Going plastic-free, toxic-free, zero waste, and minimalist while addressing the waste crisis, climate crisis, and threats to all species.
Films & Documentaries
Here is a list of films and documentaries I recommend. I continually update this page. You can likely find these at your local library or on free streaming services, so check those first.
Here are the topic areas if you want to get to a specific section quickly:
This film focuses on sea turtles stranding on Cape Cod, a seasonal event when cold-stunned turtles wash ashore in near-death conditions. The number of turtles in this event increases annually and is likely caused by global warming. Most of these sea turtles are Kemp’s Ridley, which is the most endangered sea turtle. The documentary tells the larger history of the Kemp’s Ridley and how climate change, the BP oil spill, and other human activities are endangering these beautiful and essential creatures.
Plastic
Plastic China
This film will make you disgusted with plastic. From Amazon: “Through the rolling hills of plastic waste can be heard the faint rustle and laughter of children scurrying and playing. The smiles that break across their grubby faces belie a bleak existence for the families that scrape by sorting plastic waste. Following Pen and his daughter Yi Jie, under the watchful eye of boss Kun, this film shows the lives of those harmed most by severe social inequality.” Some say that this film influenced China’s leaders and may have played a role in China’s National Sword policy.
A Plastic Ocean
Starring Craig Leeson and Tanya Streeter
This is a beautiful film, at times shocking, but fully informative on the issues of ocean plastic. Craig Leeson is a filmmaker and Tanya Street is a world record freediver. They travel the globe investigating and interviewing people about plastic pollution in the ocean. They expose the shocking impact that plastic is having on human health, marine life, and ecosystems. Please watch this film!
Bag It
This is an excellent and funny documentary about the perils of plastic. The film is titled based on plastic bags but it delves far beyond into many types of plastic. Please see my full review of this film!
Plastic Wars
The title of this excellent Frontline and NPR documentary is slightly misleading, but its information is clear: Recycling is a lie. Companies have duped us into believing that because plastic is recyclable, it’s ok to keep using it. But the truth is most of it (less than 10%) is ever recycled. It ends up in the lands and rivers of developing countries, openly burned (not incinerated where the toxic smoke is at least controlled), and in our oceans. Now, plastic is in our food, water, and our own bodies. This is a must-see film. It’s available for free on youtube and pbc.org.
Inside the Garbage of the World: the Ugly Truth About Plastic Pollution
Directed by Philippe and Maxine Carillo
From Amazon: “The film busts the myth of a plastic island floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and unveils the accurate data that is worse. We are at the edge of a tremendous disaster that is coming if we don’t do anything about it. Seabirds and Marine Mammals are already dying by the millions around the world because of plastic debris and the food chain is already contaminated.”
The Story of Plastic
This film is my favorite about plastic so far! “Different from every other plastic documentary you’ve seen, THE STORY OF PLASTIC presents a cohesive timeline of how we got to our current global plastic pollution crisis & how the oil and gas industry has successfully manipulated the narrative around it.”
A Plastic Whale
This film begins with a dying whale in a bay in Norway, and scientists want to salvage the skeleton for the local museum. But they found over 30 plastic bags in its stomach and intestines and that story became global news. The plastic bags and plastic film caused the whale to slowly starve to death. This film seeks to discover how the whale swallowed so much plastic. This is indicative of how much plastic is in our oceans. The film features interviews with local Norwegians, scientists, former whalers, and government officials and shows the extraordinary public response. This film ends with a feeling of hope, but overall I was struck by the amount of plastic found on just one small country’s shores and its effects on our beautiful wildlife.
Oceans: The Mystery of the Missing Plastic
Directed by Vincent Pérazio
This film is fascinating! From the producer: “99% of the plastic that should be floating in the oceans is missing. Even accounting for the plastic that washes up on beaches or is trapped in arctic ice, millions of tonnes has simply disappeared. As most plastic never deteriorates, it simply breaks down into smaller and smaller particles that are invisible to the human eye, what happens to this missing ocean plastic is a mystery. In this investigation, scientists embark in search of the micro-plastics. Small, mostly invisible, toxic, they are home to a new ecosystem: the plastisphere. But where are they? Ingested by organisms? Buried under the ocean floor? Degraded by bacteria? And what is the impact of them entering the food chain?”
