"Best of" Lists

Get age-appropriate ideas and inspiration for every interest:

Movies That Teach Kids About Climate Change

Last updated: April 17, 2026

Climate change is tough to discuss with kids, but these kid-friendly movies are an excellent way to start the conversation. Animated treats such as Ice Age: The Meltdown and Happy Feet Two are a great way to expose young kids to the concept of global warming, and for older kids, docs such as An Inconvenient Truth and The 11th Hour may inspire kids to do their part to preserve the planet. For more pro-environment picks, check out our lists Environmental Movies, Environmental Websites, Environmental Games for Kids, Environmental TV Shows, Environmental Books, and Movies That Inspire Kids to Change the World.

Filter by:
Sort by:
Police Patrol Poster Image
MOVIE

Police Patrol

age 5+

Computer-animated film with strong pro-environment message.

January 29, 2013 2013 NR (74 minutes)
See full review
A Beautiful Planet Poster Image
MOVIE

A Beautiful Planet

age 6+

Stunning look at Earth -- and man's sobering impact on it.

April 29, 2016 2016 G (45 minutes)
See full review
A Fish Tale (Help! I'm a Fish) Poster Image
MOVIE

A Fish Tale (Help! I'm a Fish)

age 6+

Animated sea adventure with kid heroes, music, mild scares.

June 29, 2001 2001 G (77 minutes)
See full review
Arctic Tale Poster Image
MOVIE

Arctic Tale

age 6+

Kid-friendly film serves up inconvenient truth.

July 25, 2007 2007 G (85 minutes)
See full review
Ice Age: The Meltdown Poster Image
MOVIE

Ice Age: The Meltdown

age 6+

Funny, but contains some crude humor and mild profanity.

March 31, 2006 2006 PG (90 minutes)
See full review
Our Planet Poster Image
TV

Our Planet

age 6+

Gorgeous docuseries features animal life, nature's wonders.

Netflix Educational (2019)
See full review
To the Arctic Poster Image
MOVIE

To the Arctic

age 6+

Educational documentary explores life in the frozen wild.

April 20, 2012 2012 G (45 minutes)
See full review
Perpetual Planet: Heroes of the Ocean Poster Image
MOVIE

Perpetual Planet: Heroes of the Ocean

age 7+

Clear-eyed view of oceans' plight offers glimmer of hope.

April 22, 2021 2021 NR (52 minutes)
See full review
Adventure Planet Poster Image
MOVIE

Adventure Planet

age 8+

Pro-earth animated tale with strong messages and some peril.

August 26, 2014 2014 PG (81 minutes)
See full review
Happy Feet Poster Image
MOVIE

Happy Feet

age 8+

Well-meaning animation has sexual innuendo; scary moments.

November 16, 2006 2006 PG (108 minutes)
See full review
Puff: Wonders of the Reef Poster Image
MOVIE

Puff: Wonders of the Reef

age 8+

A pufferfish learns to survive in eco-friendly docu.

December 16, 2021 2021 NR (62 minutes)
See full review
Chasing Coral Poster Image
MOVIE

Chasing Coral

age 9+

Awe-inspiring, poignant docu tracks decline of coral reefs.

July 14, 2017 2017 NR (93 minutes)
See full review
Before the Flood Poster Image
MOVIE

Before the Flood

age 10+

Looking at climate change, Leonardo DiCaprio finds hope.

October 21, 2016 2016 PG (96 minutes)
See full review
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet Poster Image
MOVIE

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet

age 10+

Attenborough's stark documentary is essential viewing.

September 28, 2020 2020 PG (83 minutes)
See full review
I Am Greta Poster Image
MOVIE

I Am Greta

age 10+

Intimate portrayal of global activist has valuable lessons.

November 13, 2020 2020 NR (97 minutes)
See full review
Surviving Paradise: A Family Tale Movie Poster Image
MOVIE

Surviving Paradise: A Family Tale

age 10+

Wildlife defies setbacks in climate-change docu; violence.

March 3, 2022 2022 NR (79 minutes)
See full review
The Race to Save the World Poster Image
MOVIE

The Race to Save the World

age 10+

Earnest profiles of intense environmental activists.

April 22, 2021 2021 NR (102 minutes)
See full review
Time to Choose Poster Image
MOVIE

Time to Choose

age 10+

Climate-change doc is visually beautiful but oversimplified.

June 3, 2016 2016 NR (97 minutes)
See full review
Tomorrow Poster Image
MOVIE

Tomorrow

age 10+

Upbeat docu about fighting climate change, saving the world.

April 21, 2017 2017 NR (120 minutes)
See full review
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power Poster Image
MOVIE

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

age 12+

Climate change docu sequel is fragmented, still essential.

July 28, 2017 2017 PG (100 minutes)
See full review
Common Sense Media

About the Author

Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media offers the largest, most trusted library of independent age-based ratings and reviews. Our timely parenting advice supports families as they navigate the challenges and possibilities of raising kids in the digital age.

Other great lists from our editors

Articles