Opening in cinemas worldwide on 8 May 2025, Ocean with David Attenborough is more than just a documentary – it’s a rallying cry for our planet. Coinciding with Sir David Attenborough’s 99th birthday, this landmark film captures the scale, beauty and fragility of our oceans through stunning imagery and an urgent narrative of hope. Produced by Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios, in association with Arksen and 10% for the Ocean, this is the legendary broadcaster’s most powerful message yet – one that urges global audiences to reimagine their relationship with the sea.
The ocean covers more than 70% of Earth’s surface. It sustains every living being, regulates our climate, and supports countless ecosystems. Yet, as the film reveals, it is under greater pressure than ever before. Through a combination of dazzling cinematography and deeply personal narration, Attenborough charts how our growing understanding of the ocean has evolved alongside his own life. “My lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery,” he says. In the span of less than a century, we’ve uncovered astonishing new species, documented epic migrations, and explored ecosystems few knew existed.
But while we’ve made remarkable progress in exploration, we’ve also done damage. Ocean doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities. It exposes destructive fishing methods, plastic pollution, and widespread coral bleaching, laying bare the challenges that threaten the ocean’s very survival. The cinematography immerses viewers in scenes both breathtaking and sobering, with sweeping views of kelp forests, bustling coral reefs, and the vast, mysterious deep sea. These images are as much a celebration as they are a warning.
Yet despite the urgency, the film carries a strong thread of optimism. Attenborough highlights communities and scientists making real change. From successful marine reserves to innovative restoration projects, Ocean showcases tangible solutions that are already helping the sea heal. His central message is clear: it’s not too late. The ocean has extraordinary capacity for recovery—if given the chance.
The release of the film is timely. Positioned just ahead of World Ocean Day and the UN Ocean Conference in June, and in the heart of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, Ocean serves as a vital conversation-starter. Its aim is not only to educate but to inspire action—at local, national and global levels.
Following its cinema release, the film will become available on National Geographic, Disney+ and Hulu later in the year. In cinemas, audiences will also be treated to A Deeper Dive with David Attenborough, an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the making of the documentary, further deepening the connection between viewer and the vast marine world beneath the surface.
Executive producers include key voices from the environmental and broadcasting world – including National Geographic, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and the Don Quixote Foundation. The film’s launch also coincides with the unveiling of “Revive Our Ocean,” a global initiative by Dynamic Planet supporting coastal communities working to protect and restore their marine environments.
Tickets for the global cinema event are available now via OceanFilm.net.