Climate Change
Before The Flood
This National Geographic film “features Leonardo DiCaprio on a journey as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, traveling to five continents and the Arctic to witness climate change firsthand. He goes on expeditions with scientists uncovering the reality of climate change and meets with political leaders fighting against inaction. He also discovers a calculated disinformation campaign orchestrated by powerful special interests working to confuse the public about the urgency of the growing climate crisis. With unprecedented access to thought leaders around the world, DiCaprio searches for hope in a rising tide of catastrophic news.” This description came from the film’s website, and it is one of my favorite films about climate change. It is sad at times, but DiCaprio tries to show how we can push for change, which we must do immediately. This film is beautiful, well-researched, and thoughtfully produced.
Revolution
Directed by Rob Stewart
This film, released as a follow-up to Sharkwater, first focused on ocean acidification but transitioned to the climate change crisis. From the film’s website: “Discovering that it’s not just sharks that are in jeopardy – but us – Stewart looks to the evolution of life and past revolutions in order to uncover the secrets necessary to save our world. Joining the activists and youth fighting to save their future, Stewart’s journey of hope is startling, beautiful and provocative, revealing this crisis as an opportunity for everyone to become a hero.” Stewart featured a lot of beautiful footage of wildlife, both on land and in the ocean. This has a great message and is worth watching and sharing!
Chasing Ice
directed by Jeff Orlowski-Yang
From IMDB: “Follow National Geographic photographer James Balog across the Arctic as he deploys time-lapse cameras designed for one purpose: to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers.” This film provides the best photographic presentation of climate change – it’s a must watch!
Paris to Pittsburgh
directed by Sidney Beaumont and Michael Bonfiglio
From IMDB: “As the weather grows more deadly and destructive, Americans are demanding solutions to climate change — and they aren’t waiting on Washington to act.” This was produced in 2018, and the problems have only grown. They need to make a Part 2 to this documentary.
The Territory
This film is a little sad but very important to know about. From National Geographic: “The Territory provides an immersive on-the-ground look at the tireless fight of the Indigenous Uru-eu-wau-wau people against the encroaching deforestation brought by farmers and illegal settlers in the Brazilian Amazon. With awe-inspiring cinematography showcasing the titular landscape and richly textured sound design, the film takes audiences deep into the Uru-eu-wau-wau community and provides unprecedented access to the farmers and settlers illegally burning and clearing the protected Indigenous land. Partially shot by the Uru-eu-wau-wau people, the film relies on vérité footage captured over three years as the community risks their lives to set up their own news media team in the hopes of exposing the truth.”
An Inconvenient Truth
This powerful film is based on Al Gore’s research and campaign to educate people about global warming.
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
From IMDB: “A sequel to The Inconvenient Truth, the follow-up documentary addresses the progress made to tackle the problem of climate change and Al Gore’s global efforts to persuade governmental leaders to invest in renewable energy, culminating in the landmark signing of 2016’s Paris Climate Agreement.”
The Ocean
Ocean with David Attenborough
A beautifully filmed documentary, Attenborough explores the planet’s oceans, revealing problems with pollution and overfishing. He emphasizes the ocean’s vital importance and highlights opportunities for marine life recovery.
Sea of Hope: America’s Underwater Treasures
This inspirational film features oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry, and author/historian Maxwell Kennedy. The film explains how plastic pollution and climate change are harming our oceans and marine life. Dr. Earle succeeded in getting the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument expanded under President Obama. They take a team of young environmentalists around American marine life hotspots to show them the hidden ecosystems that support life. Their goal is to encourage people to protect these areas and create more nationally protected ocean and reef areas.
Blue Planet I
Narrated by Sir David Attenborough
Blue Planet II
Narrated by Sir David Attenborough
This second series addressed plastic pollution in such an articulate way that it caused a reaction from consumers. Well done, BBC and Sir David Attenborough!
Trash & Waste
Wall-E
This is a great children’s movie that adults will enjoy watching too. There are messages of hope and love mixed with warnings about our pollution habits. Read my full review!
The Story of Stuff Project
This short documentary is 10 years old but still as relevant today as it was then. It is informative and engaging and shareable! The Story of Stuff Project continues to release short documentaries about the waste crisis.
Buy Now! The Shopping Conspiracy
This is a fascinating documentary! From Netflix: “This subversive documentary unpacks the tricks brands use to keep their customers consuming — and the real impact they have on our lives and the world.” It covers the massive amounts of waste that our consumerism causes.
Zero-Waste
No Impact Man
This documentary shows how one family strives to have zero environmental impact for one year while living, working, and raising a family in New York City. The book is fantastic too!
