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Parents' Guide to

Life on Our Planet

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Spielberg-produced CGI-heavy nature docu is brutal.

TV Netflix Educational 2023
Life on Our Planet TV show poster

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Michael R.
Michael R. Parent of 2 and 6-year-old
November 28, 2023
age 4+

Ban books

I really like how it provides a logical start for the existence of life. It took so long for that magic to bring us to where we are today, but that magic was there from the start and could not be explained better than the man himself, Nelson Mandela. While it’s hard to comprehend the cosmos and the chaos of the universe and our galaxy, it makes way more sense when breaking it down to the major events that made our planet what it was and is. But I’m the long run, mammals prevailed.
Bernardo F.
Bernardo F. Parent of 6-year-old
November 21, 2023
age 7+

Great for some family couch time

See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In LIFE ON OUR PLANET, planet Earth is formed and goes through stages of struggle. Land masses are created out of spewing lava, the air clouds and clears, and water settles to form oceans. Billions of years ago, out of the oceans came the first signs of life, and since then, life has been vying for global dominance. Dynasties of "bloodlines" have risen and fallen. Which will succeed in surviving the longest? Where do humans fit into the global picture?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (4 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Jurassic Park meets David Attenborough in this sweeping, CGI-riddled attempt at a history of Earth's evolution. Earth is a battlefield in Life on Our Planet (executive produced by Steven Spielberg), and the big losers are those who are interested in watching a nature documentary, rather than the CGI dramas that unfold here.

Is it cheating to marry computer-generated images with those of the natural world and package it as history? How can the viewer know what is actual and what is made up? The magic of movies like Jurassic Park lies in the fiction that feels like reality. This series tries to make reality into fiction, blurring lines of documentary integrity. Sensitive viewers can skip this one -- there are more glorious nature documentaries out there. Parents might want to point out that there are fictional representations of nature, as well as opinions about the principles of the natural world, at play in this show.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • How does curiosity motivate someone to watch a show like Life on Our Planet? If a show features something that interests you, are you curious to learn more?

  • How does teamwork among animals in this show illustrate evolutionary advances? What types of creatures are left to fend for themselves?

  • Perseverance can help creatures survive, whereas giving up can lead to demise. What have you achieved thanks to perseverance?

TV Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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