Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
The wilds of the supercontinent are spectacular, detailed.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Americas
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Narrated by Tom Hanks, THE AMERICAS is a 10-part docuseries about the diverse ecosystems of the world's supercontinent. From the northernmost regions of the Arctic territories to the southernmost headland of Cape Horn, each episode highlights the diverse terrains of North, Central, and South America. Cameras also capture some of the wildlife in these habitats, like Canadian caribou, Mexican orchid bees, Andean Viscachas, Patagonian Guanacos, and the wild horses of the Outer Banks of North Carolina's Atlantic coastline. Each location is unique, but together they demonstrate the splendors of the Western Hemisphere.
Is It Any Good?
The vibrant cinematic docuseries, which took five years and over 180 expeditions to complete, showcases the range of ecosystems throughout North, Central, and South America. In addition to the footage of the lush Amazon forest, tropical blue Caribbean waters, snowcapped skyscraping mountains, and in some cases, urban city streets, it also presents fascinating scenes of mammals, insects, reptiles, and marine life thriving and surviving in their own habitats. The Americas' producers, who also created Planet Earth II and Dynasties, chose to record their subjects from extremely close points of view, giving viewers opportunities to see unique details about the subject matter. Ironically, it's so well done that some have (mistakenly) questioned whether the images were achieved with artificial intelligence. Nonetheless, this is a beautiful work of art that presents the natural wonders of the supercontinent and is a not-so-subtle reminder of why they're worth protecting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different types of terrain and wildlife species featured in each episode. Which ones are your favorites? Why?
How can documentaries like The Americas help us protect the Earth's natural habitats? Why is it important to do so?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 23, 2025
- Cast : Tom Hanks
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Animals ( Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals ) , STEM
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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