What can I say? Shedding light on the many real issues the world constantly faces today is the main reason for my stepping into the film industry in the first place. Over the years, I’ve honed my craft so that I can tell narratives that bring awareness to global issues that affect people in so many ways. Environmental films as a genre have played a crucial role in raising awareness about the critical issues that our planet currently faces. These films have helped to inspire, change, and challenge people’s perceptions of the natural world as well as and encourage individuals and governments to take action to protect the very environments they and their families call home. In this list we take a look at the top environmental films that changed the world upon their acclaimed release and continue to inspire such well needed conversations today.
- An Inconvenient Truth (2006)
“An Inconvenient Truth”, directed by Davis Guggenheim and featuring former US Vice President Al Gore, is perhaps one of the most well-known environmental non-fiction films from the mid-2000s. The film presents a compelling argument for climate change and its potentially catastrophic impact on the planet. It helped to raise awareness to the general public about the issue and played a significant role in shaping the global conversation about climate change.
- The Cove (2009)
Directed by Louie Psihoyos, “The Cove” is a really a powerful documentary that exposes the brutal practice of dolphin hunting off the coasts of Taiji, Japan. The film showcases the inhumane treatment of dolphins that you truly needed to see to understand and highlights the environmental impact of this practice on the marine ecosystem. This film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2010 and helped to bring attention to the issue of dolphin hunting worldwide.
- Blackfish (2013)
An Iconic picture that highlights animal cruelty in a new depths, 2013’s groundbreaking “Blackfish” is a documentary investigating the mistreatment of killer whales in captivity at SeaWorld. The film focuses on the story of Tilikum the orca held in captivity against his wishes and as a result was responsible for the deaths of three people. Written and Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, The film raised awareness about the cruelty of keeping marine mammals in captivity and successfully inspired a movement that led to changes in the way that these animals are treated.
- Chasing Ice (2012)
You can probably piece together what the 2012 film “Chasing Ice” is about. Directed by Jeff Orlowski-Yang and written by Mark Monroe, is a documentary that follows nature photographer James Balog as he captures images of melting glaciers in the Arctic. The film presents a visual representation of the impact of climate change on the environment and helped to raise awareness about the urgency of taking action to address the issue.
- Racing Extinction (2015)
A personal favorite of mine and one that showed me real influence could be achieved in film, “Racing Extinction, written by Mark Monroe and directed by Louie Psihoyos, follows activists as they show us the devastating impact of plastic pollution, farming and methane, shark finning, carbon emissions, and many more to emphasize the fact that there’s never just one single issue but a number of harmful procedures that are against the climate at large. The film showcases the impact of acknowledgement and spreading the message of change via projections from the help of superstars like Elon Musk and Leilani Munter in hopes that the people can grasp the severity of the near future they face. It’s a 10/10 in my book and a must watch for its information and pure heart and intentions.
- A Plastic Ocean (2016)
“A Plastic Ocean”, directed by Craig Leeson, is yet another documentary (there seems to be a trend) that touches on the ever looming dangers of plastic pollution on the world's oceans. The film showcases the impact of single-use plastics on marine life with micro plastics in the food-chain and raises awareness about the urgent need to address the issue of plastic pollutions.
Conclusion:
Environmental films have played a crucial role in raising awareness about the critical issues that our planet is facing. These films have inspired change, challenged perceptions, and encouraged individuals and governments to take action to protect the environment. The top environmental films that we have discussed in this article continue to inspire change today and remind us of the urgent need to protect our planet for future generations. By watching these films and supporting the efforts of environmental organizations, we can all do our part to create a more sustainable future.