There are a lot of beautiful, fascinating, and magnificent places in the world. Often, documentaries help capture these places, and help transport viewers to places they’ve never seen or visited. These films can offer a greater appreciation for the natural environment while telling people about the wonders in these regions.

But nature documentaries on the big screen have become rare. While we often still get them on National Geographic channel or sometimes around Earth Day, these glimpses into our wider world have become harder to come by. That’s what makes The American Southwest so fun.

The new documentary, which follows the terrain around the Colorado River, is a big screen spectacle. It opens in theaters on Friday and transports viewers into the rich scenery of the region, sharing stories of the creatures and people that call it home.

The film runs about 105 minutes, following the Colorado River and exploring the creates who call it home. It looks at the watershed, and how vital it is to mankind, too. But it’s a rich exploration of the region and some of its magnificent vistas, stretching all the way through the Grand Canyon.

The film is narrated by Quannah Chasinghorse, who provides a gentle and soothing journey along this beautiful landscape. The film comes from writer/director Ben Masters, who explores the rich ecosystem along the Colorado River and the beauty of the landscape in this region of the country.

As someone who lives in Colorado, I greatly appreciated this journey down the river. It expanded my view of the region and my appreciation for the river, its history, and its reach in the country and around the world. The film brings awareness to the area, its beauty, its importance, and the challenges to keeping it vibrant.

In addition, the visuals are often stunning. The mountain ranges, the vast animal life, and beauty of the river itself are all captured in the film. It’s a stunning exploration of the region that will be even more vibrant on the big screen.

We don’t get many nature documentaries on the big screen. In fact, we don’t get many documentaries that get theatrical releases. But if you want to enjoy this lush landscape, learn more about the Colorado River, and support these types of films, it’s worth checking out.

The American Southwest opens in theaters on Friday, September 5.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.