Minimalism
Minimalism: a Documentary About the Important Things
If you follow my blog then you’ve probably read my article about Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, “The Minimalists.” Read my full review of this film!
Health
The Earthing Movie
This documentary explains the science behind the idea of ‘grounding’ to the Earth to keep our bodies and minds healthy. We can do this by being barefoot outdoors, or by using grounding materials that connect us to the ground.
Overload: America’s Toxic Love Story
directed by Soozie Eastman
This is an important film about the chemicals in our bodies from everyday products and items. From Amazon: “Before starting a family, filmmaker Soozie Eastman embarks on a journey to find out the levels of toxins in her body and explores if there’s anything she or anyone else can do to change them. With guidance from world-renowned physicians, scientists and environmental leaders, Soozie uncovers how we got to be so overloaded with chemicals – and if there’s anything we can do to control our exposure.”
Water Conservation
Brave Blue World: Racing to Solve Our Water Crisis
We all need water to survive. The freshwater on our planet is limited, but lots of our water is wasted. Some of it is polluted. This film focuses on solutions to protecting water, recycling water, and solving the global water crisis. Fascinating!
Parched
This three-episode series explores the growing crisis of water scarcity, driven by population growth and climate change. As freshwater becomes increasingly limited, conflicts over access to this vital resource are becoming more likely.
Endangered Species
Extinction: The Facts
Presented by Sir David Attenborough
This documentary was moving and devastating at times, but extremely well done and informative. From PBS’s film page: “The huge variety of life on earth, known as biodiversity, is being lost at a rate never seen before in human history. This means 1 million species are at risk of extinction. This is a crisis not just for the natural world but for every one of us. It threatens food and water security, undermines our ability to control our climate and even puts us at greater risk of pandemic diseases.” I highly recommend this film.
Racing Extinction
by the Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS)
From OPS: “Exposing the hidden world of wildlife crime: Infiltrating the world’s most dangerous black markets, a covert team unmasks the dark world of wildlife trafficking, a lucrative and organized enterprise with links to criminal syndicates. Using high-tech tactics, OPS reveals never-before-seen images that will forever change the way we see the world, bringing a voice to the thousands of species teetering on the brink of survival.”1 I found this film quite informative, though depressing, until the end when they infuse the audience with hope.
Endangered
This documentary, narrated and executive produced by Ellen DeGeneres, follows conservationists working to save seven different endangered species from the brink of extinction. The film gave me a lot of hope because it shows many scientists and conservationists working hard to preserve every species around the world. Lots of people care!
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
Sir David Attenborough recounts his life, career, and adventures in the wild while filming. This Netflix film captures the evolutionary history of life on Earth, and the loss of wild places, and offers a vision for the future. The film is largely based on Attenborough’s book of the same title.
Rare: Creatures of the Photo Ark
This three-part documentary series is about the Photo Ark, a project created by Joel Sartore to photo-document the Earth’s creatures before we lose them to extinction. Read my article about Joel Sartore.
Polar Bear, Disneynature
directed by Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson
From Disney: “Narrated by two-time Academy Award® nominee Catherine Keener, Disneynature’s “Polar Bear” tells the story of a new mother whose memories of her own youth prepare her to navigate motherhood in the increasingly challenging world that polar bears face today,” addressing climate change and its effect on Arctic life.
March of the Penguins
Directed by Luc Jacquet
Narrated by Morgan Freeman, this documentary is beautifully filmed. From the producer: “This documentary chronicles the heroic and harrowing journey that emperor penguins make amid subfreezing temperatures and violent snowstorms at the South Pole in order to mate.” Emperor penguins are listed as Near Threatened.
March of the Penguins2:The Next Step
Directed by Luc Jacquet
Again narrated by Morgan Freeman, this sequel is also beautifully filmed. From Hulu: “March of the Penguins 2, tells the story of two penguins, as they face the unimaginable challenges of life in this hostile land.”
When Whales Walked: Journeys in Deep Time
Though technically a documentary about evolution, it also addresses how humans are making today’s species endangered after having developed and survived for millions of years. This is such a fascinating scientific film!
Marine Life
Secrets of the Whales
Narrated by Sigourney Weaver, this series was exquisitely and beautifully filmed over 3 years by National Geographic. The executive producer was James Cameron, who was briefly interviewed at the end of each part. National Geographic photographer Brian Skerry visited 24 locations to learn and teach us about 5 different species of whales. Whales exhibit a range of emotions including love, compassion, and grief. They are more like us than we know, and there’s still much to learn about them. This is the best series available about whales in the wild, and I can’t say enough good things about it!
