| Prehistoric Planet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Nature documentary |
| Narrated by | Sir David Attenborough (seasons 1–2) Tom Hiddleston (season 3) |
| Theme music composer | Hans Zimmer Andrew James Christie |
| Composers | Hans Zimmer Anže Rozman Kara Talve |
| Country of origin | United States United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 15 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Jon Favreau Mike Gunton |
| Cinematography | Jonathan Jones and others |
| Running time | 35–46 minutes |
| Production companies | BBC Studios Natural History Unit Golem Creations |
| Original release | |
| Network | Apple TV+ |
| Release | May 23, 2022 (2022-05-23) – May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26) |
| Network | Apple TV |
| Release | November 26, 2025 (2025-11-26) – present |
Prehistoric Planet is anature documentary television series aboutprehistoric animals that premiered onApple TV+ beginning May 23, 2022. The first two seasons (2022–23) are produced by theBBC Studios Natural History Unit, withJon Favreau as showrunner, visual effects byThe Moving Picture Company, and narration by natural historianSir David Attenborough.[1] These seasons follow dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, recreated withcomputer-generated imagery, living around the globe in theLate Cretaceous period 66 million years ago (Maastrichtian), just beforethe non-avian dinosaurs' extinction. The show intends to reflect modernpalaeontological research, with informed depictions of prehistoric life alongside speculative animal behavior.[2] A third season titledPrehistoric Planet: Ice Age, narrated byTom Hiddleston and focusing onPleistocenemegafauna, was released in 2025.[3]
Hans Zimmer, Kara Talve, and Anže Rozman composed the soundtrack.Prehistoric Planet is the highest-profile dinosaur-focused documentary series produced by the BBC sincePlanet Dinosaur in 2011, and its nature documentary-styled format is similar to the highly successfulWalking with Dinosaurs (1999).[4][5][6]Prehistoric Planet received critical acclaim for its visual effects, depiction of dinosaurs, and Attenborough's narration.
According to palaeontologist and consultantSteve Brusatte, the series had been in development "a decade" prior to its trailer release.[7] On May 8, 2019, it was first reported byDeadline thatApple had ordered a new documentary series by BBC Studios titledPrehistoric Planet, to be executively produced byJon Favreau.[8] An original score was composed by Kara Talve, Anže Rozman andHans Zimmer.[9]
The series usesup-to-date palaeontological research to depict its animals of the Cretaceous with scientific rigour; for example,feathered dinosaurs are featured in the series, such as juvenileTyrannosaurus rex.[9] PalaeozoologistDarren Naish was the lead consultant for the depictions of prehistoric life in the series.[10] The storyboarding (using scripts and synopses by BBC NHU), concept art and creature designs were created byJellyfish Pictures,[11] whilecomputer-generated imagery was developed byThe Moving Picture Company and intended to bephotorealistic, as with their previous productionsThe Jungle Book (2016) andThe Lion King (2019).[2]
After its release, the series consultants other than Darren Naish were revealed to beSteve Brusatte, Alexander Farnsworth, Kiersten Formoso, Michael Habib, Scott Hartman, John R. Hutchinson, Luke Muscutt, Peter Skelton, Robert Spicer, Paul Valdes andMark Witton.[12]David Krentz, the director ofDinosaur Revolution (2011) and character designer onDisney'sDinosaur (2000), was also revealed to have been involved in the creature development and design.[13]
In March 2023, Apple renewed the series for a second season (Prehistoric Planet 2), which began airing on May 22, 2023.[14] On July 29, 2025, a third season was announced, titledPrehistoric Planet: Ice Age. This series focuses onPleistocenemegafauna. Unlike previous seasons, it is narrated byTom Hiddleston with computer-generated imagery handled byFramestore. It was released on November 26, 2025.[3]
