Jun12
Top 10 Movies That Make You Go Meatless
Posted at 09:37 AM | Permalink
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Comments (23)
‘Cuz why not? Here they are – the top 10 films that’ll inspire you to go vegetarian. Let us know which ones you like best, or feel free to add to the list in the comments.
- Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2008). See the KFC-esque "American Chicken Bunker" get skewered in this film about chickens who return from the grave to seek revenge against their killers. Throw in a few lesbian protesters, musical numbers about Native American burial grounds, and fry-o-lators, and you've got yourself a vegetarian-manifesto masterpiece.
- Soylent Green (1973). Overpopulation and environmental devastation have led to a world where food is scarce and prices have sky-rocketed (sound familiar?), and the only way to survive is by eating a mysterious food called "Soylent Green." But the real food for thought is when Chuck Heston discovers that "Soylent Green is people!" (Please, pass the veggies!)
- Babe (1995). This film has turned legions of people into vegetarians—including its star, James Cromwell—because who could "pig out" again after watching that cute little piglet charm Farmer Hogett?
- Delicatessen (1991). As if foie gras weren't disgusting enough, this post-apocalyptic comedy gives new meaning to "French cuisine" when a landlord serves cannibalistic meals to his tenants.
- Fast Food Nation (2006). This film takes a compelling look at the destructive impact that eating meat has on animals, people's health, and the environment. Bruce Willis' "tough talk" scene about the suspect ingredients found in meat—while chomping on a huge burger—is priceless.
- The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Leatherface and his family members really know how to throw a dinner party: blood, gore, and all the human flesh that you can eat. Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons calls The Texas Chainsaw Massacre a "vegetarian" movie. "The way that woman was screaming, 'Aaaahhh,' and she's running away—that's how every animal you eat is running for his or her life," he says.
- Super Size Me (2004). Morgan Spurlock documents the ill effects that his 30-day, McDonald's-only diet has on his body, giving new meaning to the phrase "Big Mac attack."
- Chicken Run (2000). That's right: Laying hens don't "retire"—they get turned into "Mrs. Tweedy's Homemade Chicken Pies." This movie is the best that celluloid (and clay) has to offer in making the case for scrambled tofu.
- Sweeney Todd (2007). This tells the story of a demon barber who conspires with a woman who uses human flesh in her meat pies. The only thing yummy in this blood-splattered spectacle is Johnny Depp.
- I Am an Animal (2007). Showing everything from undercover video footage shot inside a turkey slaughterhouse to a rescued turkey singing along to classical music, this documentary about PETA founder Ingrid E. Newkirk is one of the best cases for a Tofurky Thanksgiving.
As Ingrid Newkirk puts it, "Picking up the remote can become a life-changing act when you watch one of these movies. If animals wrote movie reviews, they'd give these films two paws up."
TAGGED:
vegetarian top 10 movies
Comments
Great list, and Ingrid Newkirk is definitely right!
Posted by: Jason Levy | June 12, 2008 10:19 AM
Fast food nation is disturbing on many levels. I was glad that my parents rented it because they do not want to hear about the bloody truth when I tell them. Horror films can be pretty good at scaring people off of meat (cannibalism accidental or otherwise) but on the other hand they tend to feature a LOT of animal cruelty. Some nasty ones are Suicide Circle,Malice,Funny Games,Merebito, Tank Girl ( her poor yak/cow!!), Pulse, Snakes on a Plane etc.Dogs are often the targets in films. Honestly if you want to explore how truly f****d up humans can be leave the animals out of it. Beethoven has alerted some people to animal testing. Princess Mononoke made me love wolves even more.The Cat Returns and other H.M movies are usually pretty respectful of animals and nature. I always found it ironic when my extended family would sit down to watch Chicken Run(and cheer on the chickens) while chowing down on fried chicken! There is another documentary called Daily Bread about the entire food processing industry with some graphic slaughter.
Posted by: Annalena | June 12, 2008 11:14 AM
Earthlings, of course, would be an essential addition (as well as Behind The Mask).
The top 10 books would also be very blog-worthy.
Posted by: Mike Quinoa | June 12, 2008 11:48 AM
I am an amimal changed my life. I stopped eating meat and now I will do everything in my power to help prevent animal cruelty, there is no reason for it. Ingrid Newkirk is now a personal hero of mine, I strive to have her bravery.
Posted by: Kelly Waisanen | June 12, 2008 01:19 PM
I saw Sweeney Todd and it's awkward how the way Johnny killed the humans - by slitting their throat - is the exact same way that the animals are killed by. Ironic...=/
Posted by: Marissa | June 12, 2008 01:26 PM
Texas Chainsaw Massacre isn't "A vegetarian movie" it's "THE vegetarian movie"!!! The crass exploitation of the act of killing serves to remind every meat-eater of the brutality of the lifestyle that they've chosen.
