Documentaries that changed my perspective on the world

Dec 07, 2024

I’ve always had a soft spot for documentaries; sometimes preferring them to fiction films or sweeping biopics. There’s something especially powerful about real stories that can make you angry, relieved, inspired, or all three at once. They don’t just entertain us; they educate and challenge the way we see the world.

Over the years, I’ve been captivated (and occasionally horrified) by documentaries that have reshaped my perspective on things. From exposing the darker sides of everyday industries to spotlighting courageous individuals fighting for change. The below documentaries are the ones that have had the most impact on me, to date.

So, grab your popcorn (or maybe a salad if Super Size Me leaves you feeling queasy) and let me share my favourite documentaries.

Blackfish (Netflix)

The documentary that got me into documentaries. I went to SeaWorld when I was seven years old, and I saw Tilikum - the whale featured in Blackfish - ‘perform.’ It’s awful to think about now, as only a few years later Tilikum was responsible for killing a SeaWorld trainer during a performance.

Blackfish covers the story of Tilikum, the torturous realities of Orca captivity, and how this tragic death of Dawn Brancheau was ultimately doomed to happen.

It’s heartbreaking and infuriating, but eye-opening and important and it caused quite a stir within the US in particular. Orca captivity is now illegal, thankfully.

Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (Netflix)

This documentary is as disturbing as it sounds. Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story peels back the layers of the once ‘beloved’ TV personality’s horrifying double life, exposing how he manipulated his fame to hide decades of horrific abuse.

As someone who enjoys learning, watching and reading about Britain in the eighties it was an interesting, if disturbing, look into society’s blind spots and the ease with which so many turned a blind eye to things so obviously happening around them. A hard watch but an impactful one.

Virago: One Page at a Time (BBC)

A celebration of feminist publishing might not sound like edge-of-your-seat stuff, but Virago: One Page at a Time is utterly inspiring. It inspired me to get into publishing. I still clearly remember watching this BBC Four program on the train as I commuted into London. It motivated me to get a job as a Marketing and Publicity Executive in publishing.

The documentary chronicles the history of Virago Press, founded by Dame Carmen Callil, highlighting the trailblazing women who championed female authors - now household names like Margaret Atwood, Maya Angelou and Angela Carter - and reshaped the literary world. It will leave you wanting to binge-read every Virago Modern Classic in existence.

Athlete A (Netflix)

Athlete A is an unflinching documentary that focuses on the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, focusing on the courageous survivors and the investigative journalists who exposed it. It’s an infuriating, heartbreaking, and deeply moving real-life story of something awful, which was seemingly easy to commit.

If you’ve ever watched Gymnastics at the Olympics, this documentary will forever change your perception and make you wonder what those children - because they are children - are put through to get there; it’s sadly not just stretching and flips.

Super Size Me (Amazon Prime)

What happens when a guy eats nothing but McDonald’s for 30 days? Spoiler: nothing good. I watched Super Size Me at school when it first came out in the early 2000s. Since its release, Morgan Spurlock it’s director and main subject, was accused of serious sexual misconduct and has since passed away. But this documentary was a fascinating and mortifying look into the impact of the world’s favourite fast food, which ultimately changed a lot of what the chain offered - including the size of its portion. By the end of watching this documentary, you’ll be rethinking your next Big Mac order, that’s for sure.

And there you have it. Some of the most thought-provoking documentaries that have completely reshaped my perspective. From questioning the ethics of popular theme parks to realising the power of multiple women’s voices. These films have left a lasting impression on me.

Have you got a favourite documentary that changed your perspective? Let me know in the comments.