Finding something to watch can be frustrating. With dozens of series and hundreds of films available, it’s easy to end up scrolling endlessly. However, a project currently available on Oneplay has earned a 96% rating, yet remains largely undiscovered by many viewers.
When the BBC released *Planet Earth* in 2006, its success was unexpected. It received the largest budget the network had ever allocated to a natural history documentary, with crews spending years in remote locations. The result was well worth the investment.
While you were going to work and returning home, the camera crews for *Planet Earth* were waiting – in the mountains, the jungle, or the desert. Filming took five years, visiting sixty-two countries and involved forty crews simultaneously. One team spent over a year in a single location just to capture footage of a snow leopard.
The resulting footage was so exceptional that stations in over 130 countries worldwide purchased the broadcast rights.
A Voice Recognized Around the World
The entire series is narrated by David Attenborough, a British naturalist who began his career at the BBC in the 1950s and has remained active ever since. At 99 years old, he continues to work. His contribution to *Planet Earth* goes beyond just his voice.
Attenborough doesn’t simply read the Latin name of a species and move on; he crafts a narrative that makes viewers root for creatures they may never grasp the name of. This is the difference between someone who merely informs and someone who tells a story with passion.
Sigourney Weaver provided the narration for the American version, a solid choice. But Attenborough is Attenborough.
Footage Years in the Making
One of the most cited episodes, titled “Mountains,” features the first-ever close-up and detailed footage of a snow leopard. Filmmakers waited in the field for over a year to capture these shots. A specialized lens used for aerial footage could focus on the animal from several kilometers away without disturbing it.
Humans barely appear throughout the series, a deliberate choice. Attenborough first appears in the “Caves” episode. The creators wanted to showcase the planet in its original form – without us.
Three Series, Three Perspectives
The first series, released in 2006, explored the planet’s various biomes, from deserts to jungles to the ocean depths. The second series, in 2016, brought the cameras closer to specific animals and their daily struggles for survival in a changing environment. The third series, from 2023, focused on the impact of human activity on nature. Hans Zimmer composed the music for the second and third series.
On Oneplay, *Planet Earth* currently holds a 96% rating, a score maintained over time, with viewers repeatedly returning to the series. A penguin traveling hundreds of miles for food and back is more moving than many dramatic series.
Flamingos performing a mass mating dance are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. A shark beneath the surface creates tension you wouldn’t expect in your living room. *Planet Earth* manages to deliver all of this in a single episode, and without a single actor.
A Program for One Evening, or Two Weeks?
The entire series offers over twenty-four hours of footage across three series. Watching it gradually, one episode at a time, is a great way to regularly disconnect from the constant stream of news and social media.
*Planet Earth* simply reminds us what the world looks like without us. And sometimes, that’s exactly what people need to witness.
Sources: csfd.cz, cs.wikipedia.org, csfd.cz
