The days are slowly getting shorter, the nights colder, and our homes are getting all the cozier! It's that time of year when we love to snuggle up with a hot cup of tea, a cozy blanket, and warm socks and end the evenings in front of the TV. That's why we want to introduce you to a few inspiring documentaries on Netflix about environmental and animal welfare, as well as a few other entertaining and worthwhile Netflix documentaries. We're excited to hear what you think of our suggestions!
By the way: we have already extensively discussed the Netflix documentary "Seaspiracy" in another blog article.
Netflix documentaries about environmental and animal protection
Netflix now offers a fairly large selection of exciting documentaries on important topics such as nature, environmental protection, animal welfare, and sustainability . We've compiled our absolute recommendations for you here!
My favorite Netflix documentary: Breaking Boundaries - The Science Behind "Our Planet"
I have to offer a very personal recommendation right at the beginning of this article! I recently started my Master's degree in Environment and Resource Management, and the documentary "Breaking Boundaries - The Science Behind "Our Planet"" by David Attenborough and scientist Johan Rockström presents one of our course topics quite clearly: What planetary boundaries exist, and has humanity already exceeded them? The documentary film addresses potential catastrophes, such as the collapse of biodiversity, climate change , and ocean acidification, and illustrates our current state in each of these areas and whether potential consequences for us and our world can still be averted. We also recommend watching the TED Talk by Swedish scientist Johan Rockström, who explains the concept in less than 10 minutes.
All in all, the film presents scientific content quite clearly and visually powerfully, yet still leaves room for hope that it is not yet too late to save our world!
More documentaries by Sir David Attenborough
When it comes to nature documentaries, most people immediately think of the name of this naturalist, wildlife filmmaker, and author! And that's precisely why we'd like to introduce you to two more of his masterpieces:
My life on our planet
The Netflix hit, which was released on the streaming platform last year, once again reminds us how incredibly beautiful and precious our planet is and how important it is to treat it with respect . David Attenborough, now 94, reflects on his eventful life, recounts his personal experiences, and makes an important plea to all of humanity! We honestly got quite emotional!
Life in color
In this exciting three-part series, we accompany David Attenborough on a journey into nature and, thanks to the latest innovative technologies, discover how some animal species have harnessed various techniques of light and color to ensure their survival. Spoiler alert: You'll be amazed at how incredibly clever and creative some species are! The vibrant color displays are especially beautiful to behold and bring a touch of color to the often dreary autumn days!
Even more exciting Netflix documentaries on animal and environmental protection
Of course, there are many other interesting films and series on these important topics. So many, in fact, that we can't even list them all! But we've collected our favorite documentaries for you here:
My teacher, the octopus
This film won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2021 and, of course, couldn't be missing from our list! It depicts the friendship a South African filmmaker develops with a female octopus, emphasizing once again that animals are also sentient beings and that we can learn a lot from them! According to reviews, this moving documentary has even inspired some people to drastically reduce their consumption of fish and seafood or even give it up altogether.
Chasing Corals
For the launch of our Coral Edition , we naturally wanted to delve deeper into the topic of corals and learn more about these fascinating creatures. The Netflix documentary "Chasing Coral" came at just the right time! The nearly two-hour film follows a group of scientists, divers, and photographers as they attempt to capture coral death, or more accurately, coral bleaching , in pictures and video. This is intended to make this process understandable to the general public and is proving more difficult than expected – so get excited!
The Ivory Game
Away from the underwater world and towards one of the largest creatures on earth: the elephant . This species is severely threatened with extinction due, among other things, to the hunt for its supposedly valuable ivory. The gripping documentary "The Ivory Game: The Ivory Plot" follows a group of activists and filmmakers on their journey to East Africa and shows how they infiltrate the poachers' networks to hunt down the region's most notorious ivory trader: Shetani (ki-Swahili for devil).
Virunga
The Netflix documentary "Virunga" was also filmed on the African continent. The true story depicts the work and struggle of park rangers in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These rangers risk their lives every day to protect the endangered mountain gorillas from poachers and the exploitation of their habitat. Unfortunately, this often leads to deadly clashes.
By the way: To support the work of the rangers and conservationists, you can "adopt" a gorilla . Perhaps a possible gift idea for Christmas?
Kiss the Ground
Finally, some good news: Our soil could help us fight climate change! To do this, we just need to finally start changing the way this soil is cultivated. Healthy soil can store carbon, just like the healthy plants and trees that grow from it. This will lead to a healthy humanity and a healthy planet . Sounds too good to be true? But it's not impossible, as this hopeful documentary "Kiss the Ground" shows us!
Inspiring Netflix documentaries from other areas
There are simply too many rainy days and you've already finished our sustainability recommendations? Don't worry, we're prepared for that! That's why we're presenting you with a few inspiring and insightful Netflix documentaries from all sorts of fields that you simply must-see!
