List of National Geographic documentary films

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This is a list of films produced and released by National Geographic under their feature Documentary Films banner, established in 2017. [1] National Geographic Partners is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and National Geographic Society, initially established between 21st Century Fox and the National Geographic Society until Disney's acquisition of Fox's media assets on March 20, 2019. [2]

TitleDirector(s)Release dateNotes
LA 92 Daniel Lindsay, T. J. Martin April 28, 2017Co-production with Lightbox
Jane Brett Morgen October 20, 2017Co-production with Public Road Productions
Into the Okavango Neil GelinasApril 22, 2018
Free Solo Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin September 28, 2018Co-production with Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation, Little Monster Films, and Itinerant Media
Science Fair Cristina Costantini, Darren FosterOctober 19, 2018Co-production with Univision and Muck Media
Sea of Shadows Richard LadkaniJuly 12, 2019Co-production with Terra Mater Factual Studios, Appian Way Productions, Malaika Pictures, and The Wild Lens Collective
The Cave Feras Fayyad October 18, 2019co-production with Danish Documentary, SWR, TV2, Doha Film Institute, IMS, Hecat Studio, and ma.ja.de Film
Saudi Runaway Susanne Regina MeuresJanuary 25, 2020Distribution only [3]
Rebuilding Paradise Ron Howard July 31, 2020Co-production with Imagine Documentaries
The Last IceScott ResslerMay 22 2020
Akashinga: The Brave Ones Maria WilhelmJune 17, 2020"Doc short" co-production with Avatar Alliance Foundation
The NightcrawlersAlexander A. MoraSeptember 13, 2020"Doc short", co-production with Violet Films, Genius Loki, and Doc Society
Lost and Found Orlando von Einsiedel September 18, 2020"Doc short" co-production with Rideback and Grain Media
Blood on the WallSebastian Junger, Nick QuestedSeptember 30, 2020Co-production with Junger Quested, Diamond Docs, Goldcrest Features, and Lone Wolf
City So Real Steve James October 29, 2020Released as miniseries, co-production with Participant and Kartemquin Films
Own the Room Cristina Costantini, Darren FosterMarch 12, 2021 Disney+ original, co-production with Shopify Studios
Rise Again: Tulsa and the Red Summer Dawn Porter June 18, 2021
Playing with Sharks: The Valerie Taylor StorySally AitkenJuly 23, 2021 Disney+ original, co-production with Screen Australia, Dogwoof, Screen NSW, TDog Productions, Madman Films, and Wildbear Entertainment
Fauci John Hoffman, Janet TobiasOctober 6, 2021Co-production with Story Syndicate, Sierra Tango, Better World Projects, and Diamond Docs
The First Wave Matthew Heineman October 7, 2021
The Rescue Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin October 8, 2021Co-production with Ventureland, Storyteller Productions, Little Monster Films, and Passion Pictures
Becoming Cousteau Liz GarbusOctober 22, 2021Co-production with Story Syndicate, The Cousteau Society, ACE Content and Diamond Docs
Torn Max LoweDecember 3, 2021
We Feed People Ron Howard May 27, 2022Co-production with Imagine Documentaries
Fire of Love Sara Dosa July 6, 2022Distribution only [4]
The Territory Alex PritzAugust 19, 2022
Retrograde Matthew Heinemann September 3, 2022
The Flagmakers Cynthia Wade, Sharon LieseSeptember 16, 2022 Disney+ original
Wild Life Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin April 14, 2023
Bobi Wine: The People's President Moses Bwayo, Christopher SharpJuly 28, 2023Distribution only [5]
The Mission Amanda McBaine, Jesse MossOctober 13, 2023
The Space Race: The Untold Story of the First Black Astronauts Lisa Cortés, Diego Hurtado de MendozaFebruary 12, 2024 [6] Co-production with K/M Documentaries
Sugarcane Julian Brave NoiseCat, Emily Kassie August 9, 2024 [7]
Fly Christina Clusiau, Shaul SchwartzSeptember 2, 2024 [8]
Blink Edmund Stenson, Daniel Roher October 4, 2024 [9] Co-production with MRC, Fishbowl Films, and Eyesteel Film, distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through the Walt Disney Pictures banner in North America.
Awaiting release
Lost in the Jungle Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Juan Camilo CruzSeptember 12, 2025 [10] Co-production with Little Monster Films and Lightbox
Untitled Carl Sagan documentaryNanette BursteinTBACo-production with Fuzzy Door Productions and Hungry Man Productions [11]
The Tale of Silyan Tamara Kotevska TBACo-production with Concordia Studio, The Corner Shop and Ciconia Film [12]

References

  1. Birnbaum, Debra (2017-01-13). "National Geographic Unveils New Banner to Produce Feature Documentaries (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  2. "The Walt Disney Company Signs Amended Acquisition Agreement To Acquire Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., For $71.3 Billion in Cash And Stock". The Walt Disney Company. June 20, 2018. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  3. N'Duka, Amanda (2020-02-25). "Nat Geo Documentary Films Picks Up Sundance Doc 'Saudi Runaway'". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  4. Lang, Brent (January 23, 2022). "Sundance: National Geographic Documentary Films Prevails in Bidding War to Buy 'Fire of Love'". Variety . Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  5. "National Geographic Acquires "Bobi Wine: The People's President"" . Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  6. Acuna, Kirsten. "Disney has 30 major movies coming out in 2024 — here they all are". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  7. White, Peter (2024-02-21). "Nat Geo Buys 'Sugarcane' Documentary Out Of Sundance". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  8. Morfoot, Addie (2024-04-26). "Nat Geo Documentary 'Fly,' Exploring the World of Base Jumping, Unveils First Clip (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-06-16.
  9. "National Geographic Documentary Films Dates Domestic Theatrical Release for BLINK, Follow Up Feature From the Academy Award-winning Team Behind NAVALNY, Debuts Trailer and Key Art". BusinessWire . October 4, 2024. Archived from the original on August 30, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  10. Fienberg, Daniel (September 1, 2025). "'Lost in the Jungle' Review: 'Free Solo' Directors Capably Tackle a Remarkable Tale of Survival in the Amazon for Nat Geo". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  11. Carey, Matthew (March 30, 2023). "Documentary On Carl Sagan, Brilliant Astronomer And 'Cosmos' Author, In The Works From National Geographic & Seth MacFarlane". Deadline. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  12. Feinberg, Scott (September 22, 2025). "'The Tale of Silyan,' Venice-Winning Doc, Acquired by Nat Geo for Oscar Run (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 24, 2025.