A first sneak peek was posted to the official Apple TV+ YouTube channel on April 2, 2022, along with a trailer, with a May 23 airdate set for the first episode.[15] A ten-second teaser was released on April 19, 2022, followed by an official trailer the following day.[16] A second trailer was released on May 19, 2022, in the lead up to the show's premiere.[17]
The teaser of the second season was uploaded to the official Apple TV+ YouTube channel on April 18, 2023.[18] The official trailer was released on May 2, 2023.[19]
A first look video clip was released forPrehistoric Planet: Ice Age on October 15, 2025.[20] An official trailer was released on November 6, 2025.[21]
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 5 | May 23, 2022 (2022-05-23) | May 27, 2022 (2022-05-27) | |
| 2 | 5 | May 22, 2023 (2023-05-22) | May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26) | |
| 3 | 5 | November 26, 2025 (2025-11-26) | ||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Coasts" | Adam Valdez | Paul D. Stewart | May 23, 2022 (2022-05-23) | |
A fatherTyrannosaurus and his offspring swim across a perilous seaway to feed on a deadprotostegid turtle. BabyAlcione take their first flight through a gauntlet of predatoryBarbaridactylus, while other species of pterosaurs congregate on the shores below. Dozens ofTuarangisaurus travel to a bay in search ofgastroliths. A maleMosasaurus is cleaned by reef denizens and defends his territory from a younger rival.Scaphitidammonites perform an elaborate mating display. A pregnantTuarangisaurus is targeted by aKaikaifilu and protected by her pod, after which she gives birth to a healthy baby. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Deserts" | Andrew R. Jones, Adam Valdez | Dom Walter | May 24, 2022 (2022-05-24) | |
Several maleDreadnoughtus clash for the right to mate. A pair ofVelociraptor hunt for lizards among a group of sleepingTarbosaurus. AMononykus forages for termites and investigates new food options after a rainstorm. Several species of Asian dinosaurs congregate around a watering hole. MaleBarbaridactylus compete for females atop a remote plateau. A herd ofSecernosaurus brave the harshgypsum dunes in search of nourishment. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Freshwater" | Andrew R. Jones | Paul Thompson | May 25, 2022 (2022-05-25) | |
A trio ofVelociraptor hunt juvenile pterosaurs near a waterfall. An old, battle-scarred maleTyrannosaurus nurses his wounds and encounters a three-year younger female. ADeinocheirus seeks relief from biting flies by scratching his body on a tree. A femaleQuetzalcoatlus builds and guards her nest. A motherMasiakasaurus and her family hunt crabs but one of her hatchlings is ambushed by aBeelzebufo. Someelasmosaurs enter an estuary in search of fish. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Ice Worlds" | Adam Valdez | Simon Bell | May 26, 2022 (2022-05-26) | |
A pack ofdromaeosaurs stalks a herd ofhadrosaurs as they cross a freezing river. MaleOrnithomimus raid rivals' nests to bolster their own. A herd ofOlorotitan raise their offspring on fertilevolcanic fields but contend with biting mosquitoes. Atroodontid flushes out prey by spreading aforest fire. A juvenileAntarctopelta scours the forest for a new winter den. APachyrhinosaurus herd stands off against a pack ofNanuqsaurus. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Forests" | Andrew R. Jones, Adam Valdez | Matthew Wright | May 27, 2022 (2022-05-27) | |
