Television series
Chased by Dinosaurs
A pair of specials spinning off Walking with Dinosaurs, where zoologist Nigel Marven travels back in time to observe dinosaurs in their natural habitats. It's adventure cinema disguised as documentary—gorgeously rendered CGI creatures, real jeopardy (or the feeling of it), and Marven's genuine wonder keeping things grounded. For anyone who loved the original series but wanted personality and narrative stakes alongside the paleontology.
If you liked this
Walking with Dinosaurs1999
The original and still unsurpassed. Groundbreaking CGI brings prehistoric life to vivid, terrifying life across multiple episodes and time periods. A milestone in natural history television that holds up beautifully.
But Some of the early CGI looks dated now, and without a human narrator, it can feel slow if you want story-driven entertainment rather than pure spectacle.
Life2007
David Attenborough's masterclass in narration paired with extraordinary cinematography of real animals in their actual habitats. Every episode is a small miracle of patience and craft.
But Modern nature docs often feel repetitive in structure, and the pacing is deliberately measured—not a show for people who need constant action.
Planet Dinosaur2011
More recent Walking with Dinosaurs spin-off using updated CGI and new paleontological discoveries. Darker, more violent, genuinely engrossing sequences of predator and prey.
But Leaning into spectacle over education means it sometimes feels like a highlight reel rather than a complete picture of prehistoric life.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Chased by Dinosaurs
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Caveman1981
Both privilege wonder and personality over correctness. Marven's amazement mirrors the film's refusal to be didactic about its setting—they both let you *feel* the strangeness of encountering an alien world.
A prehistoric comedy that treats early humans as characters with agency and emotion rather than objects of study. Absurd, tender, and absolutely unclassifiable—it has more heart about what survival means than most serious attempts.
But Broad slapstick, nudity, and a tone that veers wildly between silly and sincere will feel scattered to viewers wanting consistency.
More like this (6)
Prehistoric Planet2022
Apple's lavish five-part series using cutting-edge CGI and modern science to show dinosaurs in behaviour and habitat we've never seen visualized before. Attenborough narration adds gravitas and wonder.
But Short episodes and a curated highlights approach means less depth about actual paleontology than a committed documentary viewer might want.
The Animals of Farthing Wood1993
A British animated series about animals on a perilous journey, with real stakes, genuine emotion, and surprisingly sophisticated storytelling about survival and community.
But Animation style is dated and the show can veer unexpectedly dark for what looks like children's programming.
David Attenborough's Natural History Museum Alive2014
Attenborough presenting real fossils and skeletons as if they were living creatures, blending actual museum artifacts with CGI recreation. A love letter to paleontology and how we know what we know.
But More educational lecture than narrative, and less immersive than pure-CGI dino content.
Prehistoric Park2006
Nigel Marven again, this time imagining a wildlife park stocked with reconstructed extinct animals. Playful, informative, and genuinely fun in a way that celebrates wonder over pedantry.
But The premise is silly enough that some will find it undermines the science rather than enhancing it.
Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure2007
A theatrical feature in the Walking with Dinosaurs universe, focusing on marine reptiles with the same production quality and sense of discovery. Shorter and punchier than the TV specials.
But Less character and narrative than Chased by Dinosaurs—it prioritises spectacle, which some will find hollow.
Carnosaur1993
Both use what they have to make you care about dinosaurs as living, threatening creatures rather than museum pieces. Low budget Carnosaur and high-budget Chased share a fundamental belief in dinosaurs as subjects worthy of adventure.
A B-movie about a scientist and dinosaurs that commits entirely to its ridiculous premise and tiny budget. It's thrilling precisely because it tries so hard despite obvious limitations—passion over polish.
But The effects are terrible, the script is earnest in ways that sometimes sound unintentionally comic, and it's cheap in every visible way.
