Every year on April 22nd, our family does the same thing: we spend the morning outside – hiking, gardening, or just poking around in the backyard – and then we cap the day with an Earth Day movie night. It started as a way to wind down after a full day outdoors, and it turned into one of our favorite traditions.
If you’re looking for the best Earth Day movies to watch with your kids this year, you’re in the right place. I’ve rounded up 19 of our favorites – from animated classics that work for little ones to eye-opening documentaries for older kids and adults. I’ve also included a free printable Earth Day activity your kids can do right after the movie while the message is still fresh!
Why we love capping Earth Day outdoors with a movie: When kids spend the day outside first – feeling the dirt, watching bugs, splashing in a creek – the movies hit differently. Wall-E feels more urgent when you just spent the morning picking up trash at a trailhead. The Lorax lands harder when you’ve been hugging actual trees. The outdoor experience makes the films more meaningful, not less.
Free Earth Day Printable Activity (Do This After the Movie!)
Before we get into the movie list, grab this free printable! It’s a simple Earth Day writing prompt and activity sheet designed for kids ages 4-8. After your movie ends, kids fill it out while everything is still fresh – what they learned, what they want to do to help the Earth, and more. It’s a great way to turn a passive movie experience into an active learning moment.
If you want more Earth Day printables, these Earth Day Color by Word + Number sheets are also a big hit with the younger crowd.
Best Earth Day Movies for Little Kids (Ages 3-7)
Animated movies are pure magic for this age group – they deliver big environmental messages wrapped in characters kids actually love. These are our top picks for the youngest Earth Day viewers.
- The Lorax (Prime Video) – The gold standard of Earth Day movies for little kids. Based on the Dr. Seuss classic, it teaches kids about deforestation and speaking up for nature in a way that’s colorful, fun, and genuinely moving. The message “unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better – it’s not” never gets old.
- Wall-E (Disney+) – A lonely little robot on a trashed, abandoned Earth. Even toddlers get drawn in by Wall-E’s personality, and older kids start asking real questions about waste and what happens when we don’t take care of our planet. One of the best Earth Day movies ever made, hands down.
- Bee Movie (Netflix) – More fun and silly than heavy, but it sneaks in a genuinely important lesson about how much we depend on bees and pollinators. Great for younger kids who aren’t ready for anything too serious.
- Happy Feet (Netflix) – Mumble the penguin’s story is adorable, but underneath all the dancing is a real message about how human activity affects marine life and wildlife habitats. Our kids were obsessed with this one at ages 4-6.
- Finding Nemo (Disney+) – A classic for a reason. Beyond the adventure, it shows how rich and alive our coral reefs are – and why protecting them matters. Also opens great conversations about the exotic animal trade.
- Ice Age (Disney+) – Yes, it’s mostly a fun adventure – but it also touches on climate change and adaptation in a way little kids can absorb without even realizing it. Great for an easier, lower-key Earth Day movie night.
Earth Day Movies for Older Kids (Ages 8-12)
This age group can handle more nuance and real-world content. These movies are still family-friendly but pack a bigger emotional and educational punch.
- March of the Penguins (Apple TV / Rent on Prime) – Technically a documentary, but it plays like an adventure film. The story of Emperor penguins surviving Antarctica is absolutely mesmerizing – and quietly devastating when you think about what climate change means for them. Great for curious, nature-loving kids.
- The Biggest Little Farm (Hulu) – A couple leaves the city to transform 200 acres of barren land into a thriving, biodiverse farm. It’s warm, hopeful, and shows kids what working WITH nature instead of against it actually looks like. My kids (8 and under at the time) loved this one – especially because of all the animals!
- Chasing Coral (Netflix) – Visually stunning and genuinely emotional. Scientists and divers race to document coral reefs that are bleaching and dying in real time. Older kids who love the ocean will be glued to this one.
- I Am Greta (Disney+) – The story of Greta Thunberg’s rise from solo school striker to global climate activist. An incredible example of what one person – even a kid – can do when they decide to speak up. Really impactful for tweens.
