Are you considering transitioning to a plant-based diet but need clarification with all the conflicting information online?Â
I love the power of visual storytelling, especially when exploring complex topics like health, nutrition, sustainability, and ethics issues. In this blog post, I will showcase a curated list of the seven best plant-based documentaries that have educated and inspired many people (including me)Â to think about dietary choices. From uncovering the health benefits of a vegan diet to exposing the environmental impacts of animal agriculture, these 7 plant-based documentaries offer valuable insights that will make you question your food choices and motivate you to do better your your health and the environment.Â
Ready to dive into a world of knowledge that will transform your life? Get ready to cry, get angry, learn, and ask yourself questions about what you know about food. Let’s get started! Plant based documentary number one:
1. Forks Over Knives (2011)
Although not very recent, Forks Over Knives continues to influence with its focus on people who have seen significant health improvements after changing over to a plant-based diet, supported by nutrition and medicine experts. This plant-based documentary shows that many diseases can be prevented, controlled and reversed by not eating a Standard American Diet (SAD) of animal-based and processed foods and highlights that by changing our diet to a Whole Food Plant-Based Diet, we would become way healthier.Â
This movie features multiple WFPBD advocates, including Dr. T. Collin Campbell. If you’d like to learn more about the Whole Food Plant-Based Diet and its impact on your health and the planet, I recommend signing up for Dr. T. Colin Campbell’s Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate Course.Â
7.7 /10 IMDb.
59% Rotten Tomatoes
2. The Game Changers (2018)
With big names like James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Jackie Chan behind it, this plant-based documentary busts the myth that a plant-based diet lacks the protein necessary for athletic performance. Highlighting stories from elite athletes and scientists, it’s a must-watch for anyone concerned or confused about plant-based nutrition in fitness.Â
I truly loved watching it, as there is so much confusion about being plant-based and protein needed for muscle growth. I found The Game Changers very helpful and inspiring, and I look forward to watching The Game Changers 2 later this year!
9.1/10 IMDb
70% Roten Tomatoes
3. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014)
The Cowspiracy movie examines animal agriculture’s environmental impact and questions the procedures of major environmental organisations. Through interviews with environmentalists, former lobbyists, and scientists, the film exposes animal agriculture as a leading cause of deforestation, water consumption, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. This plant-based documentary highlights that adopting a plant-based diet is one of the most effective ways to reduce our environmental footprint.
8.1/10 IMDb
88% Rotten Tomatoes
4. What the Health (2017)
What the Health documentary looks into the impact of meat and dairy consumption on our health. Directed by the same filmmakers behind “Cowspiracy,” this film continues the exploration of the environmental and health consequences of our food choices, focusing on diet’s role in chronic diseases.
This plant-based documentary reveals the vested interests of the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and food industries and explains how they all are connected. It’s definitely an eye-opener about the economic forces that are so powerful in shaping our food choices and health outcomes.
Check out their website to learn the facts and get tips on how to start a plant-based diet.
7.2/ 10 IMDb
62%Â Rotten Tomatoes
5. Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones (2023)
This plant-based documentary is much more lighthearted and is happier and easier to watch. It teaches us that living a happy and healthy life is actually not that hard. Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones film highlights key lifestyle factors contributing to the health and longevity of Blue Zone populations, emphasising the significance of a plant-based diet and continuous physical activity.
Journalist and explorer Dan Buettner takes us on a journey through various parts of the world, such as Okinawa in Japan, the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, and Loma Linda in California, among others, to uncover the secrets behind the longevity of centenarians living there.
I loved watching inspiring stories supported by expert interviews; it made me question my life values and helped me incorporate these longevity practices into my life.Â
7.9 /10Â IMDb
100%Â Roten Tomatoes
6. You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment (2024)
The You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment documentary series follows a unique study with identical twins on different diets to explore the impact of diet on health and offers us insights into the benefits of veganism.
It is light on detail but very insightful and easy to watch. To highlight the importance of nutrition, I wish it focused more on a whole-food, healthy plant-based diet rather than veganism in general, which can sometimes be not very healthy. The documentary received some criticism from meat eaters and the whole plant-based community, but nevertheless, it is worth watching.
6/10Â IMDb
50% Roten Tomatoes
From a very easy-to-watch plant-based documentary, we are moving to a completely opposite…make sure to be mentally prepared as Dominin is definitely not an easy watchÂ
7. Dominion (2018)
Through the lens of drones and hidden cameras, Dominion showcases the dark side of animal agriculture. It’s a very, very challenging watch, questioning the moral grounds of humanity’s dominion over animals with brutal honesty. I am not going to lie, I could not watch it all, but at the same time, it is a very important documentary, especially for people who eat meat every day without any thought about where it comes from. If you are struggling to say goodbye to a stake, I would encourage you to watch it.Â
9/10Â IMDb
74%Â Roten Tomatoes
To summarise plant-based documentaries:
These plant-based documentaries can change perceptions, inspire action, and even alter the course of our lives. They cover a wide range of topics related to the plant-based lifestyle, from the massive health benefits and ethical considerations to the environmental impacts of our food choices. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or simply curious about the impact of your diet, these films are invaluable resources that promise to challenge and inspire you to change the way you eat.
These plant-based documentaries not only showcase the health, ethical, and environmental reasons for adopting a plant-based lifestyle but also inspire us to take action towards a more sustainable and compassionate world. Whether you’re deeply invested in these issues or just becoming curious, each film offers compelling evidence and narratives that could change how you think about food and its impact on the planet and our health.
What are the best plant-based documentary you would recommend to watch?
Silvija Meilunaite PN1-NC, is a certified nutrition coach and a writer in the nutrition and self-improvement field with a passion for exploring science-based knowledge focusing on holistic health and plant-based nutrition.
Featured in the Wellness on Time magazine.
