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Sir David Attenborough’s latest documentary masterpiece will make a special theatrical appearance this week to celebrate the beloved broadcaster’s 99th birthday.
“OCEAN with David Attenborough,” described as one of his most remarkable films to date, will be shown at select Ster-Kinekor cinemas on May 8—Attenborough’s birthday—with an additional screening on May 10.
The film takes audiences on what critics are calling a breathtaking journey through the world’s oceans, highlighting their crucial importance to our planet’s survival.
Attenborough, whose lifetime has paralleled what he calls “the great age of ocean discovery,” guides viewers through spectacular underwater landscapes including vibrant coral reefs, lush kelp forests, and the mysterious open ocean.
“After living for nearly 100 years on this planet, I now understand the most important place on earth is not on land, but at sea,” Attenborough explains in the film’s trailer. “This is the story of our ocean and how we must write its next chapter together… For, if we save our sea, we save our world.”
While the documentary doesn’t shy away from confronting serious challenges facing marine ecosystems—including destructive fishing practices and mass coral bleaching events—its narrative ultimately delivers a message of hope. Throughout the film, Attenborough highlights inspiring conservation success stories from around the globe, presenting evidence that ocean recovery remains possible.
The documentary features groundbreaking underwater cinematography that showcases marine life in unprecedented detail. It represents a collaboration between several major production companies, including Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios, with support from National Geographic and Minderoo Pictures.
Directors Toby Nowlan, Keith Scholey, and Colin Butfield have created what early reviewers call “a visual masterpiece that may be the capstone of Attenborough’s unparalleled career in nature filmmaking.”
For South African viewers, the limited screenings will take place at Ster-Kinekor theaters in several major cities.
In Johannesburg, showings will be at Rosebank Nouveau, Mall of Africa, and Eastgate locations.
Additional screenings will occur at Brooklyn in Tshwane, Baywest in Gqeberha, Garden Route in George, Somerset Mall in Somerset West, and V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.
All screenings are scheduled for 7:30 PM on May 8 and 2:30 PM on May 10.
Tickets are available now through the Ster-Kinekor website or mobile app.
As Attenborough approaches his centenary, this latest work reinforces his enduring legacy as both a celebrated documentarian and one of the world’s most passionate advocates for environmental conservation.
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