Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Apes hunt, fight, and grow up in absorbing nature docu.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Secret Lives of Orangutans
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SECRET LIVES OF ORANGUTANS follows a group of orangutans in the Sumatra forests where they live in the treetops. Their habitat has shrunk in recent years, but thanks to small drones, researchers at the Orangutan Research Project have been able to get up close and watch their interactions. We, too, get to see them as they go about their days and lives, including one newborn we see start to grow up and become independent. Richard Attenborough provides the narration that fills us in on what we're watching.
Is It Any Good?
Nature documentaries like this one are appealing thanks to their unique insights and images, as well as a relatable personification of the creatures on display. In the case of Secret Lives of Orangutans, these are complemented by upbeat pacing, an orchestral score, and the dulcet tones of Richard Attenborough. The film combines close-up drone footage in the forest canopy with vast and gorgeous landscape shots. Watching the apes over time as they grow up and their lives change is enlightening, making it that much more impactful at the end when Attenborough reminds us of the ways our own actions as humans are impacting these majestic creatures.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the main characteristics they've learned about orangutans thanks to Secret Lives of Orangutans. What's your favorite fact?
Where do these creatures live, and why isn't their habitat larger? What can be done to preserve their environment and the future of their species?
How are orangutans similar to humans? Where can you go for more information about them?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : August 23, 2024
- Cast : Richard Attenborough
- Director : Huw Cordey
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Run time : 80 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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