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Season 1 – Pole to Pole With Will Smith

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Pole to Pole With Will Smith Jan 2026 Nature Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
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Will Smith takes audiences on the ultimate journey of discovery in the National Geographic original series "Pole to Pole With Will Smith." Five years in the making, the series follows Will across all seven continents Inspired by his late mentor to explore life's big questions, Will Smith throws himself into incredible challenges for 100 days: skiing to the South Pole, catching a giant anaconda, milking a venomous tarantula, climbing mountains, and diving under the ice of the North Pole. He ventures from pole to pole in the company of scientists, explorers and local experts.
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Pole to Pole With Will Smith — Season 1

Pole to Pole With Will Smith — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Will Smith makes the farthest reaches of the planet seem closer and cooler than ever in this engaging, insightful, and well hosted adventure from Pole to Pole.

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Critics Reviews

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James Jackson The Times (UK) Jan 14
3/5
This series has value and merit far beyond watching Smith beat-box jive with a toucan. Go to Full Review
Lucy Mangan Guardian Jan 14
3/5
Smith is an unexpectedly warm, attentive listener. It’s a lovely mix, and makes Pole to Pole a celebrity documentary that is an honourable exception to the usual dross that passes commissioning muster. Go to Full Review
Carla Renata The Curvy Film Critic Jan 25
Pole to Pole is an eye opening quest into a multitude of civilizations who are struggling to survive in the purest forms possible.  Let's get on board in helping our planet and fellow human before it's too late. Go to Full Review
Fernanda Camargo Common Sense Media Jan 20
4/5
Pole to Pole with Will Smith flips the script of traditional wildlife series by mixing incredible views, interesting facts, and extreme adventures with the right dose of humor and relatability. Go to Full Review
Alberto Carlos Espinof Jan 20
3/5
With National Geographic involved, this documentary is visually stunning and narratively impeccable...[Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Barbara Ellen Observer (UK) Jan 20
Our host comes across well, getting stuck in and lampooning his Hollywood persona... You sense that Smith has suffered far more inhospitable places than the icy wastes of Antarctica. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Roslyn J. @Irizarry52 Feb 18 Aside from the dynamic and educational global experiences shared, Will Smith took us on a journey that was personal and concurrently challenged us to rethink what we know about ourselves, life, and the world we live in. Our family had interesting conversations and learned revelations about one another that we may have not had if we had not watched the series together. The journey was clearly transformational and hosted in humility, curiosity, and introspective. This documentary was hosted and delivered by a genuine human being sharing his life with us as he sought knowledge in the most remote parts of our world. I would love for the journey to continue. Thank you Will Smith and National Geographic! See more Isabella M @ReelwithBella Feb 10 "Pole to Pole with Will Smith" - A Journey That Touched My Heart I went into this show expecting beautiful scenery and adventure, but I got so much more. Pole to Pole with Will Smith isn’t just about traveling from one end of the Earth to the other — it’s about exploring humanity, resilience, and the beauty of our planet. Episode 4, in particular, hit me deeply. It made me cry, but in the best way — the kind of tears that come when something shifts inside you. It opened my eyes to a new perspective on life, reminding me how precious and interconnected everything is. Will Smith’s warmth, humor, and honesty make the journey feel personal, like you’re traveling alongside a friend. The breathtaking visuals and heartfelt moments stay with you long after the episode ends. If you’re looking for a show that inspires, moves, and makes you see the world differently, this is it. ⭐ 5/5 – A beautiful, life-changing journey. See more Freddie J. @FreddieJohnson01 Feb 8 Beautiful. The more you watch, the more you love. See more Kim S @Kim4221 Feb 5 Scenery. Amazing I could watch it all day until you see Will Smith anybody else you should’ve put anybody else in on this but him no one‘s ready for him. No one wants to see him. Yeah it was a bad choice. Maybe next time use someone else and we’ll all jump in on it cause it could be really cool just not with him. See more Xilo @Gourmet Feb 5 An inspiring series filled with culture and human connection. Watch it with your heart!!! What I liked the most is Will Smith’s vulnerability. Because in the end, we are all human and we make mistakes. No one is perfect. Everyone deserves a second chance even if the mistake was due to someone offending us. Very beautiful production. Bravo!!! 🙌🏻 See more William N @William125 Feb 4 I caught the last 20 minutes of an episode where Will Smith and others are on the hunt for an anaconda deep in the Amazon jungle. It was entertaining enought that I started to watch the second episode and then I find out what this series is really about. Will begins crying, reminiscing on his career, flashback scenes of Will in movies and television shows from the 90s begin to play and then the slap incident. A blatant attempt to rehabilitate Will's career by envoking sympathy as Will sheds tears at all that he's lost. It's at this very juncture where I turned the channel. I don't really care about Will Smith's career, I hope he finds redemption some day in whatever way he finds it but not while I'm trying to watch a show about animals and exploration. Don't waste my time trying to get me to feel sorry for a mutimillionaire celebrity while also posing as a NatGeo television series about wildlife and exploration. Whose dumb idea was this? Not interested in a celebrity rebranding series See more Read all reviews
Pole to Pole With Will Smith — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jan 13, 2026 The South Pole Will Smith heads to the South Pole to meet remote scientists. Details Episode 2 Aired Jan 13, 2026 The Amazon: Deadly Creatures Will Smith ventures into the Amazon in search of deadly creatures. Details Episode 3 Aired Jan 20, 2026 The Amazon: Dark Waters Will travels deep into the Amazon in search of a giant green anaconda. Details Episode 4 Aired Jan 20, 2026 The Himalayas Will heads to the Himalayas in search of the secret to happiness. Details Episode 5 Aired Jan 27, 2026 The Pacific Islands Will travels to a remote South Pacific island threatened by rising seas. Details Episode 6 Aired Jan 27, 2026 The Kalahari Desert Will travels to the Kalahari Desert to learn the secrets of the San people. Details Episode 7 Aired Feb 3, 2026 The North Pole Will heads to the North Pole for his final and most dangerous mission. Details

Season Info

Director
Tom Barbor-Might, Dionne Bromfield
Executive Producer
Darren Aronofsky, Will Smith, Terence Carter, Peter Lovering, Ari Handel, Miguel Melendez, Jane Root
Network
National Geographic
Rating
TV-PG
Genre
Nature, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jan 13, 2026