11 Must-Watch Vegan Documentaries
I challenge you not to go vegan on the spot
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Growing up, meat and dairy were everyday staples, and I never questioned it.
Like many, I held onto a picturesque idea of farming—happy cows, free-range hens, and lush green pastures. The realities behind our food system simply weren’t on my radar.
That all changed when I watched my first vegan documentary.
These eye-opening films exposed me to truths I couldn’t ignore, forever shifting how I viewed food, animals, and the planet.
They didn’t just inspire me to go vegan—they gave me the knowledge and conviction to stay on this path.
If you’re exploring veganism or simply curious, these documentaries are a must-watch. They cover the ethical, environmental, and health reasons behind veganism and will help you better understand why this lifestyle matters more than ever.
1. Earthlings (2005)
Duration: 1hr 35mins
Availability: YouTube
If there’s one documentary to watch, it’s Earthlings.
Narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, this groundbreaking film examines five areas of animal exploitation: food, pets, clothing, entertainment, and scientific research.
It also introduces the concept of ‘speciesism,’ urging viewers to think about animal rights as part of the broader fight for social justice.
Fair warning—this film is not an easy watch.
It’s raw, emotional, and deeply unsettling, but that’s precisely why it’s so impactful.
For me, it was a turning point.
It shattered my assumptions about milk and eggs being harmless by-products and revealed the immense suffering in these industries.
If you’re ready to face the hard truths about our food system, this is the documentary to start with.
2. Dominion (2018)
Duration: 2 hours
Availability: YouTube
Dominion provides a detailed ethical critique of animal agriculture.
This Australian documentary, filmed more than a decade after Earthlings, uses hidden cameras and drones to expose the harsh realities of modern factory farming.
While focused on Australia, the practices shown are disturbingly common in Western farming systems.
What sets Dominion apart is its scope—it doesn’t stop at factory farming.
The film also sheds light on the treatment of wild animals, companion animals, and those exploited for entertainment and scientific research.
It’s deeply moving and thought-provoking, challenging viewers to confront the broader implications of animal rights and our relationship with non-human animals.
3. Land of Hope & Glory (2017)
Duration: 48 mins
Availability: YouTube
Land of Hope & Glory is the UK’s answer to Earthlings, and it pulls back the curtain on the hidden realities of the British meat industry.
Narrated by vegan educator Earthling Ed, this short documentary reveals the dark side of British animal welfare, dispelling the myth that it’s among the best in the world.
With exclusive undercover footage from over a hundred factory farms, the film covers the cruel practices in the meat and dairy industries, focusing on pigs, cows, birds, eggs, and sheep.
It’s a powerful, eye-opening film that will challenge everything you thought you knew about animal welfare in the UK.
4. Pignorant (2024)
Duration: 1hr 42mins
Availability: Amazon Prime
Pignorant is a powerful new release from 2024, directed by animal activist Joey Carbstrong.
This gripping documentary takes you undercover into the UK’s pork industry, exposing the horrific use of CO2 gas chambers to kill pigs—a practice deemed inhumane, yet still commonplace in British farming.
The film follows Carbstrong’s dangerous mission to install secret cameras in a Manchester facility, uncovering the dark realities of factory farming.
It’s a graphic but essential watch that questions the ethics of animal slaughter and challenges trusted food labels and charity organisations.
5. Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret (2014)
Duration: 1hr 31mins
Availability: Netflix
When Cowspiracy was released, I kept hearing people—colleagues, friends, even family—say it had completely changed their views on meat-eating.
Naturally, I had to watch it for myself!
Produced by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn, this groundbreaking documentary explores the environmental impact of animal agriculture, covering topics like climate change, deforestation, and water pollution.
What struck me most was Andersen’s attempt to engage major environmental organisations, only to find they were reluctant to confront the role of animal agriculture.
This film reveals just how deeply our food choices impact the planet.
It’s a must-watch for anyone curious about the connection between sustainability and diet.
6. Seaspiracy (2021)
Duration: 1hr 29mins
Availability: Netflix
Seaspiracy dives deep into the devastating impact of commercial fishing on our oceans, exposing critical issues like overfishing, plastic pollution, and ghost nets.
Directed by Ali Tabrizi and produced by Cowspiracy creator Kip Andersen, the film uses hidden cameras and investigative reporting to reveal the environmental destruction caused by the fishing industry.
It also challenges the credibility of marine conservation organisations, such as the Dolphin Safe label, shedding light on their connections to the fishing industry.
If you’re questioning the role of fish in your diet or want to better understand the state of our oceans, this documentary is an unmissable wake-up call.
7. What the Health (2017)
Duration: 1hr 37mins
Availability: Netflix
For those curious about the health benefits of a plant-based diet, What the Health is an essential addition to your watch list.
Directed by Kip Andersen, this thought-provoking documentary explores the connection between diet and chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
It reveals how a plant-based lifestyle can help prevent or even reverse these conditions while uncovering how the food industry suppresses vital health information to protect its interests.
Featuring experts like Dr Michael Greger and Dr Neal Barnard, What the Health challenges conventional dietary norms and highlights the power of nutrition for better health.
8. The Game Changers (2018)
Duration: 1hr 52mins
Availability: Netflix
If you’ve ever wondered how athletes can perform at the highest level without eating meat, The Game Changers will challenge your assumptions.
Featuring a star-studded team, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rip Esselstyn, and James Cameron, the documentary follows elite trainer James Wilks as he investigates how a plant-based diet can enhance athletic performance.
From interviews with plant-based Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton to a discussion about the surprising benefits of vegan diets on male health, The Game Changers offers compelling evidence of how plant-based eating can boost physical and mental performance.
9. Forks Over Knives (2011)
Duration: 1hr 36mins
Availability: YouTube
The original plant-based health documentary, Forks Over Knives explores the impact of animal products on public health.
Focusing on Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn and biochemist T. Colin Campbell, the film reveals how diets high in animal products contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. It also highlights the pharmaceutical industry’s ties to animal agriculture.
By adopting a plant-based, whole-food diet, the film argues that we can prevent, manage, and even reverse these health issues.
10. SLAY (2022)
Duration: 1hr 25mins
Availability: WaterBear, Apple TV
From the producers of Cowspiracy and What the Health, SLAY takes a deep dive into the fashion industry’s hidden reliance on animals, exposing the harsh realities behind leather, fur, and wool.
Led by filmmaker Rebecca Cappelli, the documentary unpacks how these practices have been normalised and marketed as “natural” or “luxurious.”
Through interviews with psychologists, vegan activists, and pioneers of plant-based alternatives, SLAY inspires viewers to question their fashion choices and explore more ethical and sustainable options.
A thought-provoking watch for anyone interested in aligning their wardrobe with their values.
11. Food for Thought (2025)
Duration: 1hr 33mins
Availability: YouTube
A fresh and uplifting take on the rise of veganism, Food for Thought explores the movement’s global impact with warmth, humour, and heart.
Dan Richardson and Giles Alderson bring an engaging, down-to-earth perspective, making the film feel like a friendly conversation rather than a lecture.
It features conversations with animal rights activists, philanthropists, athletes, Beyond Meat food developers, and musicians, alongside the rescue of two piglets—highlighting the real-world impact of compassionate choices.
The film also follows participants in a 30-day vegan challenge, capturing their concerns, struggles, and breakthroughs in a way that feels completely relatable.
Without relying on graphic footage, Food for Thought is an accessible and engaging watch—especially for empathetic viewers who may be hesitant to dive into some of the harder-hitting documentaries on this list.
