Alien Worlds

Applying the laws of life on Earth to the rest of the galaxy, this series blends science fact and fiction to imagine alien life on other planets.

Alien Worlds (2020) is a British science documentary miniseries produced by Wall to Wall and released on Netflix. Narrated by Sophie Okonedo, the four-episode series takes the rules of biology that govern life on Earth and follows them outward to imagine what organisms might look like on distant planets. Scientists appear as on-screen interviewees, including Natalie Batalha and David Reznik, who discuss astrobiology, exoplanet research, and the conditions that could allow life to take hold beyond our solar system. Each episode builds its speculative ecosystems from concrete ingredients such as light sources, atmospheres, gravity, water, and chemistry, then animates the results with computer-generated creatures and landscapes. The approach blends scientific fact with imaginative fiction, so the tone stays curious and wondrous rather than alarmist. Viewers who enjoy Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Planet Earth II, and Walking with Dinosaurs will find the same mix of patient explanation and visual awe. Its short runtime and self-contained episodes make it an easy watch for science-minded families and anyone curious about whether life exists elsewhere in the galaxy.

Viewers and reviewers generally appreciate the miniseries for grounding its imagined alien life in real biology and science, though it is seen as a mixed but mostly favorable take.

• Planet Earth IIscience documentary tone, speculative natural history, accessible wonder
• Cosmos: A Spacetime Odysseyspace science documentary, awe toward the cosmos, narrated factual storytelling
• Walking with Dinosaursspeculative natural history of imagined creatures, documentary realism

Release Date

2020-12-02

Episode runtime

42 min

Rating

6.6 / 10 (263)

What is Alien Worlds about?

A four-part docuseries that applies the laws of life on Earth to imagine alien ecosystems on other planets.

What is Alien Worlds like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Alien Worlds as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Alien Worlds violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Alien Worlds.

What did critics think of Alien Worlds?

Viewers and reviewers generally appreciate the miniseries for grounding its imagined alien life in real biology and science, though it is seen as a mixed but mostly favorable take.

Which shows are like Alien Worlds?

Shows with a similar feel include Planet Earth II, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, and Walking with Dinosaurs.

How long is Alien Worlds?

Alien Worlds: 1 season, 4 episodes.

Is Alien Worlds still running?

No, Alien Worlds has ended.

Where can I watch Alien Worlds?

In United States, Alien Worlds streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.