Movie Review: Sea Lions of the Galapagos (Disney+)

By John Corrado

Disneynature’s Earth Day releases have been an annual tradition since 2009, when the studio released Earth. The films have since shifted away from being theatrical releases and migrated to being released direct to streaming on Disney Plus, but the tradition remains largely the same.

In Sea Lions of the Galapagos, the latest of the studio’s modern “True Life Adventures,” we follow Leo, a young sea lion in the Galápagos Islands. The film follows him from birth to adulthood, as he leaves his mother, Luna, and tries to find his own place amidst the remote islands.

Directed by Hugh Wilson (and co-directed by Keith Scholey, a veteran of the Disneynature series), the nature documentary lets us watch as the sea lions nip at the tails of predatory sharks, fight pelicans for fish to eat, and hunt salmon. Leo also must contend with the large male bulls referred to as “beachmasters,” who take up space on the islands.

Like previous Disneynature titles, Sea Lions of the Galapagos mixes stunning nature footage overlaid with celebrity narration, offering a slightly anthropomorphized glimpse at the animal kingdom. In this case, the narration is done by Oscar-winner Brendon Fraser, whose voice provides a soothing guide. The screenplay is also somewhat more subdued, and does away with the more childish jokes.

The crisp, widescreen cinematography is particularly striking, taking us into one of the most remote locations on earth. The camera flies over the vast Pacific Ocean, offering aerial shots of the rocky islands, and taking us underwater to follow fish and other marine life. This is why we watch these films; to see images of animals in their natural habitats that we wouldn’t otherwise get to experience. As such, Sea Lions of the Galapagos is a good addition to this collection of family-friendly documentaries about the natural world.

Film Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)

A scene from Disneynature’s SEA LIONS OF THE GALPAGOS, exclusively on Disney+. Photo courtesy of Disneynature. ©2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Sea Lions of the Galapagos is now available to stream exclusively on Disney Plus. It’s streaming alongside the companion film Guardians of the Galapagos.