24 Documentaries To Watch If You Want To Be ~Changed~

"Are you still there?" — Netflix, this weekend

We asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us which documentaries changed their perspectives on something. Here are the films they recommended:

1. Abstract: The Art of Design (2017- Present)

Netflix

"Abstract: The Art of Design gave me the push I needed to pursue my dream of working in design. After watching this series, I decided to apply for a design internship. It's not a big deal, but it means a lot to me. I've watched the documentary at least four times and it just keeps inspiring me more and more." —s46b39a4b5

Stream it on Netflix.

2. What the Health (2017)

A.U.M. Films & Media

"What the Health made me reconsider my eating habits. Since watching it, I eat a loooot more vegan meals." —lemkii

Stream it on Netflix.

3. The Hunting Ground (2015)

Netflix

"The Hunting Ground is about sexual assault on college campuses. It is SICKENING that these schools covered up and ignored the victims. Especially in the wake of the #MeToo movement, we're in dire need a change here in the US. I believe this documentary should be shown on all campuses as part of that reform." —brookeb624

Stream it on Netflix.

4. 13th (2016)

Netflix

"13th about abolishing slavery blew me away. Director Ava DuVernay does an outstanding job at showing the direct link between slavery, segregation, and mass incarceration of the black population of the United States. It’s utterly heartbreaking, but so important to watch." —karenc48e110efb

Stream it on Netflix.

5. Babies (2010)

Netflix

"Babies follows the first year of life of four infants from different parts of the world. At the time of its release, I was volunteering with the Peace Corps in Mongolia. It was eye-opening to compare American children's lives to those growing up in Mongolia, and even more amazing to be able to have a dialogue about it with Mongolian natives." —christinas4b13bd5fc

Stream it on Netflix.

6. Blackfish (2013)

CNN

"Because of Blackfish, I will never look at SeaWorld, aquariums, or zoos the same way. It really opened my eyes on how amazing killer whales are, and how people are willing to sweep deaths under the rug just to make money off of wild animals." —KJV

Stream it on Netflix.

7. Stuck (2013)

Globox Media

"Stuck follows the adoption journeys of several orphans. It 100% convinced me that I want to adopt a child one day. Blood doesn't make family, love does." —jbrown378

Available to rent on Amazon for $3.99.

8. Forks Over Knives (2011)

Monica Beach Media

"Forks Over Knives turned me into a vegetarian. I haven't had meat in over a year now, and I feel great!" —degarmo

Available on Amazon for $3.99.

9. Chasing Coral (2017)

Netflix

"Chasing Coral made me change my major in school. I now study Atmospheric and Oceanic Science at the University of Colorado Boulder. I plan on becoming a climate scientist to do what I can to try and preserve our air and oceans." —jordans4bf42d485

Stream it on Netflix.

10. Tapped (2009)

Atlas Films

"I watched Tapped six years ago and have boycotted water bottles ever since!" —monniegirl9

Stream it on YouTube.

11. Common Threads (1989)

HBO

"Common Threads: Stories From the Quilt is about the ‘80s AIDS crisis in America. It tells the stories of several families affected by AIDS, and explains the AIDS quilt that was laid out on the Washington Mall. Common Threads gave me a greater appreciation for the Centers for Disease Control and spurred my anger at the government for their impotent response to the crisis. It's also one of the reasons I’m planning on studying about AIDS epidemic in grad school." —annalee10

Stream it here.

12. The Business of Being Born (2008)

Barranca Productions

"The Business of Being Born made me decide to have a midwife when it came time to start my family. In the end, I was extremely happy with my birthing process. No medicine or interventions whatsoever. Not to mention I got to eat and drink during my 14-hour labor!" —alliem43afb4e3e

Available to rent on Vudu for $2.99.

13. Trophy Kids (2013)

Bad Larry

"Trophy Kids changed the way I think about parenting young athletes. It poses the question, 'Do we want what's best for our kids? Or do we just want our kids to be the best?'" —gabbyg478b871df

Available to rent on Amazon for $3.99.

14. A Place at the Table (2012)

Participant Media

"A Place at the Table opened my eyes to just how many food deserts there are in this country. Something needs to change in the way people get their food."

—jessicat49a45be70

Available to rent on Amazon for $3.99.

15. Poverty, Inc. (2014)

Netflix

"Poverty, Inc. really forced me to look beyond 'donating to a good cause.' When you peel back that veneer, it becomes increasingly clear that not all charities strive to make a longterm impact. It taught me to do my research and only invest in sustainable organizations." —a4ffc516b2

Stream it on Netflix.

16. Audrie & Daisy (2016)

Netflix

"Audrie & Daisy was a life-changer for me. As a suicide prevention advocate, educator, and mom, it called to me on every level. Our children and our world need us to change. Life hurts but there is strength in survival." —k416097983

Stream it on Netflix.

17. The Cove (2009)

Participant Media

"I watched The Cove — a documentary about dolphin hunting in Taiji, Japan — when I was in 13 and was so horrified that I wrote a letter to the embassy of Japan asking them to stop dolphin hunting. The Japanese ambassador wrote me a letter back, signing it and everything. (My mom freaked out when that letter came and to this day thinks I’m on some kind of watch list.) —victoriag4f67964da

Stream it on Hulu.

18. Religulous (2008)

Lionsgate

"I went from a cautious agnostic to a full blown atheist after watching Bill Maher’s Religulous. I watch it every Christmas." —michellesk

Available to rent on Amazon for $3.99.

19. How to Die in Oregon (2011)

Clearcut Productions

“How to Die in Oregon is about terminally ill people wanting to end their lives through physician-assisted suicide. It will alter you at a fundamental level and make you ask yourself some hard questions." —victoriah46ba3e549

Available to rent on Amazon for $3.99.

20. Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things (2015)

Catalyst

"Minimalism is about categorizing your possessions and figuring out what makes you happiest. If the possession doesn’t bring you joy, you get rid of it! After watching it, I went on a huge purge in my room and got rid of three or four boxes of useless things. I live a much more clutter-free life now!" —daynak3

Stream it on Netflix.

21. 180° South (2010)

Magnolia Pictures

"I watched 180° South before I took off on a 18-month trip around the world. It helped me get through the hard times of travel (like getting bed bugs, running out of money, getting purses stolen, etc.) It also introduced me to the importance of conservation and keeping our wild places wild, something I'm still actively involved in largely due to this documentary." —alyssap10

Stream it on Netflix.

22. The True Cost (2015)

Life Is My Movie Entertainment

"The True Cost really got me to start being more conscious of where my clothes came from. It looks at everything from sweatshops to the cotton fields the materials come from, along with the environmental impact. Since I've seen it, I've made a real effort to purchase more fair trade items (which have turned out to usually be higher quality and last longer anyway!)" —yunotadog

Stream it on Netflix.

23. Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)

The History Channel

"Cave of Forgotten Dreams, directed and narrated by the acclaimed Werner Herzog. This documentary beautifully and precisely conveys the concept of immense time within the Chauvet caves in France. You begin to understand the lives of prehistoric mankind, their visions, and the animals they interacted with way back when. My mind was blown." —athorup1

Stream it on Netflix.

24. Life (2009)

BBC

"The docu-series Life, narrated by David Attenborough, made me feel less like the world is small and more like there are beautiful and amazing things to be seen and discovered." —maceybug3162

Stream it on Netflix.

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