International (HQ: United States) · Founded 1954 Formerly Humane Society of the United States / Humane Society International https://www.humaneworld.org/en The institutional heavyweight of animal welfare, rebranded in 2023. Less radical than PETA , more embedded in legislative corridors and corporate boardrooms. They run animal sanctuaries (including Black Beauty Ranch), coordinate disaster response, and push policy at the federal level. They are the "suit-and-tie" wing of th

A documentary following the controversial captivity of killer whales, and its dangers for both humans and whales. Blackfish is arguably the most culturally impactful animal documentary of the 2010s. SeaWorld's stock cratered. Legislation changed. It proved documentaries can win. Imdb link Release date: 19 July 2013 Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite Screenplay: Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Eli B. Despres Production companies: Manny O Productions, CNN Films Producers: Gabriela Cowpe

Jesse, a young boy, works at a park and befriends a whale that refuses to cooperate with its trainer. When Jesse the whale is to be killed by the aquarium owners, the boy risks everything to free him. Imdb link Release date: 26 December 1993 Director: Simon Wincer Music by: Basil Poledouris Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures Running time: 1h 52m Trivia After the movie was released, it brought the living conditions of the star orca, Keiko (Willy) to the world's attention.

A soft-hearted bull, Ferdinand, escapes from Casa del Toro after his father does not return from the bullfight. However, due to a turn of events, he is taken back to the place he escaped from. Imdb link Release date: 22 December 2017 Director: Carlos Saldanha Music by: John Powell Adapted from: The Story of Ferdinand Distributed by: 20th Century Studios Running time: 1h 48m Trivia The 1936 picture book The Story of Ferdinand that inspired this movie was banned in Spain under

The Great Escape, but for hens. When a cockerel apparently flies into a chicken farm, the chickens see him as an opportunity to escape their evil owners. Imdb link Release date: 7 December 2000 Directors: Nick Park, Peter Lord Story by: Peter Lord; Nick Park Distributed by: DreamWorks Pictures, Universal Pictures, Pathé, 20th Century Studios, 20th Century Home Entertainment Running time: 1h 24m Trivia The main characters Ginger and Rocky are named after co-writer Nick Park's

Between 2013 and 2015, a group of nonprofit attorneys seek nonhuman clients for whom they can advocate in two U.S. territories, in order to establish legal personhood for elephants, cetaceans and nonhuman apes in the U.S. Imdb link Release date: 25 January 2016 Directors: Chris Hegedus, D. A. Pennebaker Producers: Chris Hegedus, Frazer Pennebaker, Rosadel Varela Distributed by: First Run Features Cinematography: Chris Hegedus Running time: 1h 31m

Predating Tiger King by a decade, this documentary explores the American trend of keeping exotic animals as pets and the problems that surround the issue. It gained renewed attention after the 2011 Zanesville Animal Massacre, where an exotic animal owner released 56 lions, tigers, and bears before taking his own life; proving the film's warnings as tragically prescient. Imdb link Release date: 2010 Directors: Michael Webber Music by: David Russo Running time: 1h 43m

Revelatory investigative film made by three intrepid, free-diving journalists Gaya, Tanya and Julia, about the global trade in wild sea mammals. Imdb link Release date: 21 March 2016 Director: Gayane Petrosyan Writers: Tatiana Beley, Gayane Petrosyan Stars: Manos Krystalis Producers: Gayane Petrosyan, Mike Lerner Running time: 1h 30m

Using 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. Imdb link Release date: 29 March 2018 Director: Louie Psihoyos Writer: Mark Monroe Running time: 1h 32m 2010 Oscar Winner for Best Documentary