Movies That Teach Kids About Climate Change

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.

Police Patrol Poster Image
MOVIE

Police Patrol

age 5+

Computer-animated film with strong pro-environment message.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2013)
A Beautiful Planet Poster Image
MOVIE

A Beautiful Planet

age 6+

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

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)
Arctic Tale Poster Image
MOVIE

Arctic Tale

age 6+

Kid-friendly film serves up inconvenient truth.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2007)
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.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2001)
Ice Age: The Meltdown Poster Image
MOVIE

Ice Age: The Meltdown

age 6+

Funny, but contains some crude humor and mild profanity.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2006)
To the Arctic Poster Image
MOVIE

To the Arctic

age 6+

Educational documentary explores life in the frozen wild.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2012)
Our Planet Poster Image
TV

Our Planet

age 6+

Gorgeous docuseries features animal life, nature's wonders.

Network: Netflix (2019)
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.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2021)
Adventure Planet Poster Image
MOVIE

Adventure Planet

age 8+

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

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2014)
Happy Feet Poster Image
MOVIE

Happy Feet

age 8+

Well-meaning animation is oddly sexual; some scary moments.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2006)
Puff: Wonders of the Reef Poster Image
MOVIE

Puff: Wonders of the Reef

age 8+

A pufferfish learns to survive in eco-friendly docu.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2021)
Chasing Coral Poster Image
MOVIE

Chasing Coral

age 9+

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

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2017)
Before the Flood Poster Image
MOVIE

Before the Flood

age 10+

Looking at climate change, Leonardo DiCaprio finds hope.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)
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.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2020)
I Am Greta Poster Image
MOVIE

I Am Greta

age 10+

Intimate portrayal of global activist has valuable lessons.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2020)
The Race to Save the World Poster Image
MOVIE

The Race to Save the World

age 10+

Earnest profiles of intense environmental activists.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2021)
Surviving Paradise: A Family Tale Movie Poster Image
MOVIE

Surviving Paradise: A Family Tale

age 10+

Wildlife defies setbacks in climate-change docu; violence.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2022)
Time to Choose Poster Image
MOVIE

Time to Choose

age 10+

Climate-change doc is visually beautiful but oversimplified.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2016)
Tomorrow Poster Image
MOVIE

Tomorrow

age 10+

Upbeat docu about fighting climate change, saving the world.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2017)
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.

On DVD/Streaming (Release Year: 2017)