7 best Netflix movies to watch for Earth Day

Netflix is home to such a variety of TV shows and movies, including scripted genre titles, concert movies, earth documentaries, and the list goes on. In honor of Earth Day which is celebrated this Friday, April 22, we’re bringing you a list of what you should definitely add to your watch list. The holiday’s goal is to bring awareness to the environment and how we can work together to protect it, and the streamer has really great options to do just that.

But of course, Earth Day isn’t the only day we have to think about our planet. You can watch any of these movies throughout the year and really learn something valuable!

Earth Day movies on Netflix

Below you’ll find seven of the best movies to watch on Netflix to celebrate Earth Day. There are a few documentaries on the climate crisis, a scripted movie about a real-life expedition, and more.

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet

British biologist and TV host David Attenborough is known for so many compelling documentaries about the earth. Netflix has the 2020 movie A Life on Our Planet, which dives into the climate crisis and explains how humans have changed our planet as we know it. It’s not surprising the documentary has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and is considered a must-watch.

Breaking Boundaries: The Science Of Our Planet

Those wanting to learn more about the environment and how we can save the planet are in luck with Netflix because there are multiple titles covering the climate crisis. Breaking Boundaries: The Science Of Our Planet is another one presented by Attenborough, alongside Swedish scientist Johan Rockström. The documentary explains the concept of the nine planetary boundaries. This 2021 title didn’t do too hot with critics but it’s still super educational.

Fantastic Fungi

Taking a pivot from the climate crisis, Fantastic Fungi is a delightfully fun documentary which explores types of fungi and why it’s so important to the planet. It’s narrated by Marvel star Brie Larson, whose voice accompanies visually stimulating time-lapse cinematography. The film has been applauded by critics and has an impressive 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Against the Ice

The one movie on this list that is not a documentary is Against the Ice, a survivalist film that just hit Netflix in March 2022. It stars Game of Thrones alums Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Charles Dance along with Peaky Blinders actor Joe Cole. The movie is based on the true story of the 1909 Denmark expedition, where the men face extreme conditions and unimaginable obstacles to stay alive.

Against the Ice received mixed reviews from critics, but the views out in the cold are sure beautiful.

My Octopus Teacher

Get your tissues ready for My Octopus Teacher, because this one is an emotional one. The documentary follows filmmaker Craig Foster, who dedicates himself to an unusual friendship with an octopus near Cape Town, South Africa. Feeling like he’s lost meaning in life, Foster watches the octopus for about a year, following her every move and dangers in the water. The movie wowed audiences when it came out in 2020 and went on to win Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards.

Seaspiracy

If you’re looking for a sign to give up eating fish, this is it! Seaspiracy is a great documentary that came out in 2021 and explains the impact that fishing has on the environment. I personally learned so much from this movie and highly recommend it. Many people claim sustainable fishing does exist if you do it right, though this documentary challenges that possibility. The movie did decently with critics, with one reviewer calling it “devastating.”

Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret

And if you watch Seaspiracy, you should check out Cowspiracy next. This 2014 movie is one of my favorite documentaries on Netflix and is directed by the same person who produced Seaspiracy, Kip Andersen. It explains how much agriculture is affecting our environment, making it one of the causes of the climate crisis. It’s a real eye-opener for meat eaters who consider themselves environmentalists. I will note, however, that the movie has been accused of using some inaccurate stats, which the co-director has responded to here.

Which movie will you be watching for Earth Day?