If you’re wondering how you can help affect a change for this planet, check out these top ten movies to watch for Earth Day. They will give you a mental spark and an emotional tug to take action and make this Earth a more sustainable place to live.
1. Food, Inc. (2009)
Food, Inc. is an eye opening account of the unethical methods practiced by large multinational corporations who are in control of our food industry in the United States. It sheds light on factory farming that consistently abuses animals for consumption and adds to the pollution of our environment through irresponsible farming methods like dumping feces into lakes and fertilizer and chemical runoffs. Food, Inc. also highlights how these corporations manipulate the market so that these malnutritioned, fatty foods are priced more attractively to consumers. Before you go on your next grocery trip, watch this movie and get informed about what you’re buying and feeding your family.
2. The Cove (2009)
Many of us have gone to a water park before and seen performance whales and dolphins dancing in the waters and jumping up towards the blue sky. Have you ever thought about how those sea creatures got there or how they’re treated? The Cove is a heart breaking documentary about how dolphins are being brutally murdered by the thousands each year by Japanese fishermen. The bottle nosed dolphins are captured and sold to waterparks around the world. Many dolphins are also killed for consumption purposes. The Cove is a movie that is emotionally jarring when you realize how humans can be so cruel towards one of Earth’s creatures. Watch this movie for Earth Day and you’ll me moved to tears and moved to take action.
3. Wall-E(2008)
At first, Wall-E seems like a cute animated film about how humans have irresponsibly destroyed the Earth with tons of trash and waste. But then it ups the ante by showing us that our current consumption rate will lead us to become unhealthy behemoths who cannot even stand on our own feet. Wall-E is a great Earth Day movie that reminds us that our planet is not invincible and if we don’t help our environment through recycling, sustainable farming practices, and healthy lifestyles, we’re all doomed.
4. Avatar (2010)
Avatar will go down in history as one of the most visually stunning movies ever to be made. It also has an environmentally sound message. We must live in harmony with the planet around us to be able to have a fruitful future. If we continue to be greedy and disregard the well-being of nature, we’ll be destroying the planet in an irreversible way. Avatar is a great Earth Day movie filled with adventure, suspense, and a meaningful message.
5. The 11th Hour (2007)
The 11th Hour describes the damaging effects of global warming on our environment’s system. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and tsunamis have plagued our world in ways that scientists have never seen before. It’s message is telling us that if we don’t change our ways of living now to help the world be more sustainable and healthy, it may be too late for this planet. This Earth Day movie is also chalk full of celebrity power like Leonardo DiCaprio and Stephen Hawking.
6. Ponyo(2008)
Hayao Miyazaki is famous for his gorgeous animation combined with strong emotional messages and storylines. Ponyo is a perfect example of this winning mix of ingredients. Ponyo is the tale of a goldfish who wants to become a human. She befriends a little boy and adventure ensues as Ponyo’s evil wizard father tries to bring her back to the seas. This is a family friendly movie great for all to enjoy on Earth Day. It shows how the trash in the seas can destroy the delicate ecosystems found in our oceans today.
7. Blue Gold: World Water Wars(2008)
Can you imagine if you didn’t have fresh water running from your tap everyday? Or how about not having clean water to take a shower daily? Blue Gold: World Water Wars is a telling tale of how our water system is controlled today by private companies and how our water supply is being systematically drained away for profit. There are people still to this day who do not have clean, running water in their towns and villages. Water is definitely a resource that we take for granted. Watch this movie for Earth Day and learn about ways you can help those around the world enjoy the same simple things in life like drinking a clean glass of water.
8. Erin Brokevich (2000)
Erin Brokevich is a great movie for Earth Day that sends a message to big corporations that their irresponsible business methods will not go unpunished. Everyone remembers Julia Roberts as the headstrong single mother- legal assistant who brought down the giant corporation, Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). Through her valiant efforts and investigating skills, she was able to unearth the unethical practices of this company and how it hurt a small town and its innocent families.
9. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
The Day After Tomorrow is a suspenseful take on what would happen to our planet when global warming causes the world to spiral into another ice age. Numerous natural disasters start to destroy parts of the world. The plot centers around a paleoclimatologist played by Dennis Quaid who is trying to warn our government about the impending doom. But when his warnings are left unheeded, he’s in a race to save his son from falling victim to human’s irreversible actions.
10. Oceans (2010)
Oceans is a nature documentary presented by Disney specifically for Earth Day. This is a great movie choice for family and children to learn about the various species that inhabit our water world today. Its visually stunning and a real masterpiece to observe the various creatures that live in the depths of the ocean. It drives home the point that we need to be careful of pollution and wastes that may harm the homes and ecosystems of these animals that share our planet.