The Cove
This Academy Award-winning film heightened public awareness of the global problems surrounding dolphin captivity. From the Oceanic Preservation Society: “A team of activists, filmmakers, and freedivers embark on a covert mission to expose a deadly secret hidden in a remote cove in Taiji, Japan. By utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, they uncover a horrible annual tradition of unparalleled cruelty. A provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure, and arresting imagery make this an unforgettable and courageous story that inspires outrage and action.” I appreciate this film and think it offers valuable insight, but it was difficult to watch at times due to the graphic nature of the content. The team of people was amazing and they risked their lives at times to capture the footage and expose the mass murders of dolphins.
Secrets of the Octopus
Octopuses are highly intelligent creatures that use tools, act as mimics, and are more socialable than scientists previously knew. This short series is beautifully filmed in different regions of the world, educational, and totally fascinating.
Chasing Coral
This film was moving and emotional, as well as beautiful with its high-quality filmography. From the film’s website: “Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an unprecedented rate. A team of divers, photographers and scientists set out on a thrilling ocean adventure to discover why and to reveal the underwater mystery to the world.” I feel this is a must-watch for anyone researching or learning about the state of coral reefs everywhere.
To The Orcas, With Love
A filmmaker’s relationship with orcas inspires her to restore a loving relationship with herself and this remarkable planet.” This documentary was filmed in British Columbia featuring the resident orcas that live there. It addresses the environmental challenges and presents stories about our connection with the natural world and with orcas. The film interviews environmentalist and CBC Broadcaster, David Suzuki, whale researchers Alexandra Morton and Paul Spong, totem carver Wayne Alfred, and lifelong resident of the Broughton archipelago Billy Proctor. The film was inspired by filmmaker and environmentalist Rob Stewart. “What we do to nature, we do to ourselves.”
My Octopus Teacher
This film was moving and featured fascinating footage. It documented the daily dives of Craig Foster, who befriended an octopus. He filmed the life of this octopus over one year, and in the film described what he learned from her. From the film’s website: “This beautiful record of an animal’s entire life—something seldom achieved in the wild, let alone underwater—was shot over a full year and explores the habits and personality of a strange, undulating creature that most of us have only ever eaten. Beyond intelligent, dextrous, and resilient, the cephalopod shares her secret world with Foster as they develop a touching bond.” I cried at the end of this film but loved it immensely.
Disneynature Sea Lions of the Galapagos
This film dives underwater with Leo, a sea lion pup who’s learning how to navigate life. It follows him through into his adulthood. Beautifully filmed in the Galapagos, this film shows sea lions like you’ve never seen them before.
Disneynature Guardians of the Galapagos
This film is a behind-the-scenes documentary that follows the crew of Sea Lions of the Galápagos. It is also an overview of one of the most biologically interesting places on the planet.
Giants of the Deep Blue
This is a beautiful film featuring many types of whales as well as narwhals. Extraordinary footage with sound so we can listen to these amazing creatures. The film explains some of their social behaviors and hunting strategies.
Disneynature Oceans
Though from 2009, this film features some of the most beautiful footage. It also presents marine creatures that I’d never seen or heard of before. From IMDB: “An ecological drama/documentary, filmed throughout the globe. Part thriller, part meditation on the vanishing wonders of the sub-aquatic world.” This is a must-see!
Entangled
Film by David Abel and Andy Laub
This film covers the story of the now-endangered right whales. From the film’s website: “Entangled chronicles the efforts to protect North Atlantic right whales from extinction, the impacts of those efforts on the lobster industry, and how the National Marine Fisheries Service has struggled to balance the vying interests.” The lobster industry uses lines that the whales become entangled in, so much so that the population has been reduced to about 336 right whales. Environmentalists want to save the whales. But the lobster industry provides livelihoods to thousands of people and needs to protect itself. Government agencies, such as NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) try to come up with solutions to protect everyone. This film presents all perspectives. However, we are running out of time to save the whales. They will go extinct in the coming two or three decades if nothing changes.
Fin
Director Eli Roth; Executive Producer Leonardo DiCaprio
Though they did not mention Rob Stewart in the film, I feel like it builds upon Stewart’s work. Director Eli Roth explores shark finning and the fishing industry in depth. The fishing industry kills around 100 million sharks per day for their fins but also sell as “fish” under other names including Catfish, Dogfish, Whitefish, Rock Salmon, and many others.2
Director Eli Roth wrote, “Sharks are the doctors of the ocean. They eat the sick and dying fish. Without these APEX predators to maintain, balance, the ocean will fall into anarchy and affect us all.”3
This film is expertly edited with beautiful filmography and it is a must-see!