Posted by: Cangrejero | June 12, 2008 03:58 PM
You left out Charlotte's Web
Posted by: Janet Fitzgerald | June 12, 2008 05:14 PM
Geez, some spoiler warnings, please.
Posted by: Dan | June 12, 2008 07:12 PM
Also, the fact that Sweeney Todd slits throats is not ironic; it's coincidental.
Posted by: Dan | June 12, 2008 07:21 PM
"Babe," in my opinion, is the ultimate vegetarian movie, but I'd say that "Charlotte's Web" should definitely be on this list as well. It was the first movie that made me question eating meat. Ironically, my grandparents bought it for me at a McDonald's. Also, has anyone seen "Gordy"? It was a live-action Disney movie somewhat similar to "Babe." It really upset me when I first saw it. I can blame all of the pig movies for turning me vegetarian, I guess. ^_^;;
Posted by: Jessica | June 12, 2008 07:33 PM
Why would you ruin the ending of soylent green. That's just mean , I don't run the ending to movies that you haven't seen.
Posted by: angry man | June 12, 2008 07:44 PM
Earthlings,
Meet Your Meat,
Charlotte's Web...
Oh, looks like other people already said those. Here are some others:
Alive,
The Twilight Zone episode "To Serve Man,"
Snakes on a Plane...
OK, OK, I'm joking about the last one :)
Posted by: Elaine Vigneault | June 12, 2008 10:13 PM
where is charlites web??
Posted by: briar davis | June 12, 2008 10:34 PM
It was definitely Fast Food Nation that did it for me. I haven't looked back since reading the actual book by Schlosser.
Posted by: Melissa Gauthier | June 13, 2008 12:26 AM
The fur trade farms in China are absolutely gruesome. Being skinned ALIVE & I mean ALIVE is appaulling. If that doesn't change your eating habits, you belong in the cave. I viewed the video on the petatv.com fur farm video. DISGUSTING!!!! My heart goes out to those poor animals who have suffered at the hands of these despicable humans.
Posted by: cath | June 13, 2008 08:26 PM
None of those movies made me go "meatless". I grew up on a farm, I've known from the time I was old enough to talk where meat comes from.
Posted by: AJ | June 13, 2008 10:40 PM
"The fur trade farms in China are absolutely gruesome. Being skinned ALIVE & I mean ALIVE is appaulling. If that doesn't change your eating habits, you belong in the cave. I viewed the video on the petatv.com fur farm video."
Perhaps you should not be so quick to judge others, especially considering the different ethical standards between China and the United States. It is easy for one is a position of luxury and privilege to call others wrong. Maybe you should should live in a cave so that no creature will suffer to maintain your lifestyle! :-D
Or you could hold your self righteous delusions.
Posted by: Jimmy Chan | June 14, 2008 05:20 PM
Jimmy Chan: I really don't think it matters where people are from. A lot of the people posting here are not from the US. Different ethical standards are not a good reason to commit any kind of atrocity or harm to another sentient being. I am not coming from a position of luxury, and I can still say that the skinning of animals ANYWHERE or for ANY reason is wrong.
AJ: Perhaps the fact that you were desensitized at such a young age is why you are unable to feel sorrow for the way these animals are murdered for your fleeting pleasure. I apologize that you had to be exposed to that.
Posted by: Vi | June 16, 2008 09:26 PM
Jimmy, I don't think Cath meant to imply that Americans are saints and that the Chinese are evil.
I think she was just reacting to a disturbing video. I can say that the stray cats in Greece are treated terribly - but that does not mean I'm insulting all the citizens of Greece.
If anything I think that we are criticizing the govenments - of all countries which allow this stuff to go on. That obviously includes the U.S.
;)
Posted by: Maya, CVT | June 16, 2008 09:54 PM
I had been a vegan for years, had seen the horrible footage on PETA.com, but seeing I Am an Animal brought it all back. I was very angry at how cruel people were. It made me very bitter towards people who don't care about animals, and reinforced my veganism.
Posted by: Nicole | August 10, 2008 10:33 AM
we feed the world
eating
earthlings
the animal movie
skritek (skřítek)
Posted by: radi | November 3, 2008 09:01 AM
Year of the Dog (2007/I) is pretty good too.
Posted by: Jivko | April 17, 2009 06:25 AM
Why isn't Earthlings on this list? It was one of the most disturbing films I have ever seen. Anyone who eats meat should watch it.
Posted by: Lisa | November 19, 2009 09:27 AM