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The Ascent of Man

1973Show1 season13 episodes

Documentary
86
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.8

An awe-inspiring, philosophical documentary series about history and a real life story, with standout dialogue and direction.

Good for family movie night · friends night · party vibe

Skip it if you want fast pacing

Where to watch

Set your services

Not streaming in United States. Where it is:

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Not for laughs, scares or brutality.

Shows with

Episodes

1 season · 13 episodes · best: S1E11 "Knowledge or Certainty" 8.8

Episodes

8.3

Story

The Ascent of Man is a thirteen-part documentary television series produced by the BBC and Time-Life Films first transmitted in 1973, written and presented by Jacob Bronowski. Intended as a series of "personal view" documentaries in the manner of Kenneth Clark's 1969 series Civilisation, the series received acclaim for Bronowski's highly informed but eloquently simple analysis, his long unscripted monologues and its extensive location shoots.

Feels like

  • Seminal Documentary
  • Intellectual Journey
  • History of Science
  • Philosophical Exploration
  • Human Ingenuity
  • Iconic Presenter
  • Classic Television
  • Thought-Provoking
  • Educational Series

Crew

Directors
Mick Jackson, Adrian Malone, Dick Gilling
Written by
Jacob Bronowski
Produced by
Adrian Malone, Dick Gilling

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

May 5, 1973 · July 28, 1973 · Ended

First aired
May 5, 1973
Last aired
July 28, 1973
Status
Ended
Length
1 season · 13 episodes
Genres
Documentary
Original language
English
Available in
1 country

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream The Ascent of Man?"

Questions about The Ascent of Man

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Ascent of Man?

It streams in 1 other country, but not in the United States.

Is The Ascent of Man worth watching?

86
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 86 (IMDb 8.8).

Is The Ascent of Man okay for kids?

Yes: the viewing guide lists it for kids.

How long does it take to watch The Ascent of Man?

11 h

About 11 hours: 13 episodes in 1 season of about 50 minutes each, aired from 1973 to 1973.

Will I feel good after watching The Ascent of Man?

BleakHopeful

Yes, it's an uplifting series: the title analysis rates it 8 of 10 for hopefulness and 6 for wholesome.

Can I half-watch The Ascent of Man?

Easy watchDemanding

No, it needs your attention: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for philosophical and 7 for complexity.