Miss Americana: Taylor Swift
Let's be honest, we've all had it... the Taylor Swift phase and with hits like "Lovestory", "We are never ever getting back together" and "Shake it off", you just have to sing along! The streaming service's documentary not only gives exclusive insights into the world of the pop singer , but also deals with topics such as finding one's identity, self-acceptance and dealing with the many opinions of others and the media that bombard people in public life every day. Miss Americana is therefore an absolute recommendation - and not just for fans of the talented singer!
Becoming: The Story of Michelle Obama
And even more girl power! This documentary revolves around the story, experiences, and visions of former White Lady Michelle Obama. Not only is she the wife of former President Barack Obama, but she is also a strong advocate for disadvantaged children and, above all, for better nutrition in American schools. This documentary offers a very personal look into the life of this inspiring woman and makes us firmly believe that we are all capable of making our world a better place!
Joe Exotic - The Tiger King
We have to admit: we're having a hard time categorizing this very special Netflix documentary. It should actually be considered animal welfare, or rather, the disregard for animal welfare, as it profiles several operators of private zoos and big cat owners in the USA. But the feud between the flamboyant Joe Exotic and his arch-nemesis Carole Beskin also plays a central role in this multi-part series. He accuses the supposed animal lover of feeding her own husband to the big cats. So even true crime fans will get their money's worth!
PS: The second season of "Tiger King" will be released on Netflix on November 17th!
FYRE: The greatest party that never happened
The enormous role that good marketing plays is made even clearer in this Netflix documentary! Professionally produced commercials, top models as advertising faces, and VIPs promoting the exclusive festival on a dream island in the Bahamas. The FYRE Festival was supposed to be the biggest festival of all time, but it turned out to be a bitter disappointment and thus the biggest party that never happened. Honestly, while watching, you can't stop shaking your head at the many planning errors. But see for yourself!
The Last Dance - perhaps the most inspiring sports documentary
There are many Netflix sports documentaries, but the most touching of all is arguably the documentary about basketball legend Michael Jordan . Ten episodes portray the life, career, and setbacks of the Chicago Bulls player, particularly his final season with the Chicago Bulls in 1997 and 1998. And even if you're not a basketball fan , we promise you'll find this Netflix documentary a total emotional journey!
The Social Dilemma: The Dilemma with Social Media
We spend hours every day on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and the like, willingly sharing our data . However, we're often not fully aware that these companies know more about us and our behavior than we think. Since we, of course, also work extensively with social media and enjoy spending time on a variety of platforms, we found the Netflix documentary "The Social Dilemma" particularly fascinating—and at times quite shocking. After watching this film, you'll inevitably rethink your own online behavior and what you're actually sharing with the world.
What the Health
This film also gives food for thought about our diet . The documentary "What the Health" follows American director Kip Andersen as he conducts numerous interviews with doctors and other experts in the USA, in which he attempts to uncover the connection between our diet and widespread diseases such as diabetes, heart problems, and cancer – with shocking findings. The social and health effects of a diet rich in animal products are particularly closely examined. We've already explained in another blog post that fish isn't as healthy as we often think and what alternatives there are. After watching this film, you'll definitely lose your appetite for meat and other foods!
Explained: The world simply explained
You can really learn something from this series! In 20-minute episodes, sometimes complex topics are explained in simple terms, sometimes opening up new perspectives on topics like money, sex, or how our minds work. The series has now run six seasons, and episodes like "The Global Water Crisis," "Why Women Are Paid Less," and "The Intelligence of Animals" are definitely worth watching!
Perfect for Halloween: True Crime
Since Halloween is just around the corner, we wanted to share our top three true crime documentaries with you. But be warned: it's best not to watch these spooky Netflix documentaries alone!
Night Stalker: On the Hunt for a Serial Killer
Fans of the series "American Horror Story" have surely heard this name before. Richard Ramirez , the so-called Night Stalker and satanic serial killer, held the city of Los Angeles and the entire USA in suspense in the 1980s. This four-episode documentary presents the crimes and the hunt for the Night Stalker. The whole thing is accompanied by gripping interviews with contemporary witnesses and original footage. Pssst: I'd better double-check that the front door is properly locked. 🙈
Ted Bundy - Serial killer with charisma
The streaming service's original production tells the story of serial killer Ted Bundy, who is said to have murdered around 30 women in the 1970s. He is known not only for his numerous murders, but also for his charm and charisma , which allowed him to elude the police several times. What's special about this documentary is that the story is largely told through original footage of Ted Bundy himself.
Don't f***k with cats: The hunt for an internet killer
After a shocking video appears online, a group of dedicated users sets out to hunt down the animal abuser . But the video isn't enough, and so a race against time begins to track down the perpetrator and prevent worse crimes. And that's just the beginning of a nerve-wracking hunt for evidence, even across the globe. We don't want to give too much away here! What we particularly liked about this documentary, however, is how the power of social media can be used for good and how strangers can join forces to fight for a common goal.
Do you have any recommendations for us?
We hope there were some exciting documentaries on this list that you didn't know about, and looking out the window, a cozy Netflix evening seems like just the thing!
We'd also love to know which documentary blew you away or made you think. Let us know in the comments ! Now, off to the couch and relax!
