The year 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, an annual celebration that takes place on April 22 that brings millions of activists together to support protecting our planet and the people who live on it. As Earth month approaches, we know that the challenges we face in solving climate change are enormous.
But there is good news: The vast majority of Americans (78%) rank protecting the environment and tackling climate change as a top priority, according to a new report from Pew Research Center.
All across the country, and right here in Georgia, many of us want to see progress made on environmental issues. Still, many of us aren’t quite sure what it will take to solve our climate crises. It’s bigger than just switching to LED light bulbs. The environment is a BIG topic, touching everything from the food we eat, to where and how we live, where we get our water and energy, and even how we get around.
Luckily, for the past few decades, many passionate people have come together to produce beautiful and moving films about the environment. These films help educate us about the beauty of our world, what’s at stake, and what each of us can do about it.
From films that highlight the beauty of the natural world to those that explore the complicated connections between humans and nature, these films help inspire, motivate, and empower environmentalists at times when they may feel helpless and burnt out.
In honor of 50 years of Earth Day, here are 50 environmental movies to add to your watchlist:
TV Series
Documentaries
- A Fierce Green Battle: The Battle For a Living Planet (2012)
- A Plastic Ocean (2016)
- The Age of Consequences (2016)
- An Inconvenient Truth (2006) and An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (2017)
- Disobedience (2016)
- Earth Days (2009)
- Evolution of Organic (2016)
- Broken (2019)
- Chasing Coral (2017)
- Cowspiracy (2014)
- Food Inc. (2008)
- Forget Shorter Showers (2015)
- The Future of Energy: Lateral Power to the People (2016)
- The Game Changers (2019)
- How to Change the World
- The Islands and the Whales (2016)
- Koyaanisqatsi (1982)
- Made in Cambodia (2017)
- The Memory of Fish (2016)
- Mission Blue (2014)
- Minimalism (2016)
- Planet Earth (2006)
- Rancher Farmer Fisherman (2017)
- The Story of Stuff (2009)
- Terra (2015)
- The True Cost (2015)
- The Universe (2007)
- Winged Migration (2001)
Inspired by Real Life
Epic Science-Fiction Action Movies
- 2012 (2009)
- Avatar (2009)
- The China Syndrome (1979)
- Chinatown (1974)
- The Day after Tomorrow (2004)
- Soylent Green (1973)
- Waterworld (1995)
If you have kids (or if you’re just a kid at heart)
- Bambi (1942)
- Chicken Run (2000)
- Disney Nature: Oceans (2010)
- Dr. Seuss: The Lorax (2012)
- FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992)
- Finding Nemo (2003)
- Free Willy (1993)
- Happy Feet (2006)
- Hoot (2006)
- Over the Hedge (2006)
- Rio (2011)
- Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
- WALL-E (2008)
Looking for even more suggestions? Check out this epic list of movies, short films, and tv series from Wikipedia.