Our new film Ocean with David Attenborough (released on May 8) has smashed box office records – opening to £573,551 at the UK & Irish box office, the highest grossing opening for a nature documentary on record and the highest documentary opening of this decade in the UK & Ireland.

Ocean with David Attenborough was also the widest released documentary ever in UK & Irish cinemas, playing in 580 sites.

Released in cinemas worldwide to coincide with Attenborough’s 99th birthday on 8 May, the World Premiere took place in London on 6 May with both King Charles III and David Attenborough in attendance. 

The film, co-produced by Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios, takes viewers on a breathtaking journey showing there is nowhere more vital for our survival, more full of life, wonder, or surprise, than the ocean. Since its release, it has sparked widespread conversation and public reaction to Attenborough’s powerful messages of hope and urgency around the health of the world’s ocean.     

In a world-first, Ocean with David Attenborough features never-before-seen footage of bottom trawling and its devastating effects on our ocean.  The footage has been championed by marine conservation charities, activists and influential voices across the globe as they call for stronger marine protection laws. It comes ahead of next month’s UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, where world leaders will decide the fate of the ocean. 

Taking to Instagram to share his reflections on the film, Astronaut Tim Peake said it’s “the most powerful call to action yet by Sir David” and “a must see for everyone.”  

Cara Delevingne, Model and Ambassador for Blue Marine Foundation, has also urged everyone to “go and see this hugely important film in cinemas”, saying it has “shown like never before the consequences of the over-exploitation of our ocean”.   

Alice Aedy, Co-Founder and CEO of environmental storytelling studio Earthrise, said: “You’ve never seen a film like this before – images of overfishing and trawling that I couldn’t believe they [the filmmakers] were able to capture. It’s a masterpiece.”   

OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH IS PLAYING IN CINEMAS ACROSS THE GLOBE NOW. Visit: www.oceanfilm.net

OCEAN WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH will stream on Disney+ on Sunday, June 8, World Oceans Day.