The highly acclaimed and powerful documentary, OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH has captivated cinema audiences across the world since its 8 May release, crossing €3,000,000 (£2,526,000, $3,400,000 USD) at the global box office.
The film has grossed £1,159,377 in the UK and Ireland to date, making it the highest grossing documentary release of 2025, the highest grossing nature documentary in cinemas this decade, and breaking into the top 25 grossing theatrically released documentaries of all time. OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH was the widest released documentary of all time in the UK and Ireland.
OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH also had an outstanding reception from international audiences. The film has been released in over 1,000 screens outside of the UK and Ireland, with sold-out screenings reported across key territories. In Australia, it debuted as the top-performing new release in its opening week and swiftly became the highest-grossing nature documentary of the past five years, crossing $1,100,000 AUD. The international release is set to expand further, opening in Canadian cinemas on 24 May.
The film was released in the UK and Ireland by Altitude who partnered with Piece of Magic Entertainment to cover a further 25 countries worldwide. The critically acclaimed film’s release coincided with Attenborough’s 99th birthday on 8 May and received a special World Premiere in London on 6 May with both King Charles III and David Attenborough in attendance.
Attenborough’s most powerful film yet takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean.
The film, which features never-before-seen footage of bottom trawling and its devastating effects on our ocean, continues to drive global conversation on the health of the world’s ocean. It has been championed by marine conservation charities, activists and influential voices across the globe as they call for stronger marine protection laws ahead of World Ocean Day and the UN Ocean Summit in June.
Film directors Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey and Colin Butfield said: “We’re incredibly- proud to see OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH embraced by audiences worldwide and making box office history. This film was created for the big screen– to immerse viewers in the beauty and fragility of our ocean as never before seen – and its success shows this timely story resonates. As the UN Ocean Conference approaches, we hope the film and David Attenborough’s powerful message continue to inspire global conversation and action for the ocean.”
In the film, Attenborough reveals how his lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Through spectacular sequences featuring coral reefs, kelp forests and the open ocean, Attenborough shares why a healthy ocean keeps the entire planet stable and flourishing.
Stunning, immersive cinematography showcases the wonder of life under the seas and exposes the realities and challenges facing our ocean as never-before-seen, from destructive fishing techniques to mass coral reef bleaching. Yet the story is one of optimism, with Attenborough pointing to inspirational stories from around the world to deliver his greatest message: the ocean can recover to a glory beyond anything anyone alive has ever seen.
