Benedict Cumberbatch documentary How To Live On Earth sets YouTube premiere – Open Planet Studios documentary How To Live On Earth, presented by Benedict Cumberbatch, will premiere globally on YouTube in September.
The film launches on Sunday, 20 September 2026 in the United States and United Kingdom. For Australian viewers, that places the live global premiere early on Monday, 21 September.
For local viewers, the YouTube release gives the film a clear Australian viewing path. It follows the world premiere event, a UK theatrical release and planned regional screenings, including Australia and New Zealand. It also shows how major documentaries can now launch as global online events.
Watch the trailer
How To Live On Earth explores how people can build a safer future by working with nature, rather than against it.
The film mixes human stories with natural-world cinematography. Its lead contributors include climate justice activist Xiye Bastida, field biologist and wildlife filmmaker Dan O’Neill, and former White House chef and nutrition policy advisor Sam Kass.
Imogen Heap contributes new track
The premiere will also debut a new end credits track from Grammy Award-winning artist Imogen Heap. The song is titled Chapter 4.
Heap wrote, produced and performed the track after watching the film. She said the collaboration began through a conversation with Dan O’Neill, one of the featured experts.
New clip
Global release plans
Open Planet Studios says the film will travel through regional premieres and screenings in several countries. The list includes Switzerland, Australia, Ecuador, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand and the United States.
On its global release day, the documentary will also screen at the Climate Film Festival in New York. The event includes a special Q&A and coincides with the start of New York Climate Week.
How To Live On Earth is an Open Planet Studios production, in association with Villars Institute Foundation and Silvania. Fredi Devas directs the film and produces with Jonnie Hughes.
Hughes and Colin Butfield are executive producers. The music team includes Hans Zimmer and Jacob Shea for Bleeding Fingers Music, with an original score by Shea and Ho-Ling Tang.
For more streaming news, visit TV Central’s Streaming section. More information about the film is available at the official How To Live On Earth website, and more on Open Planet Studios is available from Open Planet Studios.