Liberated: Animal Rights Inspired Films
Animal rights issues are rarely explored in film. When they are, they have a powerful impact on audiences of all ages. You don't have to be an animal rights activist to appreciate the themes, however, they will surely leave an impressionable impact on you. NOTE: Not all of these films are suitable for young children, and don't be fooled by their childish, cartoon appeal. Some of these films are quite disturbing and confronting for even adult viewers.
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- DirectorMartin RosenStarsJohn HurtChristopher BenjaminJames BolamTwo dogs escape from a laboratory and are hunted as possible carriers of the bubonic plague.This is perhaps one of the most powerful, fictional animal-testing film ever made. Although it's an animation, it is definitely NOT suitable for young children, and some adults will find it disturbing and unsettling. The story follows the journey of Rowf and Snitter, two dogs who have escaped from a horrendous animal-testing facility, and embark on an unforgiving escapade. It does contain some violence, however, that is not what makes this film shocking. It is the unrelenting and realistic nature of animal-testing and survival that make this film truly memorable. Your opinions on animal-testing do not matter, "The Plague Dogs" explores a matter-of-fact account of what vivisection involves. A truly powerful and remarkable film; wholeheartedly recommended!
- DirectorCharles Herman-WurmfeldStarsReese WitherspoonSally FieldBob NewhartElle Woods heads to Washington, D.C. to join the staff of a Representative in order to pass a bill to ban animal testing.Takes a more "child-friendly" approach to animal testing. No experiments are shown, however, the overall feeling towards it is negative. The ending is completely unrealistic, as the audience is left feeling that animal testing has been ended; hooray! In reality, there's no chance of this.
- DirectorBrian RobbinsStarsTim AllenKristin DavisCraig KilbornA man tries to live a normal life despite the fact that he sometimes turns into a sheepdog.Like the above, the film approaches the topic of vivisection less intensely than "The Plague Dogs". It is a bit more stark than Legally Blonde 2, but no experiments are shown, rather alluded to.
- DirectorJohn RobertsStarsGena RowlandsTony ShalhoubCheech MarinA talking parrot named Paulie recounts his travels to look for his original owner to a Russian janitor who helps him to the end of his journey.Another kids film that touches on animal testing. No experiment scenes are shown, but like Legally Blonde 2, the overall atmosphere is upsetting.
- DirectorRobert KennerStarsMichael PollanEric SchlosserRichard LobbAn unflattering look inside America's corporate controlled food industry.Any documentary style film on this list shows ACTUAL scenes of animal cruelty. Food Inc is an educational expose on the food industry, exploring all kinds of themes, not all are about the welfare of animals. Depicts actual footage from inside slaughterhouses, which are quite but not overly graphic. Not recommended for children, unless you think they can handle it without turning vegetarian. Beautifully constructed film.
- DirectorMatthew GalkinStarsPamela AndersonMarc BouwerRalph DellA candid and introspective look at the beliefs and motives of Ingrid Newkirk, the British-born co-founder and driving force behind People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal-rights organization.If it's a story about PETA, that should really say it all. Whatever your views are about animal rights and PETA in general, it is still quite an interesting film. It details how PETA became, well, PETA as we know it. It does show some pretty disturbing footage of animal cruelty, ranging from animals being skinned alive on fur farms to slaughterhouse footage. Not recommended for children. An intriguing documentary that may just change your mind about animal rights.
- DirectorPeter LordNick ParkStarsMel GibsonJulia SawalhaPhil DanielsWhen a cockerel apparently flies into a chicken farm, the chickens see him as an opportunity to escape their evil owners.A well-rounded wholesome kids flick. In regards to animal rights, it depicts the dismal existence of egg-laying hens, however, it is done in a way that will not upset children. Any parent considering this for their kids' viewing should not be concerned.
- DirectorStephen HerekStarsGlenn CloseJeff DanielsJoely RichardsonAn evil high-fashion designer plots to steal dalmatian puppies in order to make an extravagant fur coat but creates an extravagant mess instead.This iconic Disney film 'delicately' explores the nature of the fur industry. Of course we don't see any scenes of puppies being skinned, however, the subject matter is depicted in a way that young children may find upsetting. The animals are 'hoped' to be skinned, bashed on the head, and poisoned, but a happy ending prevails. A good film in a sense it explores the cruel world of fur; a topic that is usually not touched upon in mainstream film.
- DirectorCarlo CarleiStarsMatthew ModineNancy TravisSamuel L. JacksonAfter a man dies in a car crash, he is reincarnated as a dog and attempts to reconnect with his family.What is it with kids movies and animal testing? Anyway 'Fluke' is pretty appropriate for children, although it may have a 'Bambi' effect, if you know what I mean. Explores the nature of vivisection, not in grapchic detail however. Still may be upsetting to young children, and the overall tone is sad.
