Benedict Cumberbatch hosts London screening of Fredi Devas’s climate documentary “How to Live on Earth”

“How to Live on Earth,” a climate-focused documentary presented by actor Benedict Cumberbatch at the Natural History Museum in London, was reviewed by The Guardian on June 23, 2026, with the outlet describing the film as a departure from environmental documentaries that emphasize despair, anger, or hand-wringing. In the review, The Guardian frames the production around the idea that there is “value” in discussing environmental destruction and the climate crisis without centering the work on emotionally overwhelming messaging. The paper credits that approach to the film’s presentation and tone, describing Cumberbatch as delivering a more positive posture in response to the crisis at the screening. The film is directed by Fredi Devas, according to The Guardian’s account. The review says the documentary is built from multiple segments and incorporates material aligned with the broader theme of protecting the environment, though the specific contributing sources and segment structure were not detailed in the published summary provided for this report. Cumberbatch’s involvement, as described by The Guardian, is tied to the museum presentation in London, where the review notes that the event and framing contributed to the documentary’s tone shift. The Natural History Museum setting underscores the film’s public-facing approach, placing the discussion of climate action and environmental protection in an education and public engagement venue. While the review emphasizes the documentary’s constructive focus, The Guardian’s summary does not indicate that the film avoids documenting environmental harm. Instead, it characterizes the work as an antithesis to “doom and gloom” approaches, suggesting the film aims to redirect attention toward what can be done, rather than primarily dwelling on worst-case outcomes. No additional release details, distribution partners, dates beyond the June 23 review, or information on wider public screening schedules were included in the material provided here, so the next steps for general audiences beyond the museum presentation could not be confirmed for this story.