What it is
A five-part Netflix documentary series narrated by Barack Obama, featuring cinematography across all five oceans. Each episode focuses on a different ocean basin, exploring unique ecosystems, the communities that depend on them, and the conservation challenges they face. Production involved over 200 dives and filming in 30 countries with cutting-edge deep-water camera technology.
Why we picked this
The combination of Obama's narration, Netflix's global reach, and genuinely breathtaking footage makes this the most accessible entry point to ocean literacy available today. Unlike many ocean documentaries that focus solely on beauty or solely on crisis, Our Oceans balances wonder with urgency. The episode on the Southern Ocean and its role in climate regulation is particularly valuable.
Key takeaways
- The Southern Ocean absorbs approximately 40% of all human-produced CO2, making it the planet's most critical carbon sink.
- Each episode connects local fishing communities directly to global ocean health, making the economic case for conservation tangible.
- The series was watched by over 25 million households in its first month, making it one of the most-viewed nature documentaries in streaming history.