- DirectorSimon WincerStarsJason James RichterLori PettyMichael MadsenWhen a boy learns that a beloved killer whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free the whale.
- DirectorChris NoonanStarsJames CromwellMagda SzubanskiChristine CavanaughGentle farmer Arthur Hoggett wins a piglet Babe at a county fair. Narrowly escaping his fate as Christmas dinner, Babe bonds with motherly border collie Fly and discovers that he too can herd sheep. But will the other animals accept him?
- DirectorShaun MonsonStarsJoaquin PhoenixUsing hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, Earthlings chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit.
- DirectorRob StewartStarsRob StewartPaul WatsonErich RitterAn investigation of sharks' importance to ecosystems and humankind's mass destruction of shark species worldwide.
- DirectorRupert WyattStarsJames FrancoAndy SerkisFreida PintoA substance designed to help the brain repair itself gives advanced intelligence to a chimpanzee who leads an ape uprising.
- DirectorJonathan KaplanStarsMatthew BroderickHelen HuntWillieAn Air Force pilot joins a top secret military experiment involving chimps, but begins to suspect there might be something more to the mysterious "Project X".
- DirectorDon BluthStarsElizabeth HartmanDerek JacobiDom DeLuiseTo save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of rats, with whom she has a deeper link than she suspected.
- DirectorMartin RosenJohn HubleyStarsJohn HurtRichard BriersRalph RichardsonHoping to escape destruction by human developers and save their community, a colony of rabbits, led by Hazel and Fiver, seek out a safe place to set up a new warren.
- DirectorCarlos SaldanhaStarsJesse EisenbergAnne HathawayGeorge LopezWhen Blu, a domesticated macaw from small-town Minnesota, meets the fiercely independent Jewel, he takes off on an adventure to Rio de Janeiro with the bird of his dreams.
- DirectorEric DarnellTom McGrathStarsBen StillerChris RockDavid SchwimmerThe Madagascar animals fly back to New York City, but crash-land on an African nature reserve in Kenya, where they meet others of their own kind, and Alex especially discovers his royal heritage as prince of a lion pride.
- DirectorBill KroyerStarsSamantha MathisChristian SlaterRobin WilliamsThe magical inhabitants of a rainforest fight to save their home, which is threatened by logging and a polluting force of destruction called Hexxus.
- DirectorJohn FrankenheimerRichard StanleyStarsDavid ThewlisMarlon BrandoVal KilmerAfter being rescued and brought to an island, a man discovers that its inhabitants are experimental animals being turned into strange-looking humans, all of it the work of a visionary doctor.
- DirectorRobert StevensonStarsDorothy McGuireFess ParkerTommy KirkA teenage boy grows to love a stray yellow dog while helping his mother and younger brother run their Texas homestead while their father is away on a cattle drive. First thought to be good-for-nothing mutt, Old Yeller is soon beloved by all.
- DirectorDale RosenbloomStarsBlake HeronMichael MoriartyScott WilsonA small-town Southern boy named Marty Preston must rescue a young beagle from his abusive owner, Judd Travers.
- DirectorLouie PsihoyosStarsRichard O'BarryLouie PsihoyosHardy JonesUsing state-of-the-art equipment, a group of activists, led by renowned dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry, infiltrate a cove near Taijii, Japan to expose both a shocking instance of animal abuse and a serious threat to human health.
- DirectorLuc JacquetStarsMorgan FreemanRomane BohringerCharles BerlingIn the Antarctic, every March since the beginning of time, the quest begins to find the perfect mate and start a family.
- DirectorNigel MarkhamStarsChris BrookesThe documentary closely examines the emotional public battles between the Canadian fur industry and its opponents, delving into the ethical, environmental, and economic issues raised by the dispute.Excellent film that explores the true reality of the fur trade with some graphic scenes. Not recommended for the kiddies; stick to 101 Dalmatians for that. If you wore fur before watching this, your morality will be drastically changed. Enough said.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsBruce WillisMadeleine StoweBrad PittIn a future world devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the human population on the planet.
- DirectorCurt JohnsonStarsGreg KellyPaul WatsonAnnemarie LucasAn in-depth look at the animal rights movement and the FBI's recent declaration calling them the number one domestic terrorist threat to the United States.
- DirectorKen KwapisStarsDrew BarrymoreJohn KrasinskiJohn PingayakIn small-town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his Greenpeace-volunteer ex-girlfriend on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly-forming ice in the Arctic Circle.
