Since Food, Inc. is up for an Oscar on Sunday, it seems as good a time as any to compile a list of documentary food films worth watching.
A recent post on favorite feature films that focus on food garnered a lot of comments — and sparked a movie mystery that remains unsolved. For cinematic sleuths, check out the comments by “can’t remember,” and see if you can put your finger on the name of the mystery flick.
Thanks to regular readers Susan Rubin and Margaret Phillips for input for this post.
In alpha order, a list of ten real food films worth viewing while noshing on a modest-sized serving of organic, non-GMO popcorn.
1. Dirt: The Movie (2009)
A funny, thoughtful, and, um grounded look at the fundamental ingredient vital to everything that feeds us.
2. Food Fight (2008)
An amusing account of modern American ag policy and food culture that sprouted a counter-revolution among veggie-obsessed Californians.
3. Food, Inc. (2008)
The rock stars of the ethical eating movement — Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser — weigh in on all that is wrong in America’s industrialized food system. Methinks my son summed up this film best: “Sometimes the scariest films are the ones that are real.”
4. Fresh (2009)
Down with the corporate behemoths of the American food economy who threaten the country’s food security, livelihood of small farmers, and our choices as consumers. This doco features fresh thinking from urban farming activist Will Allen and sustainable farmer Joel Salatin.
5. Killer at Large (2008)
This film tackles the giant-sized topic of America’s obesity epidemic with talking heads and the story of a 12-year-old who undergoes liposuction.
6. King Corn (2007)
Two friends head to the heartland to learn a thing or two about how food is farmed and where food comes from.
7. Super Size Me (2004)
Cult classic with Morgan Spurlock eating his way to bad health on a month’s worth of Maccas. Required viewing for fast food fans.
8. The Garden (2008)
A group of mostly working class, Latino South Central Farmers fought the good fight — and they’re still at it — for the basic human need to grow food, in this Academy Award nominated film.
9. The Future of Food (2004)
Deborah Koons Garcia reveals the unappetizing truth about genetically modified foods: Do you really know what you’re dishing up for dinner?
10. The Real Dirt on Farmer John (2006)
A flamboyant farmer turns his family’s dying farm into a thriving CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Bonus: He flaunts a feather boa while driving his tractor.
11. Food Stamped (2010?)
Special mention to a work-in-progress: A film-and-food couple reveal how hard it is to eat well on a really tight budget.
Okay, what’s missing — or doesn’t deserve to be in this line up? You know you have an opinion, oh yes you do. Let me know below.
You might also like:
What’s on Your Plate? Food for Thought for All Ages
Food, Inc. May Make You Lose Your Lunch
Food Stamped: A Film For Our Times
A Shout Out for The Garden
Favorite Food Films
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No mention of “Dying to Have Known” or “The Beautiful Truth”? Just sayin.
yes!
to all of them!
Forks over Knives and Food Matters are missing from your list. I have watched both of these twice and am sure to watch them again. I am now a vegetarian and in the best shape of my life. I have also introduced these two films to two friends of mine. Not only are they now vegetarians but so are their boyfriends.
I completely agree! Forks Over Knives & Food Matters, along withFood Inc, have completely transformed our diet. Myself, husband, and children eat a Vegan diet and are in the best health of our lives. As a cancer survivor, I knew there had to be more to disease than genetics. I’m saddened that we cannot trust our doctors for good nutritional advice. We must take responsibility for our health through the basic avenue of diet. Education on food and nutrition is so important.
Totally agree…. Forks Over Knives is life changing!
(oops… and Food Matters, too!)
lol, it is nice to hear other people feel the same……. I watched exactly these documentaries, I haven’t touched meat or dairy since. I work on a large boat with 20 other people and they think I am crazy, none of them will sit down and watch these documentaries, one guy even has a brother dying of colon cancer and still wont even hear me out or watch them. The more I delve into food, how it is produced and how unsustainable it is, the more depressed I am getting, but it is good to know that there are some people out there that feel the same.
I agree with you…it’s so frustrating to know this information and want to pass it on and yet have stubborn brain washed individuals who can’t accept that YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!!. Don’t give up.
I used to be the kind of person who didn’t want to know what was behind the iron curtain of the supermarket shelves. Then I saw a few shows like Food Inc, and was like, yes that’s gross and mean but I still want a nice steak now and then, i’ll buy grass feed, blah blah blah… BUT after Forks Over Knives I know the truth: There is a cure for cancer and steak makes me wanna puke! Many people in my life have had or still have cancer and when people won’t even watch the film I feel like strapping them in a chair and propping open their eyes to make them watch these kind of documentaries! Now when I might feel like cheating on death food (anything with melted cheese) I’ll watch some videos from PETA and that helps me stay strong in my knowledge that I wont be dying from cancer anytime soon! Not only have I lost 56lbs (still have tons more to go) but my skin GLOWS — not anemic like so many people say I would look, and because of that more and more people are taking some notes for recipes and info. So glad to have found this site. I’m hungry for food truth documentaries and my library will have to try and keep up with my requests. Thank you for letting me post my really long post but to find people with common interests is AWESOME!
No we cannot trust our doctors for good nutritional advice because they only get about one semester of nutrition education. Who we can trust are Dietitians, they spend up to four years studying nutrition! Unfortunately they are often overlooked…
You missed the docu-comedy Fat Head. It’s VERY good.
Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
Vegucated
The Last Heart Attack (CNN Special)
I love Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead! Juice on!
The cove.
don’t eat the dolphin meat.
Fat Sick and Nearly Dead was great , so was Food Matters and The Gerson Miracle!
Earthlings. Makes Food Inc. look like a Disney movie.
Eating: The Rave Diet
Drugs Never Cure Disease, Lorraine Day, MD
Yes, where’s “Eating”???!!!!!
The best and clearer documentary about food myths ever!!
Supercharge Me complements Supersize Me
I loved Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead too!
I loved City Farmers —which lets us know what’s happening in the urban New York City community gardens. And, The Apple Pushers, which tell us about the Green Carts in New York City.
What about ” Food Matters ” ?
Dive and Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead are two good ones I’ve seen lately…
A documentary recently released that changed my sister’s life, Hungry for Change. Although it doesn’t necessarily go into detail, it has enough information to make you take a second look into what you eat. Food Matters; The Beautiful Truth (although I hated the VO choice); Genetically Modified Food: Panacea or Poison; Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead; Simply Raw: Reversing Diabetes in 3o Days; Sexy, Crazy, Cancer; May I Be Frank, and so many the list could go on.
The Gerson miracle, raw for 30 days..were wake up calls to me and my family.
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