The Year Earth Changed
A hopeful global nature documentary reveals how pandemic lockdowns briefly transformed humanity’s relationship with wildlife and the environment.
Overview
Witness the world as it breathes anew during a time of unprecedented stillness.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- hopeful
- uplifting
- reflective
- family viewing
- earth day
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as an uplifting, visually compelling account of nature’s response to the COVID-19 lockdowns.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The film examines how global COVID-19 lockdowns altered environmental conditions and enabled people to notice nature more closely.
Its examples of animals entering urban spaces and people engaging with nature focus on changing relationships between humans and wildlife.
The short film moves across international locations and pairs natural-history footage with villagers, conservationists, photographers, and researchers.
The stated premise foregrounds uplifting stories and the resilience of nature during the lockdown period.
Films like The Year Earth Changed, and why
A Life on Our Planet
environmental documentary filmmaking, nature observation, and human impact on ecosystems
Planet Earth II: One Planet
natural-history storytelling, global wildlife coverage, and accessible environmental concern
Our Planet
uplifting conservation focus, intimate animal behavior, and visually rich documentary craft
The Biggest Little Farm
humanity’s relationship with the natural world and persuasive ecological storytelling
Movie Details
- Director
- Tom Beard
- Release Date
- 2021-04-15
- Runtime
- 48 min
- Rating
- 7.9 / 10 (133)
Cast
- David Attenborough
- Bhashkar Bara
- Dulu Bora
- Anshul Chopra
- Christine Gabriele
- Meghna Hazarika
- Russell MacLaughlin
- Salim Mandela
- Janet Neilson
- Justin Perrault
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Year Earth Changed about?
- A hopeful global nature documentary reveals how pandemic lockdowns briefly transformed humanity’s relationship with wildlife and the environment.
- What is The Year Earth Changed like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Year Earth Changed as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Year Earth Changed violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Year Earth Changed.
- What did critics think of The Year Earth Changed?
- Critics broadly praised the film as an uplifting, visually compelling account of nature’s response to the COVID-19 lockdowns.
- Which films are like The Year Earth Changed?
- Films with a similar feel include A Life on Our Planet, Planet Earth II: One Planet, Our Planet, and The Biggest Little Farm.
- How long is The Year Earth Changed?
- The Year Earth Changed runs 48 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Year Earth Changed?
- In United States, The Year Earth Changed streams on Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel.
