America the Beautiful
GenreNature documentary
Narrated byMichael B. Jordan
ComposerJoe Trapanese
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Production companyNational Geographic
Original release
NetworkDisney+
ReleaseJuly 4, 2022 (2022-07-04)

America the Beautiful is a television documentary dedicated to showcase North America's natural diversity and extreme conditions.[1][2] The series is narrated by Michael B. Jordan and premiered on Disney+ on July 4, 2022, as a Disney+ Original,[3][4] under the National Geographic banner.[5][6] The series was removed from Disney+ on May 26, 2023.[7][8]

Production

National Geographic produced the series as a streaming exclusive for Disney. Before the showed premiered in July 2022, Disney announced that they would be working with V/SPEED Films on the series, who supplied footage that was captured using cinema-grade cameras mounted to fighter jets, which is a first for the industry.[9] Joe Trapanese composed the score of the documentary.[10][11]

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"Land of Heroes"July 4, 2022 (2022-07-04)
Meet the untamed heroes of the wildest, most beautiful continent on Earth.
2"Waterland"July 4, 2022 (2022-07-04)
Animals must master both water and land in the beautiful southeastern USA.
3"Northland"July 4, 2022 (2022-07-04)
Witness epic winters and spectacular summers, where timing is everything.
4"Wild West"July 4, 2022 (2022-07-04)
Wild heroes forge a living in the deserts and coasts of the American West.
5"Heartland"July 4, 2022 (2022-07-04)
In the most extreme place on Earth, animals must seize every opportunity.
6"Brave New World"July 4, 2022 (2022-07-04)
Witness the heroes fighting to preserve America’s wildlife and wild places.

Release

The series was released on July 4, 2022, coinciding with Independence Day in the United States.[12][13] It consists of six episodes.[14][15]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 7.90/10, based on 5 critic reviews.[16] Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 based on 4 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[17]

Joel Keller of Decider wrote, "Despite the series’ scattershot focus, America The Beautiful has more than enough spectacular footage to satisfy fans of nature docuseries."[18] John Anderson of The Wall Street Journal said, "It’s a feel-good physical exam of the third largest and “most diverse” continent, environmentally speaking, and while there's no voice saying, “I’m North America and I approve this message,” if a place could run for president, this show could be the campaign ad."[19]

Stephanie Morgan of Common Sense Media gave America the Beautiful a grade of 4 out of 5 stars, praised the presence of educational value, and complimented the positive messages and role models, writing, "Nature footage and storytelling like nothing seen before."[20] Aimee Mills of Collider included America the Beautiful in their "10 Best Wildlife Documentaries On Disney+ Right Now" list, saying, "With stunning shots of nature at its finest, it's a great new series to get stuck into if you're in the mood for beautiful landscape visuals from the Arctic to the deep South."[21]

References

  1. ^ McCormack, Olivia (July 4, 2022). "What to watch on Monday: 'America the Beautiful' airs on Disney Plus". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  2. ^ Hullender, Tatiana (July 4, 2022). "Cinematographer Greg Wilson Interview: America the Beautiful". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  3. ^ Reif, Alex (June 29, 2022). "Disney+ Watch Guide: June 29th – July 5th". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  4. ^ Ilchi, Layla (June 30, 2022). "10 New Documentaries to Watch in July 2022". Women's Wear Daily. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  5. ^ "Disney+ Celebrates The Wonder And Diversity Of North America's Picturesque Landscapes And Amazing Animals In The Trailer Of 'America The Beautiful' From National Geographic". Disney Plus Press. June 13, 2022. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  6. ^ Jones, Tamera (July 3, 2022). "Exclusive: National Geographic Presents 'America the Beautiful' in New Clip". Collider. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  7. ^ Weatherbed, Jess (May 19, 2023). "Disney will remove over 50 shows from Disney Plus and Hulu this month". The Verge. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  8. ^ Chapman, Wilson (May 24, 2023). "All 76 Titles Getting Removed from Disney+ and Hulu on Friday". IndieWire. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  9. ^ R. Thomas Umstead (2022-07-01). "Disney Plus Showcases 'America the Beautiful' on Independence Day". Multichannel News. Retrieved 2022-08-23.
  10. ^ Hullender, Tatiana (June 29, 2022). "Composer Joseph Trapanese Interview: America The Beautiful". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  11. ^ Burlingame, Jon (July 4, 2022). "How NatGeo's 'America the Beautiful' Doc Incorporates Indigenous Musical Sounds". Variety. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  12. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (July 4, 2022). "National Geographic Begins Streaming 'America the Beautiful' Limited Series on Disney+ on Independence Day". Media Play News. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  13. ^ Lindert, Hattie (June 22, 2022). "Here's everything coming to Disney Plus in July 2022". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  14. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (July 4, 2022). "What to Watch: Macy's Fireworks Show, Nathan's Hot Dog-Eating Contest, Independence Day and More". TVLine. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  15. ^ Bradley, Tony (July 1, 2022). "'America The Beautiful' Shows Off Cutting Edge Aerial Photography". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  16. ^ "America the Beautiful (2022)". Rotten Tomatoes.
  17. ^ "America the Beautiful". Metacritic.
  18. ^ Keller, Joel (July 4, 2022). "'America The Beautiful' Disney Plus: Stream It Or Skip It?". Decider. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  19. ^ Anderson, John (June 30, 2022). "'America the Beautiful' Review: Nature as Hero". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  20. ^ Morgan, Stephanie. "America the Beautiful TV Review | Common Sense Media". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  21. ^ Mills, Aimee (July 21, 2022). "The 10 Best Wildlife Documentaries On Disney+ Right Now". Collider. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
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