The combination of science and cinematography is amazing. It allows people to relive the past, see the future, fly to the edge of the universe, and dive into the deepest cleft in the ocean for a while. Furthermore, such films significantly broaden people’s knowledge and pique students’ interest in studying. Which films should you watch to gain both pleasure and knowledge?

Documentaries and educational programs are a great alternative to going to the movies or scrolling through a ton of useless content on your smartphone. It is also a great opportunity to spend time with friends and family while learning a lot about the world and the processes that are going on around us.

9 Best Science Movies and Documentaries

Movies are always enjoyable to watch. However, watching science and documentaries is a double pleasure because this knowledge can be applied in real life, studies, and educational practice.

Are you still looking for a movie to watch tonight? Then watch one of the films listed below!

Google and the World Brain (2013)

This film will teach students about advanced technologies while also making them aware of their potential dangers. In addition, there are numerous references to science fiction literature in the film, which makes me want to read it.

The concept of a “World Brain” was first mentioned by Herbert Wells, the father of science fiction, nearly a century ago. And it is now up to Google to put its fantastic assumptions into action.

Scientists around the world are waiting with bated breath to see which companies succeed. They are concerned that Google will soon be able to take control of our entire lives. Is this, on the other hand, such a bad thing?

National Geographic: The Incredible Human Body (2002)

The human body is an amazing machine and one of nature’s most complex mechanisms. Everyone should understand how and why it works.

In just an hour and a half, you will travel through time, touching the secrets of the human body’s everyday miracles and witnessing 10.000 eye blinks, 20.000 sighs, and 100.000 heartbeats per day. Would you like to learn more about the human body?

TED ED

These video lessons address the most unexpected questions that young students have. In addition, many videos convey a positive message, such as the importance of caring for the environment or maintaining personal hygiene.

What happens to your body if you do not get enough sleep? What exactly is energy? Why did Prometheus provide people with fire?

TED ED is a series of short educational video lessons aimed at younger students. They answer scientific questions in an easy-to-understand manner while being brightly and qualitatively animated.

Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible (2010)

This program will instil a love of cinema as an art form in the child, as well as a keen sense of taste in selecting high-quality and spectacular films. 

In the documentary, Tom Cruise, George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Samuel L. Jackson discuss Hollywood’s best special effects studio named George Lucas Stage. The unthinkable becomes a reality here.

But how exactly does it work? Who is the source of all this magic? A studio tour will teach you about the unique technologies and intricacies of actors, artists, designers, and animators’ work.

Weird and Wild – National Geographic

For a young student, this series of programs about the strangest animals can replace an entire school course in zoology. It also talks about natural laws in general in an interesting way.

Humans are classified as animal kingdom members. Some animals, such as humans, develop unusual and unexpected food cravings. This documentary series about the strangest animals on land, in the sky, and at sea will aid in our understanding of animal physiology and behaviour, as well as the causes of these anomalies.

Antarctica: Ice and Sky (2015)

It is the Cannes Film Festival’s closing film, a multimedia project about global climate change directed by Luc Jacquet. He is the author of “March of the Penguins” (2005) and the Oscar winner for best documentary.

He graduated from the University of Lyon with a Master’s Degree in Biology and Ecology. Following that, he went on a 14-month Antarctic expedition to photograph wildlife.

“Ice and Sky” tells the story of global warming through the eyes of polar explorer and climatologist Claude Lorius. He volunteered on an Antarctic expedition half a century ago, where he became fascinated by ice.

He realized that it is a one-of-a-kind material that can be used to study the Earth’s 400-year history of climate change. Jacques travels back in time with his hero to show what human efforts have brought the planet to.

Life, Animated (2016)

Owen Süskind abruptly stopped talking to his parents when he was three years old. Doctors diagnosed autism spectrum disorder but were unable to provide any guarantees. When parents gave up hope that their child would ever be able to live a normal life, it was discovered that Owen was the most easily able to communicate with the world differently – in the language of animation.

He learned to live fully with the help of cartoons, and he graduated from high school and college. “Animated life” will help you discuss an important and complex topic with your child: autism, inclusion, and social adaptation of people with such a disorder.

The filmmakers do not rely on sympathy, but neither do they exaggerate Owen’s family’s numerous problems. You will undoubtedly benefit from an honest, sincere, and inspiring depiction of the power of art and love.

Home (2009)

“Home” is a serious, but incredibly beautiful film study by renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and film director Luke Besson. The viewer is shown spectacular views of our planet from the height of bird flight, and a voiceover describes man’s negative impact on the world: depletion of fertile soils, deforestation, extinction of rare plant and animal species, and pollution of water and air.

In a year and a half, the filmmakers flew a helicopter outfitted with a high-resolution camera around 53 countries. This is the kind of appeal that should serve as a wake-up call to the rest of the world about environmental issues. “Home” is an excellent way to explain to students of all ages why it is critical not to litter and to use water wisely.

Underwater Dreams (2014)

This movie is about ingenious engineers. It is a true story about how ordinary US schoolchildren, the sons of illegal Mexican immigrants, built an underwater robot out of cheap PVC parts and defeated a team of professional engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in a competition.

It demonstrates how strong motivation and ambition can enable anyone to achieve success.

Conclusion

By watching a good educational film in class or at home, students can learn a variety of new things while avoiding the teacher’s long, monotonous stories. Visual reinforcement will not only help students remember the material, but it will also motivate them.

Nancy P. Howard has been working as a writing expert at Writing Judge for a year. She is also webmaster at review service Best Writers Online. She loves travelling, photography and is always welcome to meet new people.