- 2040 (YouTube) – Instead of focusing on doom and gloom, filmmaker Damon Gameau explores what the world could look like by 2040 if we started making smarter choices now. Watch 2040 on YouTube here. Hopeful and solution-focused – a great antidote to climate anxiety for older kids.
- David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (Netflix) – Sir David Attenborough spent a lifetime documenting nature – and this film shares his reflections and his revised views on climate change after decades of observation. Calm, wise, and deeply moving.
Earth Day Documentaries for Teens + Adults (12+)
These are powerful, important films – but I’d say 12+ for most of them. They don’t sugarcoat the darker realities of environmental destruction, which is exactly what makes them worth watching.
- Seaspiracy (Netflix) – A deep dive into the global fishing industry that will genuinely change how you think about seafood. Shocking, well-researched, and hard to look away from.
- The Ivory Game (Netflix) – Follows undercover activists and investigators exposing the illegal ivory trade and the fight to protect elephants. Suspenseful and eye-opening.
- Before the Flood (Disney+) – Leonardo DiCaprio travels the world with National Geographic to document the effects of climate change firsthand. Urgent, visually stunning, and a great conversation starter.
- An Inconvenient Truth (Prime / Paramount+) – Al Gore’s landmark climate documentary still holds up. The data has only gotten more alarming since it came out, which makes rewatching it both fascinating and sobering.
- A Plastic Ocean (Peacock / Rent on Amazon) – Investigates the scale of plastic pollution in our oceans. Graphic at times but incredibly important – especially for teens who are ready to understand the real stakes.
- Okja (Netflix) – Not a documentary, but a fictional film with a gut-punch message about the industrial meat industry. Starring Tilda Swinton and Jake Gyllenhaal – surprisingly great for adults looking for something that’s not a straight documentary.
- Erin Brockovich (Prime / Apple TV) – The true story of a woman with no legal background who took on a major corporation for poisoning a community’s water supply – and won. Julia Roberts is incredible. A reminder that ordinary people can fight back and win.
How to Set Up an Earth Day Movie Night (Especially After a Day Outside!)
If your family spent the day outside hiking, camping, or doing Earth Day activities, here’s how to transition into a cozy, meaningful movie night:
- Set the scene – Blankets on the floor, lights low, maybe a candle or two. Make it feel like an event, not just TV time.
- Nature-themed snacks – Popcorn in paper bags (no plastic!), apple slices, trail mix, or s’mores if you have a firepit. Keep it simple and outdoorsy.
- Print the activity sheet beforehand – Have the free printable and some crayons ready so you can do it immediately after the movie ends, while kids are still buzzing.
- Pick your movie based on the day’s mood – Had a big emotional day outside? Go lighter with Wall-E or The Lorax. Had a fun easy day? Try something meatier like The Biggest Little Farm or Chasing Coral.
- Talk about it after – Even one question like “what’s one thing from the movie you want to do differently?” goes a long way with kids.
More Earth Day Activities for Families
Looking for more ways to celebrate Earth Day beyond movies? We have a ton of Earth Day printables and activities – here are some favorites:
Earth Day Printables for Kids
- Earth Day BINGO Printable (20 Cards!) – a huge hit for classrooms, camps, and family game nights
- Earth Day Headband / Crown Printable – free and adorable for little kids
- Earth Day Preschool Math Activity – counting practice with an Earth Day theme
- Free Earth Day Preschool Worksheet Packet – tracing, math, pre-writing and more for the youngest learners
- Earth Day Color by Word + Number Printables – great for ages 4-8
Earth Day Outdoor Activities
- Nature Scavenger Hunt (Free Printable) – perfect for an Earth Day hike or backyard adventure
- Build a Nest Scavenger Hunt – a favorite spring nature activity
- Leave No Trace Principles for Kids (Free Printable) – teach kids how to care for the Earth on every hike
- Kids Printable Garden Activity Pack – get kids growing something on Earth Day!
- DIY Greenhouse Activity + Printable
However you spend April 22nd – whether it’s a big hike, a backyard cleanup, or just a cozy movie night at home – the best Earth Day tradition is one that helps your kids feel connected to the planet they’re going to inherit. These movies are a great place to start that conversation.
