10 Recommended Eco Films and Documentaries

 

Want to learn about the beauty of our world, our damage to our planet and what you can do to help? Or do you want an easy watch to relax or put in the background? Here are my 10 recommended eco films and documentaries, that provide a mix of information, relaxation and even comedy.

Learning about our world and educating ourselves on climate change doesn't have to be boring and overwhelming. There is so much content out there for you to watch, no reading or effort needed. Ignore the myth of documentaries and educational films being boring. They're not! You might just be watching the wrong ones. The ones I have picked are very eye opening and had me invested. So if you want to learn more about our world, definitely give these a try.

Comment your thoughts on these picks and any of your own recommendations, I'd love to hear them! 

Netflix:

1. David Attenborough- A Life On Our Planet

David Attenborough has a lot of great options to choose from and I struggled to pick just one. This one is a 1hour 23 minute film about humanity's impact on the world. Who better to tell us what damage we are doing than David Attenborough himself? This film is a great way to educate yourself on our negative impact on the planet. It really shocked me and opened my eyes to a lot. David Attenborough also calls us to action and highlights ways we can help this crisis we in. If you want to make a difference and start making change, watching this is a good start. The Science Of Our Planet is also a great watch if you like this one, it shows the science behind our planet and climate change.

2. Our Planet

This one is a documentary series and has 8 episodes, each 50 minutes long. I've chosen this one as it is a fascinating watch. You get to see all the different wonders of our planet and get the opportunity to admire all our Earth has to offer. I was really fascinated by how some of the animals live and the dangers they face. You will find yourself at the edge of your seat at times. He has other series similar to this that you can watch if you like this one for instance Blue Planet and Green Planet. All good choices. I chose Our Planet as it has a bit of everything and you can learn about lots of different animals and creatures. It is also great background TV!

3. Seaspiracy

Now this one is a MUST watch. This went viral about a year ago and I did not expect to hear and see what I did when watching this. This is a 1 hour and a half long film about the fishing industry. Now to some this may sound boring, but it was anything but that! This film gives you an insight of what really goes on in the fishing industry and what is in the fish we eat. You will be shocked at what you see, this one will not disappoint. It broke my heart seeing what these animals go through and I was disgusted on how bad the practices are and how damaging they are to our world.

4. Cowspiracy

Now this one is on my 'to watch' list. I added it as it was recommended to me by a few people and if it is anything like Seaspiracy then I definitely want to watch it. Cowspiracy explores the impact of the animal and agriculture industry on our planet. It challenges why some of the biggest organisations are ignoring these issues and uncovers truths about the destructive industry. This film is a great way to inspire the environmental movement and it is only 1 hour 30 minutes long.

5. Blackfish

This one has to be in my top 3 of MUST WATCHES. This documentary is so heart-breaking. It is only 1 hour 30 and it is a very shocking story. This documentary tells the story of a trainer, Dawn Brancheau, who is killed by an orca at Sea World and it provides the backstory of the conditions the orcas are kept in and what lead to this attack and the lies spread to cover it up. It is so sad to see these whales captured and kept in captivity. It is definitely worth the watch as it reveals the lies Sea World feed us and opens your eyes to the terrible truths of the entertainment we normalise and enjoy. This still happens today and we need to stop it. Watching this is a great start to realising what is going on behind doors and how desperately these animals need our help. If you are interested, sign this petition to shut down Sea World, once you watch BlackFish you will realise why this is needed. SIGN HERE

6. My Octopus Teacher

This one is a bit out of the ordinary however I was pleasantly surprised when I watched it. It is a 1 hour 25 minute film about a filmmakers experience diving in a kelp forest and meeting this octopus he gets attached to. The whole film follows this octopus' life journey and as mundane as this may seem to some people, I found it really enjoyable watching this man learn more about this animal and create a connection over time. I felt I was getting more attached to the octopus as the film went on and I was really fascinated learning about its life and characteristics. This film is not your typical environment awareness film, however it gives you an appreciation of the creatures on our planet and hopefully it will give you the empathy and drive to look after our world and preserve these amazing creatures.

7. The Game Changers

This documentary is slightly different to the others. This one is good for those of you who are athletes, into fitness and nutrition or just want to be healthier. This film is 1 hour 52 minutes long about James Wilks who embarks on a journey to find out the truth about eating meat and what is the best source of protein and diet for building strength. When this was recommended to me, I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as it is unlike my usual watches but I was really fascinated at what I learnt and it was satisfying, looking at the success stories of these athletes. It has made me reflect on my diet and my health and motivated me to make changes to the food I eat. If you want to learn a great tip to healthy eating and also learn about the real damage meat can do to your body and the planet, give this a watch. You will be surprised as to what you learn. Even if you don't change your diet it is worth learning about the science of what you eat.

8. Bee Movie

This one may seem silly but I figured I'd include an easy watch that pleases all ages. It is enjoyable to watch and portrays a powerful message about bees and how important they are to our world. Considering bees are threatened, I think this film is so crucial to showing us why we need to protect them and do more to keep their species alive. Bee movie is only 1 hour 30minutes, funny, informative, touching and an all round easy watch. If you don't want something too heavy but want to remind yourself of the importance of bees, give this one a watch. I've watched it several times and it never gets old. If you want to SAVE THE BEES, sign this petition to stop the government re-introducing pesticides that are killing our bees: SIGN HERE

BBC I Player

9. Simon Astell: Carnage

If you don't want to watch anything serious or sad, this one is for you. Carnage is a mockumentary on BBC I Player. It is an overdramatised and exaggerated story of meat eating which is very comedic. It may seem ridiculous but that is what makes it so funny. Despite it being a comedy this mockumentary does portray a message about meat eating and our world, so it is a very easy and entertaining way to understand a vegan world.

Amazon:

10. Eating Our Way To Extinction

Last but not least, we have the 1hour 21 minute film narrated by Kate Winslet. It portrays the climate emergency we are in and gives more information on what is happening globally and how we are contributing to the end of the world. It also shows how we need to reflect on the food we eat and presents solutions we need to take on to save the world before it is too late. This is another great watch to start working towards making changes in your life, to help the planet.

If you want to start reflecting, and reducing your impact by making important changes in your life, start by watching these films and documentaries. They're an easy and entertaining way to learn about the scary reality we live in and what we can do about it.

Comment your thoughts and recommendations and please SHARE, to help build this community of people who want to Save Our Dying Planet.

Thank you