A herd ofAustroposeidon level trees in search of fresh foliage. A herd ofTriceratops journey through a cave to find an undergroundclay lick. A maleCarnotaurus sets the stage for an elaborate display. A femaleQianzhousaurus hunts a flock ofCorythoraptor in an autumn storm. A family ofEdmontosaurus evade aforest fire, while anAtrociraptor and anankylosaur reap their rewards. A group of juvenileTherizinosaurus attempt to climb a tree and feed on honey from a beehive. AHatzegopteryx is shown preying on juvenileZalmoxes. | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 1 | "Islands" | Andrew R. Jones | Paul D. Stewart | May 22, 2023 (2023-05-22) | |
After a tropical storm, twoZalmoxes find themselves in arafting event. SeveralHatzegopteryx ambush a herd ofTethyshadros. A femaleMajungasaurus hunts a group ofSimosuchus. Nearby, a motherAdalatherium raises her offspring in a burrow, hoping to keep them safe from predators likeMasiakasaurus andMadtsoia. A pack ofImperobator pursue aMorrosaurus onto a frozen lake. A maleHatzegopteryx attempts to attract a mate. | ||||||
| 7 | 2 | "Badlands" | Andrew R. Jones, Adam Valdez | Nick Lyon and Dom Walter | May 23, 2023 (2023-05-23) | |
Several femaleIsisaurus traverse theDeccan Traps to reach their nesting site. A mixed herd ofPrenocephale andsauropods includingNemegtosaurus navigate a maze of canyons, but are ambushed by a pack ofVelociraptor and a trio ofTarbosaurus. A colony of maleCorythoraptor protect their eggs from the scorching sun by day and a femaleKuru kulla at night, who has offspring of her own. A pair of juvenileTarchia locate a desert oasis, but contend with an adult. SeveralIsisaurus hatchlings fall prey toRajasaurus in an attempt to reach their ancestral home. | ||||||
| 8 | 3 | "Swamps" | Krzysztof Szczepanski | Alec Ginns | May 24, 2023 (2023-05-24) | |
Pterosaur hatchlings take flight to leave their island sanctuary, but are targeted byShamosuchus. SeveralAustroraptor hunt garfish and contend with the best fishing spots. A maleBeelzebufo tries to attract a mate, but his endeavour is interrupted by a herd ofRapetosaurus. A malePachycephalosaurus must put an upstart youngster in his place. TwoTyrannosaurus brothers huntEdmontosaurus under the cover of darkness. | ||||||
| 9 | 4 | "Oceans" | Adam Valdez | Amber Cherry Eames | May 25, 2023 (2023-05-25) | |
A femalePhosphorosaurus huntslanternfish under the ocean's moonlit surface. A flock ofHesperornis hunt for fish until they themselves are hunted byXiphactinus.Nostoceras hatchlings are at the mercy of tides and juvenilePyroraptor. AMosasaurus hunts a group ofTuarangisaurus. The youngNostoceras that survived find themselves amongBaculites andDiplomoceras in their newseagrass meadow home. A pod ofMorturneria sift the muddy seabed ofAntarctica in search of food. | ||||||
| 10 | 5 | "North America" | Andrew R. Jones | Paul Thompson | May 26, 2023 (2023-05-26) | |
ATyrannosaurus and twoQuetzalcoatlus fight over anAlamosaurus carcass. A shoal ofSphenodiscus are ambushed by aGlobidens, intent on surplus killing them. At an evaporating lake, juvenilePectinodon hunt flies while their father huntsStyginetta. MaleTriceratops fight and display for the right to mate. A femaleNanuqsaurus huntsOrnithomimus to feed herself and her offspring. | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "The Big Freeze" | Leah Arnold and Alec Ginns | Matthew Thompson and Michael Gunton | November 26, 2025 (2025-11-26) | |
A motherwoolly mammoth goes into labor during a blizzard with the herd protecting her and her newborn calf. A pair ofcave lions enter a cave to huntcave bear cubs. Their hunt fails as the cubs spot them, which leads to the adult bears chasing one lion away and fatally injuring the other, with its carcass becoming food forcave hyenas. A family of ground sloths (Megalonyx) awakens from their den and searches for food in a thick layer of snow. A herd ofwoolly rhinoceros must fend off a pack of scimitar-toothed cats (Homotherium) with an old female nearly separated from the crash. A female juvenileSmilodon attempts to huntMacrauchenia with hermilk teeth still in place while encountering a male. | ||||||
