This November, audiences are invited to join Chris Hemsworth on a deeply personal and moving adventure across Australia in Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember, a one-hour documentary from Academy Award – nominated filmmaker Darren Aronofsky’s Protozoa, Jane Root’s Nutopia, and Hemsworth’s own production company, Wild State. The film premieres on 24 November at 9pm on National Geographic and will also stream the same day on Disney+.
Inspired by a recent diagnosis within the Hemsworth family, the documentary follows Chris and his father, Craig, as they embark on a nostalgic motorcycle journey, a “road trip back in time” through places and memories that have shaped their lives. From suburban Melbourne to the breathtaking wilderness of Australia’s Northern Territories, the pair explore the science and emotional depth of social connection, uncovering how love, community, and shared experience can be powerful medicine.
Image: National Geographic
Guiding them along the way is Dr Suraj Samtani, a dementia specialist and clinical psychologist at the University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Aging. Working closely with the Hemsworth family and producers for over a year, Dr Samtani’s insights help shape the journey, drawing on compelling research that highlights the profound impact of social relationships on brain health.
A global study of more than 40,000 people across 14 countries revealed that maintaining regular social interactions can halve the risk of developing dementia and may even slow cognitive decline after diagnosis. This science underpins the film’s emotional milestones, showcasing:
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Reminiscence Therapy – revisiting past experiences, through conversation, cherished objects or visiting meaningful places, to help boost cognition.
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Social Connection – simple, regular interactions such as chatting with friends or confiding in loved ones, shown to reduce early mortality risk.
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Social Bridging – taking part in community activities, from volunteering to group walks, which is linked to slower rates of cognitive decline.
Reflecting on the experience, Chris Hemsworth said: “My Dad and I had always spoken about taking a trip back to the Northern Territory, where our family had lived years ago, but we had never been able to set aside the time to actually do it. More recently the idea of taking that road trip reemerged with more pressing importance. The result was a more profound, more moving, and more surprising journey than I ever anticipated.”
The documentary also follows on from Hemsworth’s acclaimed National Geographic series Limitless: Live Better Now, which explored how science can help us all live healthier, more fulfilling lives. In the memorable “Brain Power” episode, Chris tackled a cognitive challenge by performing “Thinking Out Loud” live on stage with Ed Sheeran before 70,000 fans in Bucharest, a viral moment that has since amassed nearly 35 million views across social media. The first series of Limitless became National Geographic’s second most-watched streaming series ever, with nearly half its audience tuning in from outside the United States.
Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember is produced by Protozoa, Nutopia and Wild State for National Geographic. Executive producers include Tom Watt-Smith, Peter Lovering, Arif Nurmohamed and Jane Root for Nutopia; Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel for Protozoa; and Chris Hemsworth, Ben Grayson and Brandon Hill for Wild State. The documentary is directed by Tom Barbor-Might, with Bengt Anderson and Simon Raikes serving as executive producers for National Geographic.
With its sweeping Australian landscapes, heartfelt storytelling, and illuminating science, A Road Trip to Remember promises to be both a celebration of family and a reminder of the healing power of connection.
Disney+ offers robust parental controls to ensure a family-friendly viewing experience, including PIN-protected and Junior Mode profiles, giving parents and guardians peace of mind while enjoying this touching journey.