A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough

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A Gorilla Story: Told by David Attenborough

2026

1h 17m

Documentary

Kids & Family

Nature

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6 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

This intimate documentary blends the remarkable story of David Attenborough’s first encounter with the baby gorilla Pablo with a deep dive into how Pablo’s direct descendants are doing today in the mountains of Rwanda. Weaving together contemporary and archival footage of the gorilla group and narrated by Attenborough— including excerpts from his 1978 journals — A Gorilla Story is packed with extraordinary gorilla behavior never filmed before.

John Anderson

Wall Street Journal

2d

The tale doesn’t need any artificial twists. They occur naturally. There’s character development. Foreshadowing. The implication that aberrant personality disorders might not be the exclusive purview of humans.

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Stuart Heritage

Guardian

4d

5/5

A Gorilla Story is a much starrier affair than its predecessor, but its conceit is fascinating: after all this time, how are those same gorillas doing?

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Carol Midgley

The Times (UK)

5d

It is a conservation success story and a love letter to the gorilla, told beautifully by the undisputed silverback of natural history broadcasting.

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Kat Halstead

Common Sense Media

4d

4/5

There are plenty of nature documentaries to choose from, but what Attenborough uniquely brings to the table is a sense of personal connection, reverence, and respect toward the subjects he studies.

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Pat Stacey

Irish Independent

Apr 17

4/5

A Gorilla Story may not be the great man’s most spectacular film. It’s certainly one of the loveliest, though.

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Ed Power

Irish Times

Apr 17

It won’t make anyone go ape – but it is the sort of comfort viewing that will have viewers figuratively swinging from the trees with delight.

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Jo M.

@Idgie 1h

This is a beautiful, life-affirming film. You will be so glad you watched it. To the Pablo Group & David my love and gratitude.

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Per S

@RT83737705 2d

An emotional David Attenborough gives us the story about the Pablo Group, for him a very special Mountain Gorilla family - in a presentation manner only he can, and as always with some amazing footage.

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din D

@L1J2K3 3d

I jumped into this movie as it was playing on my TV about 30 minutes in just for a look and got totally wrapped up within it. There are amazing scenes that seem straight out of a movie, I swear you can't make this stuff up. The fact that Sir. David Attenborough (Who was amazing as always.) got to live with the gorilla that started one of the largest colonies of silverbacks ever is unreal. Also, some of the things that happen feel like they are staged there just so good... there's laughs, revenge, exile, loss, fights, pain, and more. The fact that a film I jump into late can make me tear up by the end says a lot.

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Janet W

@RT15962696 6d

Photography is amazing.

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Ray S

@asmi2083 6d

Another great documentary hosted by David Attenborough. A study of a gorilla family.

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Stephen G.

@patient1 Apr 18

This is unlike other Documentaries I've watched before, even those being hosted and narrated by Sir Attenborough. It feels like he's sharing piece of himself this time around, I've never in over 40+ years of watching these nature programs felt so much more than an education on the behavior and life of animals we share the planet with. Sir Attenborough appears to Sharing more than just a story this time around and there will be moments that his voice cracks at what he is sharing about the lives of his story. Any and All Nature Fans or Fans of Sir Attenborough and his Visceral way of sharing a story is unquestionably one not to be missed and enjoyed in a way that made my chest heavy like none before...

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James Reed

Director

Callum Webster

Director

David Attenborough

Self

James Reed

Screenwriter

Callum Webster

Screenwriter

Alastair Fothergill

Producer

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Synopsis

This intimate documentary blends the remarkable story of David Attenborough’s first encounter with the baby gorilla Pablo with a deep dive into how Pablo’s direct descendants are doing today in the mountains of Rwanda. Weaving together contemporary and archival footage of the gorilla group and narrated by Attenborough— including excerpts from his 1978 journals — A Gorilla Story is packed with extraordinary gorilla behavior never filmed before.

Director: James Reed, Callum Webster
Producer: Alastair Fothergill
Screenwriter: James Reed, Callum Webster
Distributor: Netflix
Genre: Documentary, Kids & Family, Nature
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 17, 2026
Runtime: 1h 17m