| 12 | 2 | "New Lands" | Paul Thompson | Matthew Thompson and Michael Gunton | November 26, 2025 (2025-11-26) | |
Following theGreat American Interchange, a male giant short-faced bear (Arctotherium) must find a new way to acquire food, stealing from a pack of wild dogs (Protocyon). Asquirrel trails a giant ground sloth (Eremotherium) in search of food. A female giant armadillo (Glyptotherium) and her calf journey across new lands in search of water, confrontingColumbian mammoths. A young dwarfStegodon wanders off and gets stuck in tree roots, attracting a trio of giant storks (Leptoptilos) who attempt to hunt it. Twoterror bird brothers (Psilopterus) seek to outwit a maleSmilodon. | ||||||
| 13 | 3 | "Desert Lands" | Simon Bell | Matthew Thompson and Michael Gunton | November 26, 2025 (2025-11-26) | |
Water is locked up at the poles, leading to the expansion of deserts. A ground sloth (Diabolotherium) carries her baby up a mile-high cliff in search of fresh browse. AmatriarchDiprotodon succumbs to drought, forcing her herd to choose an uneasy new direction led by her daughter. Marsupial lions (Thylacoleo) fail to catch giant short-faced kangaroos (Procoptodon) on foot. A male giant moa (Dinornis) performs a humble mating ritual to please a much larger female. A pair of young carnivorous kangaroos (Propleopus) harass a hatchlingmegalania, until an adult arrives to turn the tables. Back on the cliff face,teratorns imperil the ground sloths' trip back down to shelter. To feed her starving family, one of the marsupial lions adopts a new hunting strategy by attacking a juvenile short-faced kangaroo from a tree. | ||||||
| 14 | 4 | "Grasslands" | Andrew R. Jones and James Shelton | Matthew Thompson and Michael Gunton | November 26, 2025 (2025-11-26) | |
Grass is upending ecosystems around the world. An unusual type of rhino (Elasmotherium) uses a thermal mud pool to ward off ticks and ravens. A pack of African scimitar-toothed cats (Homotherium) successfully takes down a zebra, only to be chased away by a family of giant otters (Enhydriodon). As his forest habitatdiminishes, a lone maleGigantopithecus uses his ingenuity to acquire food, but fails to find a mate. A giant armadillo (Doedicurus) does manage to track down a potential mate, but he must first battle an experienced rival. A woolly mammoth herd braves a massive dust storm in search of water, while the calf starts to experience the storm's hostility. | ||||||
| 15 | 5 | "The Big Melt" | Andrew R. Jones and Katrina Steele | Matthew Thompson and Michael Gunton | November 26, 2025 (2025-11-26) | |
The ice age is nearing its end, and the world becomes warmer and wetter. A pack of scimitar-toothed cats (Homotherium) makes a desperate attack on a woolly mammoth herd. The falling tide beaches aSteller's sea cow and attracts the attention of a short-faced bear (Arctodus). ASmilodon and her cubs are mobbed by a pack ofdire wolves while scavenging a Columbian mammoth trapped in atar pit. A maleMegaloceros narrowly evades a group of cave hyenas as it sheds its antlers. Elephant birds (Aepyornis) migrate to new wetlands, leaving stragglers to fend for themselves against agiant fossa. The hyenas continue to pursue theMegaloceros through a forest. The scimitar-tooths finally achieved a meal, ashumans watched from afar. | ||||||
Thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 8.4/10, based on 31 reviews for the first season. The website's critics consensus reads, "Marrying state of the art visual effects with equally immersive narration by David Attenborough,Prehistoric Planet wondrously brings viewers back to the age of dinosaurs."[22] The second season has an approval rating of 83% with an average rating of 7/10, based on 6 reviews.[23] OnMetacritic, the series has a weighted average score of 85 out of 100, based on 8 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[24]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Streaming Docuseries or Non-Fiction Series | Prehistoric Planet | Nominated | [25] |
