Movies About Environmental Issues

From Yann Arthus-Bertrand, starring Yann Arthus-Bertrand, Glenn Close, Jacques Gamblin
Rated Not Rated

Home is a 2009 documentary film directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The film is a collection of aerial shots of various regions of the Earth, accompanied by narration written and spoken by Glenn Close and music composed by Armand Amar. The documentary covers issues such as global warming, the effects of humans on the planet, the relationship between humans and nature, and environmental awareness. The film portrays the beauty of the Earth and urges viewers to take action to protect it. Home also features interviews with scientists and activists, who discuss the current state of the environment and the potential consequences of human activities. Ultimately, the film aims to inspire viewers to understand the interconnectivity between humans, animals, and the environment, and to take a stand to protect the planet.

From Directors: Juliano Ribeiro Salgado, Wim Wenders, starring Sebastião Salgado, Wim Wenders, Lélia Wanick Salgado, Juliano Ribeiro Salgado
Rated PG-13

The Salt of the Earth is a 2014 documentary film directed by Juliano Ribeiro Salgado and Wim Wenders. The documentary follows the life and work of internationally renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado, the son of a Brazilian farmer and the grandson of a gold miner. The film takes viewers through Salgado’s career, starting with his first photos of his hometown in Brazil and working his way to the Amazon and then to Africa, documenting the lives of the people he encounters along the way. As he travels, Salgado reflects on his life, his work, and his love of nature. The film also examines the effects of globalization and exploitation of the planet's resources, as well as the importance of preserving the environment. Salgado’s travels bring him to some of the most remote places on the planet, and the images he captures reflect the stark contrast between the beauty of nature and the harsh realities of humankind’s impact on the environment. The film ultimately serves as a portrait of one man’s passion for life and nature, his tireless search for beauty and understanding, and his desire to share it with the world.

From Louie Psihoyos, starring Elon Musk, Joel Sartore, Louie Psihoyos, Charles Hambleton
Rated Not Rated

Racing Extinction is an award-winning documentary film directed by Louie Psihoyos and produced by the Oceanic Preservation Society. It explores the effects of human activity on the Earth's environment, particularly the mass extinction of species, and the efforts of a team of scientists and activists to combat it. The film documents the team’s undercover investigation of the illegal trade of endangered species, their exploration into the effects of climate change, and their efforts to bring awareness to the issue of species extinction. The film ultimately draws attention to the importance of taking action to protect the environment and species from further destruction.

From Directors: Cyril Dion, Mélanie Laurent, starring Anthony Barnosky, Olivier De Schutter, Cyril Dion, Emmanuel Druon
Rated G

Tomorrow is a documentary film released in 2015 that focuses on global environmental and social issues. Directed by Cyril Dion and Mélanie Laurent, the movie follows a team of four people, including Dion and Laurent, who travel around the world to explore how communities are finding solutions to the looming challenges of global climate change, poverty, and food shortages. The team visits 10 countries, including France, India, Denmark, and the United States, to learn how people are working to create a more sustainable future. Along the way, they meet with farmers, activists, scientists, and entrepreneurs who are taking action and developing innovative solutions. Through their journeys, the filmmakers hope to inspire viewers to be part of the solution and help create a better tomorrow.

From Nathan Grossman, starring Greta Thunberg, Svante Thunberg, Niclas Svenningsen, António Guterres
Rated TV-14

I Am Greta is a 2020 documentary film about Greta Thunberg, an environmental activist from Sweden who has become a global figure in the fight against climate change. The film follows Greta as she travels around the world attending various climate change events and rallies, meeting with world leaders and addressing the United Nations, and challenging the status quo. It also examines her personal life, giving viewers a deeper understanding of the individual behind the movement. Through interviews with Greta's family and friends, the film reveals her unique upbringing and the formative experiences that shaped her into the passionate activist she is today.

From Robert Kenner, starring Frederick Singer, Naomi Oreskes, Jamy Ian Swiss, Sam Roe
Rated PG-13

Merchants of Doubt is a 2014 documentary film directed by Robert Kenner that examines how public opinion on scientific matters is being manipulated by corporate interests. Through interviews with scientists, lobbyists, and political strategists on both sides of the debate, the film explores how the tobacco industry used the same tactics to deny the health risks of smoking and how those tactics have been applied to other issues such as global warming and nuclear energy. The film also looks at how, with the help of tactics such as confusion, disinformation, and doubt, corporate interests can keep the public in the dark about the truth and the consequences of their actions. Ultimately, the film argues that corporate interests use these tactics to protect their bottom line while the public pays the price.

From Cullen Hoback, starring Erin Brockovich-Ellis, Marc Edwards, Rahul Gupta, Mona Hanna-Attisha
Rated TV-14

What Lies Upstream is a 2017 documentary by director Cullen Hoback that examines the contamination of West Virginia’s drinking water supply, and the potential ramifications of this event for the entire United States. The film follows Hoback as he travels to West Virginia to investigate a mysterious chemical spill in the Elk River in 2014, which left 300,000 people without access to clean drinking water. Through interviews with officials and citizens, the documentary reveals a regulatory system that is underfunded and overwhelmed, leaving citizens in a state of perpetual risk. The film also delves into the broader forces at play, including the privatization of water, political corruption, and the legacy of industrial pollution in the region. In the end, What Lies Upstream serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of government neglect, corporate greed, and environmental destruction.

From Charles Ferguson, starring Oscar Isaac, Peter Agnefjall, Tasso Azevedo, Neal Barnard
Rated Not Rated

Time to Choose is a documentary film that examines the global crisis of climate change and the potential solutions available to combat its effects. Featuring interviews with leading experts from around the world, the film dives deeply into the science, economics, politics, and technology of climate change, exploring the immense consequences of inaction and the potential benefits of taking decisive action now. The film puts the human costs of climate change front and center, showing how communities around the world are already feeling its impacts, and how the situation could worsen if we don't act now. Ultimately, Time to Choose presents a compelling case for decisive action in order to save our planet and ourselves.

From Sandy McLeod, starring
Rated Not Rated

Seeds of Time is a documentary film released in 2013, directed by Sandy McLeod and narrated by actor Harrison Ford. The film follows the work of plant scientist Cary Fowler, who was the first to recognize the decline of the world's crop diversity. Fowler embarked on a mission to create a secure seed vault in Svalbard, Norway, in order to preserve and protect the world's seed heritage. Through interviews with farmers, scientists, and indigenous people, the film examines the importance of crop diversity and its implications for a sustainable future and the potential value of genetic diversity to farmers, the environment, and the world. The documentary shows how the planet's crop diversity is threatened worldwide, as well as the efforts being made to save it, and ultimately, ensure the future of our food supply.

From Jennifer Baichwal, starring Star: Edward Burtynsky
Rated Unrated

From Directors: Leila Conners, Nadia Conners, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Kenny Ausubel, Thom Hartmann, Wangari Maathai
Rated PG

From Mark Kitchell, starring Meryl Streep, Robert Redford, Ashley Judd, Isabel Allende
Rated TV-G