Drop-in docos

Film

photo of an empty theatre with blue seats and a large screen at the front.

Escape the heat this summer with free daily documentary screenings.

Cool off this summer in the museum’s theatre and immerse yourself in a series of captivating oceanic and Arctic documentaries. Screening daily, these films explore the wonders of nature, the marvels of human engineering, and the mysteries of our planet’s most breathtaking habitats.

Dive into the world of Great White Shark (2013) to uncover the truth about this misunderstood predator or journey through Wonders of the Arctic (2014) to witness the stark beauty and challenges of a frozen world. Experience the depths of Oceans: Our Blue Planet (2018) with groundbreaking discoveries, or marvel at the bustling biodiversity in The Last Reef (2012).

Perfect for families, film lovers, or anyone seeking a refreshing escape, this drop-in series is your ticket to adventure—no reservation needed! Check the schedule and discover a new perspective on the world around us.

Underwater photograph of a coral reef with a school of fish swimming through it.

Photo showing a silhouetted human figure jumping from a palm tree into the ocean, with the sun shining behind them. The surrounding area is lush with many more palm trees.

close up photo of the front of an orange crab or lobster.

aerial photograph taken of a large stretch of beach and shallow water, with a narrow line or green vegitation.

Photo of two birds, one seated with yellow and white feathers, one standing with dark brown and cream feathers.

Photo of a palm tree leaning horizontally over the water.

Photograph showing shallow waters and land in the background with lush foliage. The sky is bright blue with some small, white fluffy clouds.

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A bird with white feathers looking after a brown, fluffy chick, seated on a small mound of dirt

Ocean Paradise (2024)

Narrated by Diane Lane

A film that unveils the secrets of the Pacific Ocean’s most remote islands and marine national monuments, immersing viewers in the pristine beauty of distant landscapes and reefs that defy the encroachment of civilization.

Wonders of the Arctic (2014)

Director: David Lickley
Narrated by Victor Garber

Centred on our ongoing mission to explore and come to terms with the Arctic, and the compelling stories of our many forays into this captivating place will be interwoven to create a unifying message about the state of the Arctic today.

An image taken half underwater, half above water, with 2 brown walruses sitting on an iceberg.

Oceans: Our Blue Planet (2018)

Directors: Mark Brownlow and Rachel Scott
Narrated by Kate Winslet

Embark on a global odyssey to discover the largest and least explored habitat on earth. New ocean science and technology has allowed us to go further into the unknown than we ever thought possible.

An image showing a colourful reef with many schools of orange fish.

A side on showing a large shark and a diver swimming close to each other.

Photo of a small boat in a white landscape, with 3 people wearing high vis, orange clothing.

A seal swimming underwater, facing towards the camera. there is seaweed in the left foreground and in the background is the shapes of 2 more seals

An image showing the head of a yellow coloured clownfish looking out through the stringy tentacles of a pale yellow anemone

A great white shark with a grey body and white underside, swimming towards the camera, its body curved so you see it's tail and head both pointing to the left.

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The Last Reef: Cities Beneath the Sea (2012)

Directors: Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas
Narrated by Jamie Lee

An uplifting, inspirational cinema experience capturing one of nature's more vibrant and diverse wonderlands of exotic coral reefs, vibrant sea walls, anemones and crustaceans.

image taken ovehead showing a large shark and a diver swimming close to each other.

Great White Shark (2013)

Directors: Luke Cresswell, Steve McNicholas and David Newton
Narrated by Bill Nighy

Misrepresented, maligned and on the verge of extinction, the great white shark is an iconic predator: the creature we love to fear. Great White Shark will explore the great white's place in our imaginations, in our fears and in the reality of its role at the top of the oceanic food chain.

Aircraft Carrier (2016)

Director: Stephen Low
Narrated by Maurice Dean Wint

One of the greatest engineering feats in history, the modern US nuclear carrier is a masterpiece of technology, and the flagship of a fleet.