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Poster for The National Parks: America's Best Idea

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

Seen it?

2009 | 1 seasons | 120 min | Documentary

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It won 2 Emmys, though it had a small audience and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for the curious.
The mood
Eye-opening.
The pace
One season: easy to finish in a weekend or two, hour-long episodes, about 12 hours in all.
What might put you off
Nothing much for most grown-ups.

Filmed over the course of more than six years at some of nature's most spectacular locales – from Acadia to Yosemite, Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon, the Everglades of Florida to the Gates of the Arctic in Alaska - “The National Parks: America's Best Idea” is nonetheless a story of people: people from every conceivable background – rich and poor; famous and unknown; soldiers and scientists; natives and newcomers; idealists, artists and entrepreneurs; people who were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved, and in doing so reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsSolid

    Generally positive reviews

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsStrong

    Won 2 Emmys: Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series, Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Writing for a Nonfiction Programming.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Limited series that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 27K people sought it out in the past year

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Cast & crew

  • Adam Arkin
  • Philip Bosco
  • Peter CoyoteNarrator
  • Amy Madigan
  • Tom Hanks
  • Murphy Guyer