offers the most intimate and profound exploration into the wide-ranging impacts of the Hurricane Katrina disaster to date. Weaving together critical moments of the crisis and the past events that precipitated it, the series delivers an unparalleled, emotionally raw examination of the storm’s personal, political and societal fallout.

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65

/2/

93

/3/

A team of scientists examine these apex predators from a shark’s point of view, revealing triggers, behaviors, and high-risk zones from Shark HQ.

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10

/2/

90

/1/

Lisa Ling goes undercover in North Korea for a rare glimpse of the secretive country, and reports on dictator Kim Jong-un creating international crises.

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'Mission F-16: our fight against terrorism' gives a picture of the life of the Dutch Royal Air Force in Jordan. Technical challenges, psychological effects, training and operations are all covered in the four-part series.

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23

/3/

70

/1/

N/A

?

10

/1/

20

/1/

age 10+

Dallas Campbell and Kari Byron travel the globe, meeting the innovators who are creating new ways to power our world into the future.

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8.0

/50/

23

/3/

60

/1/

Across our country's vast and untamed wildernesses a hardy breed of American still lives a life set apart. They are not just off-the-grid, they are physically cut off from society by Rocky Mountains, roaring rivers and frozen tundra. But however self-sufficient...no man’s an island. Sooner or later, these off-gridders need a life-giving tool - like fuel or bullets - or a life-saving essential - like food or medicine. When they do, they turn to the cast of Dead End Express. By pack horse, dog sled, power boat, snow machine and bush plane this unique group of men risk all to deliver where no one else can or will. Delivering their payload is a matter of life or death, not just for their clients but for them, in their ongoing mission to survive and deliver.

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61

/5/

Explores the tactics and psychology of skilled negotiators in high-stakes, life-or-death situations, revealing the secrets to de-escalation and successful outcomes.

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26

/3/

Beyond the Magic Kingdom there is a savage side to Florida, a spectacular environment teeming with wildlife where relentless drama unfolds between a labyrinth of ancient cypress swamps, crowded beaches and coral islands. Wild Florida takes you deep into this hidden wilderness, revealing a spectacular array of fearsome predators, wily survivors and dangerous invaders as they struggle to live and thrive in this stunning, sometimes violent Eden.

66

?

7.3

/519/

66

/42/

60

/8/

On April 19, 1995, the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history devastated the nation, claiming 168 lives - including 19 children - and injuring hundreds more. The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building shattered families and changed America forever.

71

?

7.8

/400/

70

/45/

73

/17/

Over two extraordinary years, National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory discovered never-before-filmed secret traditions, surprising intelligence and close-knit societies of penguins. This astonishing series reveals they are more like us than we ever dreamed, from their powerful friendships to the courageous risk-takers using ingenuity and innovation in some of the world's most extreme places.

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6.5

/21/

51

/5/

85

/2/

What happens behind the scenes of a station where almost 300,000 people come and go every day? In Amsterdam Central Station 24/7 you get a unique look at the largest train station in the Netherlands.

67

?

7.3

/241/

64

/17/

66

/5/

A fearless warrior and ruthless conqueror, Genghis Khan’s epic rise and the Mongolian Empire’s incredible expansion are brought to thrilling life in this six-part series. Drawing on a new translation of “The Secret History of the Mongols,” the series reveals stunning insights into the life and many battles of the legendary ruler known widely as Genghis Khan.

79

?

7.9

/32/

70

/13/

90

/1/

July 2014. When Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 crashes in Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board, the circumstances are shrouded in mystery. With a regional war beginning to rage around the crash site, disinformation is everywhere. Western governments are left scrabbling for detail while one civilian is leading the hunt for answers – Dad of two and amateur blogger Eliot Higgins. And with an unlikely team of online detectives by his side, he’s ready to fight all the way to the truth.

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The WILD EDENS project was initiated by the State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” and includes the filming and broadcasting of a series of full-length documentaries on distant corners of nature, whose ecosystem is especially vulnerable to the effects of global warming. The main goal of the project is to attract the attention of the international community to climate change and the need for a global transition to clean energy. WILD EDENS: RUSSIA - the first film of the new series, telling about the flora and fauna of the one of a kind wild corners of Russia: the Altai Mountains, the Kamchatka Peninsula and the Arctic

78

?

8.2

/724/

72

/63/

81

/9/

age 8+

Follow the story of the heroic underdogs of the natural world – the good, the bad and the frankly ugly. From their hidden talents to their bold hygiene choices, unsavory courtship rituals, devious camouflage techniques and “tough love” parenting skills, Underdogs will celebrate and champion the unique and unpredictable behaviors of a little known and surprising cast of animal characters.

64

?

8.2

/587/

60

/25/

51

/6/

age 8+

From Italy, Germany and the UK to Senegal, South Korea and Borneo, Antoni takes celebs on epic journeys to explore their ancestral and culinary roots.

?

6.8

/8/

60

/1/