Documentary filmmakers Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin on location during the filming of National Geographic’s Free Solo. Vasarhelyi, on the left, is wearing a black tank top, pants, and hat; Chin, on the right, is wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants and a baseball cap, and has a large bundle of rope over one shoulder. The pair is standing in a field of tall grass; green hills can be seen behind them.

Stream These 6 Thrilling Nat Geo Documentaries on Disney+

By the D23 Team

With the holiday season upon us, cozying up with some streaming favorites—both new and beloved—sounds like a delightful plan. But who says those favorites must be “cozy” too? Maybe they’re chock-full of excitement and adventure… showcasing the incredible wonder of the natural world around us.

Case in point: The latest streaming offerings from National Geographic, featuring Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin! They are the Oscar®, BAFTA, and Emmy® Award-winning filmmakers behind some of the most immersive and awe-inspiring documentaries to ever bring true-to-life stories to screens big and small. Over the years, their work has consistently examined how human beings—from rock climber Alex Honnold and cave divers Richard Stanton and John Volanthen to legendary explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton—view extreme challenges as part of being alive.

Says Vasarhelyi, “All of our films are about telling a story that brings to life everyone’s innate, shared humanism.”

So grab your favorite snacks, fire up your preferred streaming device, and check out these six amazing documentary projects from this filmmaking duo:

The key art image for National Geographic’s documentary Endurance; a modern ship is seen at the top of the image, floating on water, and the shadow of an old-fashioned schooner-type ship mirrors the modern one below it. The National Geographic logo and the title of the film are seen at center.   

Endurance
Vasarhelyi and Chin’s most recent film, Endurance tells the inspiring stories of two landmark expeditions bound together by their shared grit and determination. In a legendary feat of leadership and perseverance, polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton kept his crew of 27 men alive for over a year despite the loss of their ship in frigid pack ice. Over a century later, a team of modern-day explorers sets out to find the sunken ship. Endurance tells both stories—as the voices of Shackleton and his crew “read” from their expedition diaries, letters, and other writings alongside Frank Hurley’s original filmed expedition footage and photos, in this truly immersive tale.

Stream Endurance on Disney+

The key art image for the National Geographic documentary Free Solo. Rock climber Alex Honnold is seen climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan at left; he’s wearing a red shirt and is mid-climb, with ropes and pulleys attached to him. At right, the precarious drop down to the ground can be seen behind the National Geographic logo and the title of the film. 

Free Solo
Free Solo is a stunning portrait of free solo climber Alex Honnold as he prepares to achieve his lifelong dream: scaling the face of the world’s most famous rock—the 3,200-foot El Capitan in Yosemite National Park—without a rope. Vasarhelyi and Chin’s documentary captures the death-defying climb with truly gorgeous visuals and (be warned!) just a smidge of vertigo-inducing camerawork.

Stream Free Solo on Disney+ 

A key art image for National Geographic’s The Rescue. At left, a solo diver is making their way through a narrow cave-like space underwater. At right, a group of people is standing in another part of this “cave,” waiting for the diver to arrive. Below the group and set against a rock-style background is the National Geographic logo and the title of the film.

The Rescue
This documentary chronicles the against-all-odds story that captivated the world in 2018: the daring rescue of 12 boys and their coach from deep inside a flooded cave in Northern Thailand. Vasarhelyi and Chin keep viewers on the edge of their seats as they use never-before-seen material and exclusive interviews to piece together the high stakes mission—highlighting the efforts of the Royal Thai Navy SEALs and US Special Forces and detailing the expert cave divers’ bold gamble to bring the boys to safety. This moving film shines a light on the high-risk world of cave diving; the astounding courage and compassion of the rescuers; and the shared humanity of the international community that united to save the boys.

Stream The Rescue on Disney+

A key art image for the National Geographic series Photographer. At left, a woman is holding a camera; she’s wearing a gray shirt and her hair, partially in a ponytail, is windswept. Behind her is a field. To the right, set against the field, is the National Geographic logo and the title of the series. 

Photographer
Photographer takes viewers on a journey with the world’s most extraordinary visual storytellers, pairing them with Vasarhelyi and Chin for an exhilarating international adventure. Each hour-long episode in this series follows the story of a famous photographer while they work to make iconic images that stand the test of time. Through both current and archival footage and interviews, viewers will gain a deeper understanding of each photographer’s process; learn how they became an artist; and discover how they see and experience the world.

Stream Photographer on Disney+

A key art image for National Geographic’s Wild Life. On the right, a person stands on the top of a rock formation; they are wearing a backpack and a puffy jacket, and behind (and in front of) them the sun is setting in hues of pinks, yellows, and blues. To the left, set against the horizon, is the National Geographic logo and the title of the film.

Wild Life
Wild Life follows conservationist Kris Tompkins on a decades-spanning love story as wild as the landscapes she dedicated her life to protecting. After falling in love in mid-life, Kris and outdoorsman/entrepreneur Doug Tompkins left behind the world of the massively successful outdoor brands they’d helped pioneer—Patagonia, The North Face, and Esprit—and turned their attention to a visionary effort to create National Parks throughout Chile and Argentina. The film chronicles the highs and lows of their journey to effect the largest private land donation in history.

Stream Wild Life on Disney+

A key art image for the National Geographic series Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin. To the left, a kayaker is completely vertical in their kayak, traveling down rushing water, holding onto their oar. To the left, set against the rushing water background, is the National Geographic logo and the title of the series.

Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin
For the world’s top adventure athletes, the line between triumph and tragedy is razor thin. In the pivotal moments when life hangs in the balance, what drives the greatest to continue pushing to redefine what is humanly possible? This epic 10-part series takes audiences inside the minds of pioneering adventure athletes as they recount the most consequential moments of their lives on their journey to master their craft. Through interviews and archival footage from the world’s top big wave surfers, climbers, big mountain snowboarders, polar explorers, and kayakers, Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin is an adrenaline ride that gives viewers a front-row seat to some of the world’s wildest adventures.

Stream Edge of the Unknown with Jimmy Chin on Disney+

Discover more about the wonders of our world—and be inspired by today’s greatest adventurers—by watching National Geographic on Disney+, and stay up to date on all things Nat Geo by checking out the Nat Geo collection page on D23.