As he approaches his 99th birthday, Sir David Attenborough has delivered what may be one of his most powerful messages yet — not just about the planet, but about himself.
In Ocean with David Attenborough, the beloved broadcaster, naturalist, and lifelong advocate for the natural world offers a deeply personal and emotionally charged reflection on the health of our seas — and the urgency of saving them before it’s too late.
Released as a Global Cinema Event on May 8 to coincide with his 99th birthday, the new documentary captures Attenborough’s decades-long journey through the era of ocean discovery, while confronting some of the greatest environmental crises of our time.
From mass coral bleaching to destructive fishing practices, Ocean doesn’t shy away from the scale of the damage — but it also offers hope.
"When I first saw the sea as a young boy, it was thought of as a vast wilderness to be tamed and mastered for the benefit of humanity," Attenborough reflects in the film, per Metro. "Now, as I approach the end of my life, we know the opposite is true."
The film takes viewers beneath the surface of the world’s oceans, showcasing everything from kelp forests to the open seas through jaw-dropping, immersive cinematography. But at its heart is one simple message: the ocean isn’t just beautiful — it’s essential.
“After living for nearly a hundred years on this planet, I now understand that the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea,” he says.
Describing the ocean as “Earth’s support system” and “our greatest asset against climate change,” Attenborough urges audiences to reconsider everything we think we know about the planet’s survival. “Today, it is in such poor health I would find it hard not to lose hope were it not for the most remarkable discovery of all,” he adds — a nod to the ocean’s extraordinary ability to recover.
Because despite the doom and gloom that often surrounds climate coverage, Ocean with David Attenborough insists this story isn’t over. In fact, it’s just beginning.
“The ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen,” Attenborough insists. “If we save the sea, we save our world. After a lifetime of filming our planet, I’m sure nothing is more important.”
This isn’t just a documentary — it’s a legacy.
Attenborough, who first appeared on TV in 1953 with Animal Patterns before creating the legendary Zoo Quest, has spent more than eight decades chronicling the wonders of the natural world. From his groundbreaking work on Planet Earth to Blue Planet and beyond, few have shaped the global conversation around conservation more than he has.
And while his physical presence in documentaries has become rarer in recent years — owing to his age and concerns about the environmental cost of global travel — his voice and vision remain just as powerful.
Even in Ocean, filmed largely during a seven-year period that saw him return to iconic locations like the Great Barrier Reef and Borneo, Attenborough continues to push the boundaries of natural history storytelling with new technologies and an ever-deepening sense of purpose.
As he puts it himself, he’s still “on a mission” — not just to educate, but to inspire.
Ocean with David Attenborough will screen in cinemas across the UK, Ireland, and 25 other countries starting May 8, with a wider global rollout on National Geographic, Disney+, and Hulu later this year.