Human Planet poster

TV series

Human Planet

20111 season8.3 / 10

Natural born survivors.

A cinematic experience bringing you the most amazing human stories in the world. Humans and wildlife surviving in the most extreme environments on Earth.

Availability

Not streaming in United States

Checked Sep 1, 2026

Human Planet premiered January 13, 2011. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.

Synopsis

A cinematic experience bringing you the most amazing human stories in the world. Humans and wildlife surviving in the most extreme environments on Earth.

Season 1 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

Episode 1

Oceans: Into the Blue

49m7.3 / 10

As an air-breathing animal, man is ill-suited to living in watery environments. Nonetheless, people in certain cultures have found ways to live an almost aquatic life in order to exploit the vast riches of the sea.

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Episode 2

Deserts: Life in the Furnace

49m8.5 / 10

While man can survive for weeks without food, he can survive mere days without water. Despite this, millions of people live in parched desert environments around the world. Discover the enormous challenges presented to man in the driest corners of the earth, and marvel at the ingenious solutions he has come up with to make life sustainable.

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Episode 3

Arctic: Life in the Deep Freeze

49m8.4 / 10

Welcome to the Arctic: months of darkness, frigid temperatures, little food to be found or grown. Despite this, four million people live their lives in this environment. Meet them and witness their remarkable tales of survival in the world's harshest climate.

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Episode 4

Jungles: People of the Trees

49m6.9 / 10

The rainforest is home to more species of plants and animals than any other habitat on the planet. For the humans who call this environment home, life requires skill, ingenuity, and sheer bravery.

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Episode 5

Mountains: Life in Thin Air

49m8.5 / 10

From lush cloud forests to bare summits, many people make their homes in the extreme altitudes of the world's mountain ranges. Explore the extraordinary ways life is sustained in this world of thin air and few resources.

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Episode 6

Grasslands: Roots of Power

48m8.8 / 10

Grasslands feed the world. Over thousands of years, humans have learned to grow grains on the grasslands and domesticate the creatures that live there, propelling our population to almost seven billion people in the process.

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Episode 7

Rivers: Friend and Foe

49m8.8 / 10

Rivers provide the essentials of life: fresh food and fresh water. They act as natural highways and enable humans to live in just about every environment on Earth. Rivers are not to be taken for granted, however, as they freeze, flood, and sometimes dry up - disappearing entirely!

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Episode 8

Cities: Surviving the Urban Jungle

48m8.5 / 10finale

A look at the man-made environment: the city. Over half of the world's population now lives in the urban jungle. The city is built to keep untamed nature out - but nature can't be pushed away. From bed bugs sucking blood at night to rats in our restaurants, many animals have adapted to a life in man's creation.

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Episode information updated Sep 17, 2026

More about Human Planet

Cast

John HurtNarrator (voice)

Credits

Created by
Dale Templar, Brian Leith

Production details

Status
Ended
Series type
Miniseries
Episodes
8
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • BBC OneUnited Kingdom
  • France TélévisionsFrance

Themes

home planethuman evolutionhuman in natureman and natureminiseriesnature and peoplenature documentarypeople and nature