- DirectorMichael SchaackStarsUlrich TukurMario AdorfHelge SchneiderA cat must investigate brutal murders of other cats in a neighborhood he has moved into with his owner.
- DirectorJoy BatchelorJohn HalasStarsGordon HeathMaurice DenhamA successful farmyard revolution by the resident animals vs. the farmer goes horribly wrong when the victors create a new tyranny among themselves.
- DirectorDenis Henry HennellyStarsJoaquin PastorRandolph MantoothSheila VandCharlie Cranehill, an animal liberator wanted for domestic terrorism, emerges from the underground to coordinate a nationwide action as his estranged CEO father tries to find him before the FBI does.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsErrol FlynnJuliette GrécoTrevor HowardIn French Equatorial Africa, an idealist ecologist starts a campaign of public awareness to help save the African elephants from extinction.
- DirectorLiz MarshallStarsMarcel SabaLori ReesePerrie WardellA cinematic documentary that illuminates the lives of individual animals living within and rescued from the machine of our modern world.
- DirectorTom SimonSarah TealeStarsPeteBradley MillerBob BakerDeath on a Factory Farm follows the undercover investigation of Wiles Hog Farm by the animal rights group: The Humane Farming Association (HFA), and the resulting court case against it. The organization received a tip from an employee at the farm that animals were being abused, including a claim that hogs were being hung by chains and strangled to death as a form of euthanasia. Horrifying but true. HFA then turned to an undercover investigator going by the name "Pete." The investigator wore a hidden camera while he worked undercover as a farmhand at Wiles. Over the course of six weeks, the investigator secretly filmed numerous incriminating scenes, including piglets being tossed into crates from across a room, impregnated sows held in pens impeded their ability to move, an unhealthy piglet being hit against a wall to euthanize it, and a sick sow being hung by a chain from a forklift until it choked to death. Having obtained this evidence, Pete concluded the investigation and quit the job at the farm. HFA brought Pete's footage to the Wayne County Sheriff's Department, which then raided the farm. Prosecutors filed ten criminal charges of animal cruelty against the farm's owners, and a farm employee who participated in hanging the sow. In the subsequent trial, the prosecutors and the defense fought about the legality and morality of these practices, described by the presiding judge as "distasteful and offensive". However, the Judge defended these practices as the reality of producing pork for consumption. Disgusting!
- DirectorMyriam AlauxVictor SchonfeldStarsJulie ChristieRichard CourseSandy DennisThe film offers a comprehensive examination of the exploitation of animals in modern society.
- DirectorSamuel McAnallenStarsSteven BestNick GylawBernard RollinA documentary that systematically challenges the common human belief that humans are superior to other life forms. The documentary reveals the absurdity of this belief while exploding human bias.
- DirectorMartin BeldersonStarsJulian PettiferTej Kumar ShresthaRam Prit YadavA film profile of the park rangers in Bardia National Park who have to protect the mountain kingdom's river dolphins, tigers, one-horned rhinos, gharial crocodiles and elephants from poachers. In a country as poor as Nepal, the value of these animals to the illegal wildife trade is a constant temptation. And the animals do not help, they constantly wander into the farmlnds around Bardia, maiming and killing the peasant farmers. The film higlights the plight of the dolphins who swim in the gorges of the Himalaya. They are not only threatened by poachers but by hydro-electric projects that will sever their migratory routes.
- DirectorGabriela CowperthwaiteStarsTilikumDave DuffusSamantha BergA documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales.
- DirectorDanielle Schreier"Giving Thanks" (2007) redefines the traditional animal welfare film through one woman's unconventional journey with a Thanksgiving turkey. This unique and moving film begins with an examination of the history behind Thanksgiving and America's transition from small, family farms to the factory farms of today. The filmmaker interviews countless subjects, including a turkey plant operator who has 'adopted' one of his birds and turned it into a pet. Having viewed countless turkeys in abusive conditions, the filmmaker wonders if she can't similarly espouse a turkey. She concludes that this year she will raise, instead of eat, a Thanksgiving turkey. When the filmmaker learns that the bird she has rescued from a production farm is so sick that it is barely alive, she realizes quickly that she was in for a far more of an adventure than she could have anticipated. In her desperate plight to save her new pet she visits multiple animal sanctuaries and learns more about factory farming and the turkey industry than she could ever have imagined. The only question that remains is if her rescued turkey will survive long enough to ever enjoy freedom.
- StarsRay WiseJohn SloanKarynn MooreAfter a cow explodes from eating petroleum based pellets an organic farmer tries to expose America's more dubious agricultural practices.