Sharkwater
Directed by Rob Stewart
Rob Stewart, a biologist and photographer, loved sharks and wanted to show people how important and how harmless they are to people. He debunked stereotypes and media depictions of sharks. But he also exposed the shark finning industry that is killing 150 million sharks per year, throwing our oceans out of balance. From sharkwater.com: This “film brought the devastating issue of shark finning used in shark fin soup to the world stage. His multi-award-winning film changed laws and public policy worldwide, created hundreds of conservation groups. Today more than 90 countries have banned shark finning or the trade of shark products. Even so, Stewart finds sharks are still being fished to extinction.”
Sharkwater Extinction
Directed by Rob Stewart
This sequel is beautiful, informative, sad, and even brutal at times. I enjoyed it more than Sharkwater, probably because of my deep respect for Stewart and his work in his first film. He was a true advocate and conservationist. Though his first film spawned laws and policies across the world concerning shark-fishing and shark-finning, the practice continues as it is a multi-billion-dollar industry. From sharkwater.com: This film “is a thrilling and inspiring action-packed journey that follows filmmaker Rob Stewart as he exposes the massive illegal shark fin industry and the political corruption behind it — a conspiracy that is leading to the extinction of sharks.” Sadly, Stewart died while diving off of the Florida Keys while making this film, under somewhat suspicious circumstances.
The Whale
This documentary is about Luna, the orca who permanently lost contact with his family at a young age, near the coast of British Columbia. He tried to make friendships with humans in the absence of other killer whales and became famous but controversial. Humans struggled to determine whether or not human contact was good for Luna. It seems that many understood the beauty and power of two very different species forming friendships. This film is heart-warming and inspiring.
Animal Captivity Issues
Blackfish
This is the true story of Tilikum, the famous orca that killed a trainer at SeaWorld and died in captivity. More than that, it is an overview of orcas’ natural behaviors, intelligence, and emotions. The film explores how these whales are captured, trained, and exploited. Many former trainers were interviewed for the film, although SeaWorld declined requests for interviews. SeaWorld has not taken responsibility for its treatment of these beautiful animals but ended its orca breeding program, and then ended its orca theatrical program in recent years. They do still offer an orca encounter and allege that they provide the animals with the best care available. This film left an impression on me that I just can’t shake. Read my series about Orcas in Captivity, which was inspired by this film.
Long Gone Wild
This was an excellent documentary that would be a great film to pair with Blackfish. Here’s the summary from IMDB: “Despite key concessions by SeaWorld, its orcas are still performing every day, and in Eastern Russia the magnificent killer whale is hunted for sale into the exploding marine theme park industry in China. Witness an in-depth look at the case against captivity, The Whale Sanctuary Project, and covert missions on the high seas and in search of nine orcas held captive at a secret Chinese location.” I highly recommend this film!
The Walrus and the Whistleblower
Phil Demers had his dream job as a trainer at Marineland, the marine amusement park in Niagara Falls. For over a decade, he trained seals and walruses and even swam with killer whales. He was especially close to a walrus named Smooshi. Over time, Demers recognized the abuse and mistreatment of the animals at Marineland and called for change. The park did not make changes so he quit and became a whistleblower and now calls for an end to the 60-year-old practice of keeping marine mammals in small pools and tanks and requiring them to perform for audiences.
A Fall From Freedom
This Discovery Channel comprehensive documentary film is about the history of dolphins, orcas, belugas, seals, and other marine mammals living in captivity. It explained how these animals were captured, bred, and treated by the various aquariums and theme parks across the world. It was well-researched and featured interviews with the world’s top dolphin, whale, and marine mammal experts. While parts of the film appear dated, the information is still relevant and important. I found this film enlightening, educational, and heartbreaking at times.
Lolita: Slave to Entertainment
directed by Timothy Gorski
Though this film is from 2003, this documentary reveals the problems of keeping orcas and whales in captivity. This film is specifically about Lolita/Tokitae, who lived in a deteriorating tank in Miami, Florida, at the Miami Seaquarium. Sadly, we lost Lolita/Tokitae in 2023 to renal disease and pneumonia. She was very close to being relocated to her native ocean in the Pacific Northwest.
