Documentaries cover a plethora of topics and are excellent ways to quickly inform the public on a particular subject. Usually covering rather controversial material they inform through images and video and experts a basic version of a specific event or idea allowing people that previously had no knowledge of this area to gain a basic understanding of the key concepts. Here are just a few of the current must-see documentaries.

Blackfish

Investigating and exposing the sad practices at SeaWorld’s marine parks, Blackfish explores the life of Tilikum a large male orca. Starting with a chilling call to the police over the death of one of the trainers, the documentary grimly outlines the problems that come along with keeping such a large seagoing predator in a small captive environment. Released in 2013, Blackfish outwardly provides evidence against SeaWorld’s safety and ethical policies whilst enlightening the general public about the way these captive sea creatures are treated.

Cowspiracy

2014 saw another film released enlightening the public on the way farming affects everyday living. With strong pushes to recycle more, use less water and eat less meat the film outlines how much of the planet’s pollution is coming not from cars and fuel but from animal agriculture. The film concludes that eating animals is not only detrimental to the planet in its overall health but also bad for our bodies too, and it pushes for a much healthier way of living involving far fewer animal products. Whether you agree or not, it is still an interesting and informative watch.

Super-Size Me

Another film about eating healthy, Morgan Spurlock’s 2004 Super Size Me outlines the fast food problem. Through a series of comedic documentary styles, Spurlock successfully demonstrates America’s obsession with fast food. For 30 straight days, Spurlock was to eat nothing but Macdonald’s for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Taking everything off the menu at some point throughout the documentary, the film outlines the dangers of this unhealthy lifestyle. Interestingly, after the film’s release, MacDonald’s were to remove the super-size option from their menu proving that documentaries can still make an impact.