10 Years Without Harambe: The 2023 Documentary Examining His Impact and Where to Watch

Published 05/28/2026, 10:19 AM EDT

Credits: Harambe 2023/@harambemovie via Instagram/Photographed by @jeff_mccurry/Production-Hhfilms and Humanimal Productions

The complex moral intersection of wildlife captivity and viral internet culture continues to generate intense debate a decade after a singular, tragic event shook the world. Today marks the 10th anniversary of Harambe's death, the silverback gorilla, whose untimely demise at the Cincinnati Zoo sparked global outrage.

This milestone anniversary provides an opportunity to re-examine the structural ethics of modern zoological institutions through an acclaimed 2023 documentary, Harambe. Audiences seeking a comprehensive look at the untold details of this historic incident can easily access it online.

The widespread availability of this documentary film allows international audiences to thoroughly analyse the controversial captive wildlife tragedy.

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Stream what happened to Harambe

The thought-provoking narrative about Harambe shown in Harambe 2023 is widely accessible across multiple platforms throughout the United States. Viewers can find it on premium subscription services such as fuboTV or access it entirely for free on ad-supported digital applications, including Hoopla, Plex Player, and Fawesome. Additionally, the feature-length production remains available to rent or purchase on Amazon Video.

The central plot of the documentary Harambe meticulously chronicles the tragic sequence of events from May 2016, when a young child accidentally breached the barrier of a zoo enclosure. Fearing for the safety of the toddler, local zoological security forces made the rapid decision to terminate the western lowland gorilla.

Directed by visionary filmmaker Erik E. Crown, the investigative documentary features a compelling narrative co-written alongside Richard Castro and Sierra Williams. The production highlights prominent figures such as Peter Egan, Dax Holt, and Jeff McCurry to provide an authoritative look into the historical incident.

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The profound societal grief regarding the fallen primate eventually inspired an astonishing wave of diverse pop-culture tributes.

The musical memorials and creative cutouts

The unexpected global obsession with the fallen silverback gorilla, Harambe, triggered an unprecedented wave of music, raps, and satirical internet phenomena. The mainstream hip-hop tributes include the track 'Harambe' on the 2016 studio album ‘Jeffery’ by Young Thug. The electronic and viral anthems include the heavy electronic single 'Harambe' featured on the 2016 studio album ‘Virus’ by Excision.

Alongside the viral hip-hop dance sensation 'D**** Out for Harambe' by Rockie Gold. The satirical digital interlude, the unexpected 2019 SoundCloud release 'RIP Harambe' performed by Yung Jake and backed by billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.

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Whether approached through serious investigative filmmaking or mainstream musical parodies, his legacy continues to force humanity to look more closely at its relationship with nature. Ultimately, the tenth anniversary of this historic event serves as a reminder that the conversation surrounding animal advocacy is far from over.

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What do you think about watching Harambe? Let us know in the comments

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Soma Mitra

1353 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

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