Tag Archives: National Geographic

Exploring the Legacy of Jaws at 50

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National Geographic’s SHARKFEST wouldn’t exist without the film that changed cinema – and our relationship with sharks – forever: “Jaws.” This year, in tribute to the movie that sparked a lasting fascination with the ocean’s most misunderstood predator, National Geographic goes behind the scenes of the legendary blockbuster with JAWS @ 50: THE DEFINITIVE INSIDE STORY. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Laurent Bouzereau (“Faye,” “Music by John Williams”), the 90-minute documentary takes viewers on the ultimate deep dive, from Peter Benchley’s bestselling novel to the cinematic phenomenon that is “Jaws” and how the film continues to ripple through pop culture, cinema and shark conservation to this day. You may think you know the full story of “Jaws” – but not until now.

JAWS @ 50 hails from Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Documentaries and Nedland Films, in partnership with Wendy Benchley and Laura Bowling, and is this year’s only authorized documentary on the making of “Jaws,” with the award-winning director himself diving back into the story that launched his career and earned him final cut on the film, a creative control he has maintained for the last 50 years.

The documentary is currently on National Geographic (DStv 181 and StarTimes 220) as well as National Geographic Wild (DStv 182 and StarTimes 221) and will also be available on Disney+ in South Africa.

View the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrBN9zcQAGw

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Ryan Reynolds Narrates National Geographic’s “Underdogs”

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Young meerkats shelter in a burrow in the Kalahari desert. (National Geographic/Thilo Beck)

For 137 years, National Geographic has been bringing you breathtaking wildlife footage of iconic animals – penguins, elephants, whales and more. Hold on to your binoculars, folks, as Nat Geo gets up close and personal with the outcasts of the animal kingdom in UNDERDOGS, narrated by Ryan Reynolds. From their hidden talents to their unconventional hygiene choices to their unsavory courtship rituals, UNDERDOGS celebrates the unique behaviors of the animals who don’t usually get to be the stars of the show.

From Reynolds’ Emmy® Award-winning Maximum Effort and Emmy® and BAFTA Award-Winning Wildstar Films (a Fremantle company), National Geographic’s UNDERDOGS will premiere on Saturdays at 18:00 (CAT), from 21 June on National Geographic Wild (DStv 182, StarTimes 221), and will also be available on Disney+ in South Africa.

View the trailer below:

“Getting to work with National Geographic on UNDERDOGS was a dream come true – mostly because I can finally watch a project of ours with my children. Technically, they saw “Deadpool & Wolverine” but I don’t think they absorbed much while covering their eyes and ears and screaming for two hours,” said Reynolds. “We’re so proud to elevate the unsung heroes of the natural world to the top of the entertainment food chain and can’t wait for everyone to see.”

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Unveiling Titanic’s Secrets: Digital Resurrection Documentary on National Geographic

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Actual Titanic

14 April 2025 marks the 113th anniversary of the R.M.S. Titanic’s sinking – an event that has fueled global fascination for over a century. National Geographic presents TITANIC: THE DIGITAL RESURRECTION, a groundbreaking 90-minute documentary that offers an unprecedented look at history’s most infamous maritime disaster. Using exclusive access to cutting-edge underwater scanning technology, including 715,000 digitally captured images, the special unveils the most precise model of the Titanicever created: a full-scale, 1:1 digital twin, accurate down to the rivet. From award-winning Atlantic Productions, TITANIC: THE DIGITAL RESURRECTION premieres across Africa on Sunday, 13 April at 21:00 (CAT) on National Geographic (DStv 181 and Startimes 220).

View the trailer here

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Unveiling Magic: David Blaine’s Global Adventures in “Do Not Attempt”

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David Blaine gently holds a King Cobra. (credit: National Geographic/Dana Hayes)

Prepare for the ultimate magic adventure as National Geographic (DStv 181, Starsat 220) premieres DAVID BLAINE DO NOT ATTEMPT. Produced by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s award-winning Imagine Documentaries (“Genius” anthology series, “Rebuilding Paradise,” “Jim Henson Idea Man”), this six-part series follows world- renowned magician and endurance artist David Blaine exploring the world through the lens of magic, in several inspiring countries, including South Africa.

The show premiered on Friday, 28 March on DStv 181 and Starsat 220, DAVID BLAINE DO NOT ATTEMPT is also be available on Disney+ in South Africa.

David Blaine takes us on a fascinating cultural exchange and a jaw-dropping journey through extraordinary cultures, where he meets with performers and masters — kindred spirits who inspire and share with him exceptional skills (and secrets) — in Brazil, Southeast Asia, India, the Arctic Circle, South Africa and Japan.

Watch the trailer here

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OceanXplorers On National Geographic

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The OceanXplorer reaches Svalbard’s blockade of sea ice and can go no further. (National Geographic)

From National Geographic Explorer at Large James Cameron (“Avatar”), BBC Studios Natural History Unit (“Blue Planet II”) and OceanX, comes the most ambitious ocean adventure ever filmed. The breathtaking series OCEANXPLORERS will premiere on Wednesdays at 19:00 from 21 August on National Geographic (DStv 181, Starsat 220).

WATCH TRAILER HERE

The National Geographic series takes audiences aboard the OceanXplorer, OceanX’s state-of-the-art scientific research and exploration vessel, to investigate the farthest frontiers of the world’s oceans, 80% of which are entirely unknown. Armed with advanced technology, a hand-picked team of intrepid explorers and scientists, National Geographic Explorers and other ocean experts embark on a global odyssey to solve some of the ocean’s greatest mysteries through the lives of its animals and their ecosystems. The ship sets sail on a grand adventure – traveling to the depths of the Atlantic in the Azores, diving into the shallows of the Bahamas and warm waters of the Caribbean before embarking north to the frigid arctic shores of Svalbard, Norway. OCEANXPLORERS provides an immersive look at an underwater world of wonder with incredible discoveries that push the boundaries of exploration and our understanding of the ocean like never before.

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