Ten Inspirational Movies and Shows To Watch On Earth Day

By: Emma Stewart, Ph.D.- the inaugural Netflix Sustainability Officer.

To entertain the world, we need a habitable world to entertain. Netflix is modernizing its operations and productions to be more efficient and sustainable, engaging with business partners and vendors to decarbonize our value chain, managing climate risks and supporting creators who want to highlight sustainability on screen. 

Read more about Netflix’s Sustainability efforts.

With over 20 years in the sustainability field, I've celebrated many Earth Days, each offering a chance to reflect on our connection with our one and only home. But who says reflection can't be entertaining too? This year, I've curated a selection of must-watch movies and shows from Netflix's "Our World, Our Stories" collection, spanning action-packed dramas, David-and-Goliath tales, and heartwarming animal adventures. Which will you be watching?

Craving some heart-pounding drama? 

Ransom Canyon: Starring Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly, this newly released contemporary western saga charts the intersecting lives and loves of three ranching families, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Texas hill country. The series delivers a powerful message about protecting one’s land for generations.

Okja: Tilda Swinton, Jake Gyllenhaal and Lily Collins star in this genre-bending film about a little girl who must keep a powerful company from abducting her pal: a giant, gentle “super pig.” With the twists and turns you’d expect from director Bong Joon Ho, the film reminds us that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. 

Ready to get inspired by real-life heroes? 

Toxic Town: Based on an incredible true story with remarkable performances from Jodie Whittaker and Aimee Lou Wood, Toxic Town shines a light on one of the UK’s largest environmental scandals and the heroes who uncovered it. When dozens of babies in Corby are born with disabilities, their mothers embark on a battle to hold those responsible accountable. Their story is all-too-familiar to many communities around the world, which brings us to…

Erin Brockovich: After unearthing a corporate attempt to cover up deadly water contamination, a tenacious single mother fights to seek justice for a suffering community. Julia Roberts gives a searing Academy Award-winning performance as Erin Brockovich, who has gone on to become a renowned consumer advocate and environmentalist.

Down to Earth with Zac Efron: Join Zac Efron and Darin Olien on an exhilarating journey across Iceland, Peru, Australia, and beyond as they explore the impacts of our changing climate and meet the innovating heroes who are reshaping the future. This globe-trotting and Emmy-winning series proves that sustainability isn’t just important – it can be unexpected, exciting, and yes, downright sexy. 

Ready for a dose of laughter?

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget: A band of fearless chickens flock together to save poultry friends from a nearby farm that's cooking up something suspicious in this Chicken Run sequel. With the voices of Thandiwe Newton, Bella Ramsey, and more, this family-friendly adventure comedy is packed with heart, humor, and heroics that’ll have kids and adults alike clucking with laughter.

Don’t Look Up: An all-star cast including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Tyler Perry, and Timothée Chalamet delivers a laugh-out-loud comedy comedy about two low-level astronomers who embark on a media tour to warn the world about an impending comet. As hilarious as it is timely, the film is a sharp reminder of what is at risk if we don’t work together. 

On the lookout for heroes who protect our animal friends?

Pangolin: Kulu’s Journey: Rescued from poachers, an endangered baby pangolin embarks on a journey back to the wild with help from a devoted human guardian. From Pippa Ehrlich, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind My Octopus Teacher, this heartwarming documentary (which premiered just yesterday on Netflix!) explores the extraordinary bond between humans and animals. And trust me, you’ve never seen anything as odd and adorable as a pangolin!

Our Oceans: Narrated by President Barack Obama, the docuseries is a literal deep dive into the emotional, relatable lives of the most magical, resourceful, and resilient creatures on Earth, as they face new challenges and adapt to changing waters around them. Our Oceans invites us to care about these heroes, with whom we’ve got a surprising amount in common — and not a moment too soon, as their fates are inextricably linked with our own.

My Octopus Teacher: A heartwarming tale about humankind’s connection to the animal world, the Academy Award-winning My Octopus Teacher follows the unusual friendship between a filmmaker and an octopus living in a South African kelp forest. A mesmerizing journey that reveals the depth of nature’s intelligence, the bonds that can form across species, and the power we all have to help the planet.

Netflix’s Our World, Our Stories collection brings these stories from around the world to you.