Chauvet: Humanity's First Great Masterpiece (2025): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2025, Chauvet: Humanity's First Great Masterpiece is a documentary film directed by Guy Padovani, running about 59 minutes.

What it’s about. In December 1994, an archaeological marvel hidden deep inside France's Gorges de l'Ardèche was revealed to the modern world for the very first time: the Chauvet cave. Scientists immediately recognised the importance of this discovery. Sealed by a landslide more than 20,000 years ago, the cave had been extraordinarily well preserved. With over 1,000 paintings adorning its walls, Chauvet is a cave art jewel. How were the hidden chambers first formed? Who created the extraordinary art? And how can we preserve it for future generations? Follows a 30-year archaeological, geological and artistic adventure as scientists endeavour to understand and conserve this exceptional record of humanity's distant past.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, Chauvet: Humanity's First Great Masterpiece sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Chauvet: Humanity's First Great Masterpiece page.

If you liked it. Fans of Chauvet: Humanity's First Great Masterpiece tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.