Top 10 Highest-Rated Documentary Series of All Time

As the pinnacle of natural history documentaries, Planet Earth remains the highest-rated documentary series in IMDb history, a title that has proven nearly impossible to unseat. Since its 2006 debut, the series has redefined global perceptions of the natural world with a production scale where every frame holds immense value. Even two decades later, its budget and technical standards remain unmatched by most modern competitors:

• Technological Paradigm Shift: The original Planet Earth was the first to use high-definition aerial cinematography on such a massive scale, granting audiences a 'God’s-eye view' of the planet; subsequent works have mostly functioned as refinements of this standard rather than breakthroughs.
• The Rating Moat: It has consistently maintained a 9.5+ rating across major platforms, with a voter count nearly 40% higher than the runner-up. It serves as the 'gold standard' for the genre—no matter how times change, its aesthetic and narrative quality remain the industry benchmark.