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Movies like Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees (2002)

The best movies like Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees (2002) are Jane (2017), The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008) and Chimpanzee (2012). If Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees hooked you with its documentary, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.

Quick picks

  1. Jane (2017)

    Drawing from never-before-seen footage that has been tucked away in the National Geographic archives, director Brett Morgen tells the story of Jane Goodall, a woman whose chimpanzee research revolutionized our understanding of the natural world.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  2. The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008)

    In the remote and forgotten wilderness of Lake Natron, in northern Tanzania, one of nature's last great mysteries unfolds: the birth, life and death of a million crimson-winged flamingos.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  3. Chimpanzee (2012)

    A nature documentary centered on a family of chimps living in the Ivory Coast and Ugandan rain forests. Through Oscar, a little chimpanzee, we discover learning about life in the heart of the African tropical forest and follow his first steps in this world with humor, emotion and anguish. Following a tragedy, he finds himself separated from his mother and left alone to face the hostility of the jungle. Until he is picked up by an older chimpanzee, who will take him under her protection.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  4. Project Nim (2011)

    From the team behind Man on Wire comes the story of Nim, the chimpanzee who in the 1970s became the focus of a landmark experiment which aimed to show that an ape could learn to communicate with language if raised and nurtured like a human child. Following Nim's extraordinary journey through human society, and the enduring impact he makes on the people he meets along the way, the film is an unflinching and unsentimental biography of an animal we tried to make human. What we learn about his true nature - and indeed our own - is comic, revealing and profoundly unsettling.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  5. African Cats (2011)

    African Cats captures the real-life love, humor and determination of the majestic kings of the savanna. The story features Mara, an endearing lion cub who strives to grow up with her mother’s strength, spirit and wisdom; Sita, a fearless cheetah and single mother of five mischievous newborns; and Fang, a proud leader of the pride who must defend his family from a once banished lion.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  6. Ghost Elephants (2026)

    In Angola's mist-shrouded highlands, three KhoiSan master trackers embark on a spiritual quest to rediscover the legendary "ghost elephants" of Lisima, creatures presumed lost but remembered in ancestral trance, ritual, and memory.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  7. A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough (2026)

    Veteran naturalist Sir David Attenborough tells the story of a remarkable group of gorillas, from his first encounter in the '70s to the present day.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  8. Naqoyqatsi (2002)

    A visual montage portrait of our contemporary world dominated by globalized technology and violence.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  9. Powaqqatsi (1988)

    An exploration of technologically developing nations and the effect the transition to Western-style modernization has had on them.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  10. Fuck (2006)

    A documentary on the expletive's origin, why it offends some people so deeply, and what can be gained from its use.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  11. Behind the Planet of the Apes (1998)

    Roddy McDowall takes you, film by film, from production meetings to make-up sessions, then right onto the movie set to see the actual filming of the science fiction masterpiece. The most comprehensive history of Planet of the Apes ever created, this fascinating 127-minute documentary explores one of the most imaginative and influential series in movie history.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  12. Pandas (2018)

    In the mountains of Sichuan, China, a researcher forms a bond with Qian Qian, a panda who is about to experience nature for the first time.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  13. Elephant (2020)

    Disneynature’s Elephant follows African elephant Shani and her spirited son Jomo as their herd make an epic journey hundreds of miles across the vast Kalahari Desert. Led by their great matriarch, Gaia, the family faces brutal heat, dwindling resources and persistent predators, as they follow in their ancestors’ footsteps on a quest to reach a lush, green paradise.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  14. Living with Leopards (2024)

    A film crew follows two leopard cubs as they make the fascinating journey from infancy into adulthood in this up-close-and-personal nature documentary.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  15. Charles Darwin and the Tree of Life (2009)

    Darwin's great insight – that life has evolved over millions of years by natural selection – has been the cornerstone of all David Attenborough’s natural history series. In this documentary, he takes us on a deeply personal journey which reflects his own life and the way he came to understand Darwin’s theory.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  16. Monkey Kingdom (2015)

    A newborn monkey and its mother struggle to survive within the competitive social hierarchy of the Temple Troop, a dynamic group of monkeys who live in ancient ruins found deep in the storied jungles of South Asia.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  17. My Octopus Teacher (2020)

    After years of swimming every day in the freezing ocean at the tip of Africa, Craig Foster meets an unlikely teacher: a young octopus who displays remarkable curiosity. Visiting her den and tracking her movements for months on end he eventually wins the animal’s trust and they develop a never-before-seen bond between human and wild animal.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Absolute CinemaMovies like this
  18. The Elephant Queen (2019)

    Embark on an epic journey of family, courage, and coming home in this feature-length documentary. Join Athena, the majestic matriarch, as she leads her elephant herd across an unforgiving African landscape filled with vibrant wildlife.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  19. The Ivory Game (2016)

    Wildlife activists and investigators put their lives on the line to battle the illegal African ivory trade, in this suspenseful on-the-ground documentary.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  20. The Last Lions (2011)

    In Botswana's Okavango Delta, an ostracized lioness and her two cubs must fight alone to survive - overcoming all manner of hazards. Their only defense is to escape to Duba Island -- and with that, an unknown future. The setting for this epic tale is one of the last regions where lions can live in the wild. Faced with dwindling land and increasing pressure from hunting, lions - like our lone lioness and her cubs - are approaching the brink of extinction.

    Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both documentary

    Worth the HypeMovies like this
  21. Dolphin Reef (2018)

    Echo is a youngster who can't quite decide if it's time to grow up and take on new responsibilities-or give in to her silly side and just have fun. Dolphin society is tricky, and the coral reef that Echo and his family call home depends on all of its inhabitants to keep it healthy. But Echo has a tough time resisting the many adventures the ocean has to offer.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

    Popcorn FlickMovies like this
  22. Alien Reefs (2012)

    Coral reefs are believed by many to have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet. A lot of the life found here can seem very alien at first, they occupy less than 1 percent of the ocean floor but yet are home to more than 25 percent of all marine life. Warm water reefs typically come to mind when thinking of the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, these reefs are very well known but they don’t just occur in warm waters. In this one hour special, we are brought into this alien environment and discover for ourselves a strange, hidden world that is simply abundant with life, ranging from the weird to the wonderful.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  23. The Himalayas (2011)

    The highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayan range is far reaching, spanning thousands of miles, and holds within it an exceptionally diverse ecology. Coniferous and subtropical forests, wetlands, and montane grasslands are as much a part of this world as the inhospitable, frozen mountaintops that tower above. The word Himalaya is Sanskrit for abode of snow, fitting for a stretch of land that houses the world’s largest non polar ice masses. Extensive glacial networks feed Asia's major rivers including the Ganges, Indus, and Brahmaputra. More than a billion people rely on these glacier-fed water sources for drinking water and agriculture. The Himalayas are not only a remarkable expanse of natural beauty. They're also crucial for our survival.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  24. Planète animale 2 : Survivre (2017)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  25. Moon Crab (2025)

    Moon Crab is a meditation on the horseshoe crab, one of Earth's oldest living species now struggling with extreme population decline. Blending reflections on nature's cycles with experimental visuals, the film employs an array of techniques, including eco-processed film developed with seaweed, to immerse the viewer in the crab's subaquatic world. Narrated with intimate depth by physiologist Dr. Abner Lall, the filmmaker’s neighbor, this documentary captures a timeless story of resilience and fragility, urging us to reconsider our connection to the natural world.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  26. Secret Lives of Orangutans (2024)

    Follow a multi-generational orangutan family through their treetop triumphs and travails in this immersive documentary narrated by David Attenborough.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  27. Conservation and Recovery of the Scarlet Macaw in Mexico (2025)

    The Scarlet Macaw, a vibrant symbol of the Mexican rainforest, is disappearing from the ecosystem. Conservation and Recovery of the Scarlet Macaw in Mexico explores the tireless efforts of Natura y Ecosistemas Mexicanos (NEM) to save the last remaining viable population of these iconic birds. Facing the constant threat of poaching, NEM works diligently to rescue hatchlings from vulnerable nests before they are looted. By forging partnerships with local communities, they have developed a network of dedicated individuals to locate and protect macaw nests. This compelling film showcases the resilience of both people and wildlife in a united fight to preserve a species that has long symbolized the beauty and diversity of the region's natural heritage.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  28. Océania, les gardiens de l'océan (2025)

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  29. MOOR CITY HARBOUR (TBA)

    The city of Rostock is planning to expand the harbour by 660 hectares in the coming years. While measures to restore moors are being implemented throughout Europe, Rostock is planning to destroy an intact moor area. This affects the swamp of the Peezer Bach and surrounding natural areas, which make important contributions to the climate and biodiversity. MOOR CITY HARBOUR is about the value and beauty of a native moor, as well as the severity of its loss.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

  30. Air Jaws: Going for Gold (2021)

    The Air Jaws team, Chris Fallows, Alison Towner, Dickie Chivell and Enrico Gennari record the breaching behavior of multiple great white sharks off the coast of South Africa, looking to learn which animal is the best hunter.

    Why it matches: Similar story and style · both documentary

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best movies like Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees?

The closest matches to Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees are Jane (2017), The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008) and Chimpanzee (2012). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.

What should I watch after Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees?

Start with Jane (2017), the closest match to Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees.

What is the highest-rated movie like Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees?

My Octopus Teacher (2020), rated 7.9/10 by 1,115 TMDB users.

What is the newest movie like Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees?

A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough (2026) is the most recent release on this list.

Are there English movies like Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees?

Yes: Jane (2017), The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008) and Chimpanzee (2012).

How are movies similar to Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees chosen?

First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.

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