Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bee docu offers serious info, but delivery lacks sting.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Pollinators
What's the Story?
Every year, billions of honeybees have an unusual migration. THE POLLINATORS travel by tractor-trailer across the United States, pollinating crops through the seasons to keep America's food supply robust. But hives are dying at a shocking rate for many reasons, mostly human-made.
Is It Any Good?
The Pollinators is chock-full of crucial, insightful information, but watching it feels like work. This is just the kind of documentary that environmental science students will struggle to stay awake for in class. As much as the interviewed farmers, experts, and beekeepers try to speak naturally, many viewers will find it difficult not to tune out words like "neonicotinoids," "Varroa mites," and "monocultures" pretty quickly. Yes, people will be interested in hearing what the film has to say, but you have to want to hear it.
This is Peter Nelson's first feature documentary as a director, but he's been a cinematographer for the last 30 years, and it shows. Farms become works of art, and the close-ups of bees are so beautiful that they're practically insect glamour shots. Still, most kids aren't likely to appreciate seeing every droplet of spray shooting against a sunrise. The film has buzz -- you might say it swarms with vital information -- but it drones on and on.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of bees. What did you know about the role they played in nature before watching The Pollinators?
What message do you think the filmmakers want viewers to take away from watching the film?
Do you think it's OK for documentary films to have an opinion, or should they just "report the facts"?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 16, 2020
- Cast : Bret Adee , Susan Kegley , Davey hackenberg
- Director : Peter Nelson
- Studio : 1091 Media
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Activism , Animals ( Bugs ) , STEM
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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