It’s Earth Day!
Every year on April 22 since 1970, people have come together to celebrate Earth Day. According to National Geographic, “Earth Day is an annual celebration that honors the achievements of the environmental movement and raises awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations.”
Earth Day is celebrated in schools, religious communities, towns, and cities — all with the intention of recognizing the need to care for our planet.
Ideas for Celebrating Earth Day
There are plenty of ways to celebrate Earth Day, including:
- Find a local Earth Day event to attend
- Make a donation to an organization that works to protect the environment
- Plant a tree
- Make a commitment to more sustainable practices
- Volunteer with an organization or on your own
- Clean up litter in your town
- Spend some time in nature
- Read about environmentalism and today’s efforts to protect the Earth
One of the best ways to celebrate Earth Day is to learn something new — and movies can be a great way to do that! Whether you’re watching on your own or educating kids about the importance of caring for the environment, these movies can be a great way to take time to reflect on the importance of today.
Movies to Watch on Earth Day
I’ve decided to include dramas, kids’ movies, and documentaries in this list. That way, there is something for everyone.
Erin Brockovich (2000)
This biographical drama is based on the true story of Erin Brockovich (played by Julia Roberts), a single mother who becomes a legal assistant and researcher. She conducts her own investigation into her community’s concerns that a powerful corporation has been polluting the city’s water supply and discovers that it’s true. Together with her boss Ed (played by Albert Finney), Erin helps her community file a lawsuit against the corporation and wins a record-breaking class action settlement for their victims.
Erin Brockovich continues to advocate for victims of environmental harm.
Wall-E (2008)
This Pixar film is set in the future after humans have abandoned the earth. They did so because the earth has become so polluted that it is unliveable. A little trash-collecting robot named Wall-E continues to do his job on the planet, which is devoid of all life. That is, he continues to do his job until he falls in love with another robot, a sleek and futuristic bot named EVE. Wall-E and EVE end up going on an adventure to try to save humanity from itself.
Oceans (2010)
Oceans is one of the first documentaries in the Disney Nature series. It explores the world’s oceans and the creatures that live in the deep. The film is narrated by Pierce Brosnan and includes stunning footage of the sea’s creatures, including jellyfish, dolphins, starfish, and so much more. The movie is an excellent reminder of the vastness of the ocean and the importance of this part of our planet.
The Lorax (2012)
Adapted from Dr. Seuss’s book, The Lorax is the story of Ted (Zac Efron), a boy who tries to find out the history of trees — which are completely missing from his world. Instead, everyone buys artificial trees and even has to buy air. The mysterious Once-ler (Ed Helms) is the only one who knows the real story of how his own greed and destruction led to the demise of the trees. The guardian of the trees, the Lorax, is voiced by Danny DeVito.
Chimpanzee (2012)
Another nature documentary, Chimpanzee tells the story of a young, orphaned chimpanzee named Oscar who is eventually adopted by a group of adults. This fascinating story is emotional, heartwarming, and at times heartbreaking. It shows the intelligence of the animals of our world, especially other primates.
I Am Greta (2020)
We have one more documentary: I Am Greta. This is the true story of Greta Thunberg, the teenage environmental and climate change activist from Sweden who has spent the last several years traveling the world to challenge everyday people and global leaders to do everything possible to stop the damage that we are currently doing to the earth.
