Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Revelatory nature docu captures nocturnal animals worldwide.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Night on Earth
What's the Story?
NIGHT ON EARTH explores a variety of species and their methods of survival in environments as diverse as the tundra, the ocean, and the city. Using state-of-the-art, low-light camera technology, documentarians observe animals in the dark of night, and for the first time audiences around the world can watch these incredible species from the comfort of their own couch. Samira Wiley (Orange Is the New Black, The Handmaid's Tale) narrates each of these episodes, which run from 40 to 52 minutes. Locations include Moonlit Plains, Frozen Nights, Jungle Nights, Dark Seas, Sleepless Cities, and Dusk till Dawn, which shows the activities of animals across the globe throughout the dark of night and rising with the sun.
Is It Any Good?
The footage captured by low-light camera technology is consistently breathtaking. However, the technological breakthrough comes with a trade-off: Night on Earth mostly captures its subjects performing relatively mundane activities. That may be why Samira Wiley's narration feels so constant and intrusive, and why she frequently has to remind viewers how rare this glimpse into nature is. Ultimately, however, it offers a never-before-seen window into intimate animal scenes around the world, and revealing the activities of these nocturnal species is educational and illuminating.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about nocturnal animals. What did you learn about various species and their nighttime habitats? What surprised you?
How do the species shown use the nighttime environment to their advantage? What animals have an advantage in the dark? A disadvantage?
What did you learn about animal habits and survival? Did you have a favorite episode? What habitat did you find the least familiar?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 29, 2020
- Cast : Samira Wiley
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : Animals ( Bugs , Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals ) , STEM
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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