6 Must-Watch Vegan Documentaries

A vegan documentary in recent times is one of the most effective informative tools for vegan-media. In our modern-day culture of mass media and with a generation who get most of the news and awareness from social media outlets, visual films have played a profound role in trickling the awareness and benefits of veganism. Now, vegan documentaries generally advocate two cases, firstly, the healthy benefits of veganism and secondly the importance of sustainability and ills of mass meat production.

Why documentary films?

Human beings respond by seeing and that’s how we have evolved. So, using this quality of engagement with the masses, documentaries have revolutionized how we can access current global issues by providing a simple systematic in-depth picture of complex issues. Proponents of vegan documentaries endeavour to provide a comprehensive understanding of our current state and where we are heading.

Makers of vegan documentaries gather a sea of data and present a simple but vivid picture. Interestingly, they not only present a vivid picture but advocate and present a possible solution: “we can all benefit from adopting a greener lifestyle”.

So, when the goals are good for “we” (all humans) such as this, response takes time. But slowly the message and awareness are reaching out and more and more people are adopting veganism as a lifestyle from celebs to common people like us.

Let’s classify:

When you browse for vegan documentaries you will find lots of documentaries, as in this list, related to veganism with potential pros and cons. So, below we have compiled some vegan documentaries which purely deal with cultural, social and economic exploitation along with the brighter side of veganism.

For simplicity, we have opted for 6 documentaries with maximum contents and categorized them into two groups.

1) Sustainability related vegan documentaries

2) Health-related vegan documentaries

Vegan Documentaries and Sustainability

Most resources are limited in nature and natural resources require time to regenerate. The documentaries below explore the false advertisement used by big corporate factory farming using potential harmful chemicals and steroids in low doses to make the animal grow faster and fatter. Thus, increasing the risk of environmental and health degradation. Accordingly in FOOD INC. an approximate 30% of The United States land (that’s huge) is used strictly for producing corn. This is one such instance where there is a misplaced use of land for excessive corn production, which instead could potentially be used for compensating the large population, or for producing other foods.

1. EATING ANIMALS: This documentary based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s 2010 book presents a picture of the meat production industry. It puts forward a case, for the concern of factory farming animals and the harm this industry does to the environment. The narrator presents the case for detrimental health issues because of the bacteria and diseases that can form and spread when chickens or pigs are crammed into concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). And then there’s the environmental impact of mass production facilities: the long-term harm pollutants that filter into our waterways and contribute to global warming.

*Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vimeo

*Run time: 1 hour 35 minutes.

*IMDB rating: 7.3/10

*Rotten Tomatoes rating: 91%

2. FOOD, INC: If you are wondering about animal products, Food, Inc explores what are Americans’ diet and its cost on the environment. Taking a look at how meat is produced by a handful of big-establishment (meat monopoly), it examines the lack of nutrition and detrimental environment pollution. This documentary also focuses on animal mistreatment, food contamination, and government collusion. The one aspect this documentary accounts for is the over use of corn in our diet, since corn is normally fed to the animals. Food, Inc. exposes the unfortunate reality of the current food industry.

*Available on: Amazon Prime, Documentary Mania

*Run time: 1 hour 33 minutes.

*IMDB rating: 7.8/10

*Rotten Tomatoes rating: 95%

3. PEACEABLE KINGDOM: THE JOURNEY HOME: Winner of numerous awards, Peaceable Kingdom takes you on a journey filled with emotional rollercoaster. THE JOURNEY HOME presents the awakening of several farmers who grew up in traditional farming culture but who have now come to question the basic premises of their inherited way of life after encountering the relation between all species. This documentary is an urgent call to action to all of us to commit to a change towards sustainability and safeguarding our living environment.

*Available on: www.tribeofheart.org

*Run time: 1 hour 18 minutes

*IMDB rating: 8.4/10

Vegan Documentary and Health

While the rest of the world is suffering from starvation and malnutrition, the others have problems of overweight, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, etc. The root of many such diseases is the result of the diet we consume. We also are aware that most of the chronic pains are interrelated and such pains often end with bad news. Below are some vegan health documentaries that throw light into such cases and provide some life altering positive feedback after adopting veganism. A number of well known personalities from celebs to athletes share their experiences. These documentaries are a compilation of interviews ranging from regular farmers to well known nutritionist and health experts like Dr. Dean Ornish, Dr. Aaron Spitz, Dr. Robert Vogel, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Dr. James Loomis, Dr. Columbus Batiste, Dr. Kim Williams and many more. The approach of these documentaries are scientific and emotionally gripping and make us reflect on our actions for a better tomorrow both for oneself and for the whole earth.

(Image Source: Pixabay)

1. THE GAME CHANGERS: This documentary film on Netflix is about the benefits of plant-based diets for athletes and actors. The game changers follow the journey of several elite vegan athletes (James wilks, James Cameron, Arnold Schwarznegger, Novak Djokovic, Lewis Hamilton and Jackie Chan) as they train, prepare for, and compete at the highest levels. This documentary asserts vegan diets have health and anticancer benefits compared with omnivorous diets, and diligent planning can ensure you’re getting adequate protein and essential nutrients.

*Available on: Netflix

*run time: 1 hour 28 minutes

*IMDB rating: 7.9/10

*Rotten Tomatoes rating: 70%

2. FORKS OVER KNIVES: Forks over Knives is an easy to watch documentary about the lives and research of Dr. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, directed by Lee Fulkerson. The documentary centers on the importance of proper nutritional vegan food and processed foods. It gives short term and long term benefits with people who have benefited from chronic illness after adopting vegan lifestyle and opting for processed foods. It showcases a tireless journey of encouragement on how processed food contains clean nutrition.

*Available on: Amazon Prime, iTunes

*Run time: 1 hour 36 minutes

*IMDB rating: 7.7/10

*Rotten Tomatoes rating: 70 %

3. H.O.P.E.: WHAT YOU EAT MATTERS: Healing Of Planet Earth (H.O.P.E.), a vegan documentary shows the benefits of a vegan diet on chronic health issues, preservation and compassion towards our animals. The narration appeals to our common sense and calmly puts forward how our actions as a species have had a pernicious effect on our lives and on Earth’s ability to thrive. It presents a deep yet comprehensive picture about the limited interests of the pharmaceutical and agricultural industry with the all-encompassing interests of living beings on this planet.

*Available on: YouTube

*Run time: 1hour 32 minutes

*IMDB rating: 8/10

The core in every vegan documentary above is to create an awareness of potential harms of excess meat consumption. Interestingly the means is one (i.e. veganism) but it meets more than just one goal. These vegan documentaries are definitely worth your time if you want to spread the awareness with your family and friends; they have a simple easy to watch approach. For first timers this list will definitely be a good starting point.

So, are you ready to watch? Let us know!!

Image Source: Pixabay