6 eye-opening eco-documentaries on Discovery+, Netflix, and YouTube you need to watch now

Documentaries, for better or for worse, usually encourage debates, discussions and subsequent change. A documentary that is well produced with relevant footage and dependable testimonials can positively bewilder its audience and leave a lasting impact. For those wanting to spend this weekend consuming content that will develop their minds, we've curated a list of eye-opening documentaries that deep-dive into the environment and will truly make you think twice about things we've taken for granted. Ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, queue up on some of these titles with alarming revelations.

1. Seaspiracy (2021)

With the global fishing trade at the centre of alarming global corruption, this Netflix original demonstrates how human actions cause extensive environmental devastation. Seaspiracy is a compelling documentary that argues for defending life in our oceans by preventing the unabashed pillage of the sea.

Streaming on Netflix

2. India 2050 (2019)

India 2050, as a docu-series, works to interpret the inherent threats of uncontrolled environmental degeneration and climate change in India—a hypothetical future of India with respect to the environment and climate change. It is a glimpse of how thriving cities of India will look by 2050 if we don’t take imminent steps to preserve the environment. The show starts with Jaipur, as envisioned in 2050, and moves to the fates of urban regions like Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, and Kolkata, giving the audience a brief look at what is to come. 

Streaming Discovery+

3. A Plastic Ocean (2016)

Released in 2016, A Plastic Ocean was the outcome of a collaboration between journalist and director Craig Leeson and a contingent of global researchers and scientists. The documentary accentuates the defoliation and devastation caused to the ocean by plastic pollution, and how micro-plastics finally end up in our dinner.

Streaming on Netflix

4. Wild Karnataka (2019)

As a documentary, Wild Karnataka focuses on the biodiversity that prospers in the wild. Get ready to traverse Karnataka’s diverse landscape—from wet evergreen forests to rocky plateaus and thundering waterfalls—as Attenborough’s narrative immerses you in the southwestern region of India. The film is available in various languages, the English version by David Attenborough, followed in other languages by Indian actors such as Rajkumar Rao (in Hindi), Prakash Raj (in Telugu and Tamil), and Rishab Shetty (in Kannada). 

Streaming on Discovery+

5. Black Fish (2013)

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, this 2013 American documentary film narrates the story of Tilikum, an orca held by SeaWorld, while shining a light upon the consequences of keeping killer whales captive. Nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Documentary, Black Fish describes how the whales undergo acute stress when their offspring are seized in the wild and isolated after breeding at water parks. 

Streaming on YouTube

6. Story of Plastic (2019)

This documentary looks at the man-made disaster that is plastic pollution and the comprehensive impact it has on the health of our planet and the people that inhabit it. Spanning three continents, it illuminates the continuous crisis: fields full of garbage, mountains of debris; waterbodies clogged with waste; and skies gagged with the toxic gasses from plastic production and processing. Story of Plastic provides a detailed investigation into the ecological harm that happens all through the lifecycle of plastic and what industries and governments can do to fix the issues.

Streaming on Discovery+

Also read: 

12 series and documentaries on Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar and Prime Video that bring you closer to wildlife

5 Netflix documentaries on climate change that are a must watch for everyone

9 Indian climate warriors paving the path for a more sustainable tomorrow