| Television Critics Association Awards | Outstanding Achievement in News and Information | Nominated | [26][27] | ||
| Cinema Eye Honours | Outstanding Anthology Series | Nominated | [28] | ||
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | Original Song/Score — Documentary Series - TV/Digital | Anze Rozman, Kara Talve,Hans Zimmer | Won | [29][30] | |
| Televisual Bulldog Awards | Best VFX | Prehistoric Planet | Won | [31] | |
| Broadcast Tech Innovation Awards | Best VFX Project | MPC | Won | [32] | |
2023 | Annie Awards | Best Animated Special Production | Prehistoric Planet | Nominated | [33] |
| Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production | "Coasts" | Nominated | |||
| Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode | "Ice Worlds" – Lindsay McFarlane, Fay Hancocks, Elliot Newman, Kirstin Hall | Nominated | [34][35] | |
| Outstanding Virtual Cinematography in a CG Project | Daniel Fotheringham, Krzysztof Szczepanski, Wei-Chuan Hsu, Claire Hill | Nominated | |||
| Critics' Choice Real TV Awards | Best Animal/Nature Show | Prehistoric Planet | Nominated | [36] | |
2024 | Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) | Hans Zimmer, Anže Rozman, Kara Talve(for "Badlands") | Nominated | [37] |
| Astra Creative Arts TV Awards | Best Streaming Nonfiction Series | Prehistoric Planet | Nominated | [38] | |
2026 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Achievement for Animated Effects in an Animated Television/Broadcast | Edward Ferrysienanda, Kevin Christensen, Guy Shuleman , Benedikt Roettger, Kevin Tarpinian(for "The Big Freeze") | Pending | [39] |
| Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Live Action Production | Adrien Annesley, Alvise Avati, Riyad Chalakkara, Daniel Mizuguchi, Liam Russell | Pending | |||
| Visual Effects Society Awards | Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Episode | Russell Dodgson, Tracey Gibbons, Francois Dumoulin, Gavin McKenzie (For "Ice Age; The Big Freeze") | Pending | [40] | |
| Outstanding Character in an Episodic, Commercial, Game Cinematic, or Real-Time Project | Alvise Avati, Marc-André Coulombe, Youen Leclerc, Andrea De Martis (For "Ice Age; Female Smilodon") | Pending | |||
| Outstanding Effects Simulations in an Episode, Commercial, Game Cinematic or Real-Time Project | Edward Ferrysienanda, Kevin Christensen, Guy Schuleman, Kevin Tarpinian (For "Ice Age; The Big Freeze") | Pending | |||
| Outstanding Compositing and Lighting in an Episode | Puff Pisanwalerd, Jean-Baptiste Noyau, Marion Nove-Josserand, Sue Nelson (For "Ice Age\") | Pending |
In early 2024,Prehistoric Planet was the basis for several digital presentations viewable through theApple Vision Pro headset. The first two products were flagship items for the official release of the headset on February 2, 2024:Pterosaur Beach (a subscription-basedvirtual reality short film focusing on a colony ofTethydraco), andEncounter Dinosaurs, (a freemixed reality app focusing on an encounter betweenIsisaurus hatchlings andRajasaurus).Pterosaur Beach was treated as the first "episode" of the VR seriesPrehistoric Planet Immersive.[41] It was followed on April 19 byTriceratops Forest, focusing on a family ofTriceratops.[42]
Starting in 2025, several specialty theatres and immersive galleries have hostedPrehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs. This program is a360-degree video show assembled from clips of the first two seasons alongside full-scale graphics.
| Prehistoric Planet: Discovering Dinosaurs shows | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Venue | Location |
| July 9, 2025 – April 12, 2026 | Lightroom[43] | London,United Kingdom |
| December 10, 2025 – March 8, 2026 | Atelier des Lumières[44] | Paris,France |
| February 12, 2026 – | Fabrique des Lumières[45] | Amsterdam,Netherlands |