Keiko: The Untold Story of the Star of Free Willy
This is a happier story than Blackfish, as Keiko was the only captive orca ever to have been set free. The Free Willy movie series started a movement to free Keiko. However, Keiko had to have human involvement while free for the remainder of his life, as he had become reliant on humans for social interactions. It’s a moving, true story about a beautiful movie star and worth watching! Read my article about what they learned from Keiko.
True Stories About Animals
Billy & Molly: An Otter Love Story
Directed by Charlie Hamilton James
From IMDB: “When a wild otter in desperate need of help washes up on his jetty in the remote Shetland Islands, Billy, his wife Susan, and their devoted sheepdog Jade accept a unique new member into their family. Billy is at a crossroads when he meets the otter he later names Molly…She fills a need in him that he didn’t realize he had…Billy and Molly: An Otter Love Story is a breathtakingly beautiful documentary, brimming with wonder, curiosity and joy, that shows how love can reawaken us to the power of acceptance (of ourselves and others) and the perfection of nature and life itself.” I loved this film!
One Lucky Elephant
Filmed over 10 years, this film documents the journey of an elephant named Flora. Circusmaster David Balding adopted Flora when she was a baby after her mother was killed in front of her and she was shipped to the United States. Flora was the star of Circus Flora for more than 16 years, when Balding realized and took responsibility for having made mistakes by having Flora as a sole, captive, performing elephant. He wanted to retire her and the journey to finding a place for her to go encompasses the film. Flora eventually moved to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, where she still resides today. The film features interviews with Balding, his wife, circus staff, and Elephant Sanctuary co-founder Carol Buckley.
Leaders
Jane Goodall: The Hope
This film focuses on Dr. Jane Goodall’s transformation from a scientist to an activist and global speaker. She is determined to spread hope especially through young people and indigenous populations, believing that if you show people why they should care, they will. Her message to everyone is that one person does make a difference, even if it’s small, so never be hopeless. We can all bring forth change. This film inspired me so much that it brought me to tears.
Jane
This National Geographic film features exclusive, restored footage of Dr. Jane Goodall that was previously thought to have been lost. It is a close and intimate view of her work, the chimpanzee culture, and her relationships.
The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind
Directed by Chiwetel Ejiofor
Based on a true story, a 13-year-old boy named William Kamkwamba built a wind turbine to save his Malawian village from famine. This is a beautiful, inspirational, and moving film.
Dian Fossey: Secrets in the Mist
This is a documentary about Dian Fossey, the scientist who fought to protect the vanishing African mountain gorillas in Rwanda in the 1970s and 1980s. She was found brutally murdered in 1985. Her case remains unsolved.
We Feed People
Directed by Ron Howard
This film features Chef José Andrés, a renowned chef who started the non-profit, World Central Kitchen. The film covers the organization’s evolution over 12 years. Their mission is to be the “first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.” The World Central Kitchen has created a new model for disaster relief and has become one of the most highly regarded humanitarian aid organizations in the disaster relief sector. This film is very inspiring!
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring: American Experience
This PBS documentary was released in 1993, so while it is a bit dated it offers interviews with people who knew Carson. The film also shows original footage of DDT and other pesticide treatments being sprayed over farmlands, neighborhoods, forests, and even children. Original footage and photographs of Carson are featured as well. I read the book first, but I enjoyed this film because it provided a set of visuals to enrich my understanding of her, her writing, and the people and companies who rallied for and against her.
I Am Greta
From Hulu: “The story of teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is told through compelling, never-before-seen footage in this intimate documentary from Swedish director Nathan Grossman. Starting with her one-person school strike for climate action outside the Swedish Parliament, Grossman follows Greta—a shy student with Asperger’s—in her rise to prominence and her galvanizing global impact as she sparks school strikes around the world. The film culminates with her extraordinary wind-powered voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to speak at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York City.”
Watson
Captain Paul Watson was the cofounder of Greenpeace and founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. This film tells the story of his life, but more importantly, it showcases the amount of change, influence, and impact that one person can have by standing up for their beliefs. Watson has fought for conservation and the end of illegal fishing and illegal activity in the oceans for more than 50 years. FYI, though rated PG, it does have a few scenes where people physically hurt animals, and it was included simply because of the nature of Watson’s work. This is an excellent film and I do recommend it!
Food
Eating Animals
Based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s book of the same title, this film offers a visual insight into the book’s original research. It features interviews with farmers who work for major producers such as Perdue Poultry, shows footage of slaughterhouses, and the ethics of animal factory farming. I recommend reading the book first and then viewing the film.
Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food
This film highlights the danger caused by foodborne pathogens and systemic problems that create the perfect situations for them to spread. Every year, food poisoning kills thousands of people in the U.S. This documentary was based on a book by Jeff Benedict.
Fed Up
Directed by Stephanie Soechtig and narrated by Katie Couric
This film is a must-watch! It reveals that everything we think we know about food, exercise, and weight loss is wrong. The real culprit is that we are eating the wrong things because processed foods are full of ingredients that are bad for our health, especially sugar. The food industry and the U.S. government have collaborated through financial transactions and greed. They have misled and confused Americans about nutrition. But these problems have now become global as American food culture spreads worldwide.
Cooked
Created by Alex Gibney and Michael Pollan
From Netflix: “As he tries his hand at baking, brewing and braising, acclaimed food writer Michael Pollan explores how cooking transforms food and shapes our world.”
The Biggest Little Farm
From the producers: “The Biggest Little Farmchronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature’s conflicts, the Chesters unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination. Featuring breathtaking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature’s call, The Biggest Little Farm provides us all a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet.” I really enjoyed this film and hope more start practicing traditional farming.
Fossil Fuels & Fracking
Gasland
This film is about fracking and the natural gas industry. Description from their website: “The largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history has swept across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of “fracking” or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a “Saudia Arabia of natural gas” just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND. Part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown.” This film is a must-see!
Gasland II
This film “is a provocative follow-up to filmmaker Josh Fox’s award-winning feature debut Gasland. The new film continues to explore the controversial method of extracting natural gas and oil known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, arguing how dangerous the process is, and how pervasive the gas industry’s influence on public policy has become…Gasland Part II pierces prevailing myths by arguing how and why fracked wells leak over time, contaminating water and air, hurting families, and endangering the Earth’s climate with methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. It also sheds light on the global consequences of fracking, as more and more countries are following the U.S.’s lead in drilling for gas.” I also consider this film a must-see, as it was eye-opening.
Profit, Pollution And Deception: BP and The Oil Spill
This documentary addresses the deception of the BP Oil spill from the failure of the Deepwater Horizon. The company spent countless dollars and efforts trying to make it look like they addressed the spill appropriately. Unfortunately, they didn’t take the right actions and the scandal still scars the Gulf of Mexico.
After The Spill
Produced 6 years after the spill, this film looks at BP’s response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster and the effects on the Gulf of Mexico. BP and other petroleum companies consistently violate environmental laws and regulations and the federal government does not enforce those laws. BP’s ‘clean-up efforts’ were more for public relations than actual environmental care, as they still refuse to assist coastal areas destroyed by the spill. They also refuse to assist with healthcare needs after exposing people to toxic materials that caused illnesses. The Gulf of Mexico is still suffering from BP’s oil spill, the petroleum industry’s activities, and coastal erosion. It will be years before we know the full ramifications of BP’s irresponsibility.
Oil Spill of the Century
This National Geographic film covers the 1978 Amoco Cadiz oil spill off the coast of Brittany, France. It was the most damaging oil spill of the 20th century, even more so than the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. The tanker broke apart and dumped 220,000 metric tons of oil into the water and surrounding environment. The documentary covers changes in cargo transportation in the years since and touches on plastic pollution in the ocean at the end.
Pretty Slick
Film by James Fox
If you’re learning about the BP Oil Spill/Deepwater Horizon incident, you must watch this film. From IMDB: “Pretty Slick visits locals across four Gulf states documenting the largest man-made environmental disaster in U.S. history. Director Fox investigates the cleanup effort and conducts his own independent water tests to determine toxicity levels. The results show that public safety takes a backseat to a tourist-based economy and the symbiosis between big oil and government becomes clear.”
Toxic Chemicals
RiverBlue
directed by David McIlvride and Roger Williams
From the producers: “RiverBlue discovers the toxic side effects of textile production and jean manufacturing on some of the world’s largest rivers. Traveling from tanneries along rivers in India, to some of the largest jean manufacturing factories in China, renowned river advocate, Mark Angelo, guides us through the declining health of these important waterways.” Narrated by Jason Priestly.
The Monsanto Papers
Another eye-opening film, directly related to the yards we treat and the food we eat. But the chemicals used are not safe for humans or the environment. “Glyphosate, more commonly known as Roundup®, is the most widely used herbicide on the planet. It’s also the central cash cow for the agrochemical giant Monsanto. Undeniably effective in controlling the growth of crop-destroying weeds, the chemical is also the main culprit in a series of suspected risks to humans, animals and the environment in general. The Monsanto Papers outlines these dangers, and the devious tactics employed by the company to evade responsibility.”
Dark Waters
This is the dramatized true story of a corporate defense attorney who takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company, DuPont, that exposes a lengthy history of pollution.
What Lies Upstream
Directed by Cullen Hoback
From IMDB: “In this scandalous political thriller, an investigation into a chemical spill spirals into an indictment of the entire system meant to protect drinking water, revealing cover-ups at the highest levels of government.” This is an eye-opening documentary about the chemicals companies dispose of into our waterways.
Semper Fi: Always Faithful
From the filmmaker: “Marine Corps Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger was a devoted Marine for nearly twenty-five years…When Jerry’s nine-year-old daughter Janey died of a rare type of leukemia, his world collapsed. As a grief-stricken father, he struggled for years to make sense of what happened. His search for answers led to the shocking discovery of a Marine Corps cover-up of one of the largest water contamination incidents in U.S. history. Semper Fi: Always Faithful follows Jerry’s mission to expose the Marine Corps and force them to live up to their motto to the thousands of soldiers and their families exposed to toxic chemicals. His fight reveals a grave injustice at North Carolina’s Camp Lejeune and a looming environmental crisis at military sites across the country.”
Tar Creek
directed by Matt Myers
From Amazon: “This is the story of the worst environmental disaster you’ve never heard of: the Tar Creek Superfund site. Once one of the largest lead and zinc mines on Earth, Tar Creek is now home to over 40 square miles of environmental devastation in northeastern Oklahoma.” It still affects many people who live or lived there.
Erin Brockovich
This is the dramatized true story about an unemployed single mother who becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down California power company, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, who polluted a city’s water supply and poisoned dozens of people.
Sustainability
Down To Earth with Zac Efron (and Darin Olien)
This is a great show about sustainability, renewable energy practices, and indigenous Earth practices around the world. It features Superlife author Darin Olien and actor Zac Efron. The show has sadly been discontinued, but the two existing seasons are inspiring.
Tomorrow
This is a fascinating documentary film about problems and the possibilities surrounding sustainability. It covers topics including agriculture, economics, energy, and education. “It offers constructive solutions to act on a local level to make a difference on a global level.”
Natural and Climate Disasters
Witness to Disaster
This National Geographic documentary chronicles 6 major natural disasters. From the producers: “Eyewitness; compelling stories of disaster, told through the eyes of those who were there. A Mine Collapses in Chile, Wildfires burn in Portugal, A Debris Flow crushes a Californian town, Tornadoes rampage across the US, a Ship Sinks in a hurricane, and an Earthquake brings destruction to Nepal. Through forensic analysis, we reveal how these events unfolded.”
Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time
From Hulu: “A gripping historical record of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, this five-part series transports viewers into the chaos that engulfed New Orleans in the days leading up to and following the storm’s landfall. With archival footage and moment-by-moment accounts from residents, first responders and officials, the series exposes how a natural disaster became a national tragedy.” This is an excellent documentary series.
Katrina: Come Hell and High Water
From Netflix: “Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, survivors reflect on the disastrous storm that forever changed their lives and the systemic inequities it exposed.” This film also uses archival footage and firsthand accounts from those who were there. Excellent series.
Tsunami: Race Against Time
This is a comprehensive four-part series about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. From National Geographic: This film “provides a 360-degree view into the heart-stopping events of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami…features personal accounts from survivors, scientists who raced against time to understand the catastrophic disaster and warn the world, journalists who broke the shocking news, and the fearless rescuers who risked their lives to save others.”
Rebuilding Paradise
directed by Ron Howard
In November 2018, a devastating firestorm, known as the Camp Fire, engulfed the city of Paradise, California. It killed 85 people, displaced 50,000 residents, and destroyed 95% of structures. From National Geographic: “It was the worst and deadliest U.S. fire in 100 years — and the worst ever in California’s history. REBUILDING PARADISE…is a moving story of resilience in the face of tragedy, as a community ravaged by disaster comes together to recover what was lost and begin the important task of rebuilding.” Ultimately, they found energy giant Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) at least partially responsible for the fire’s spread.
Footnotes:
Page, Racing Extinction film page, Oceanic Preservation Society, accessed April 21, 2025. ↩︎
