Documentaries have a way of opening our eyes to ideas we’d never considered and introducing us to information that broadens our perspectives. They often elicit emotions from the viewer and regularly inspire people to take action. To say they are underappreciated is an understatement. Recently, I’ve been wracking my brain trying to determine what documentaries have impacted me the most, so without further ado, here are eight thought-provoking documentaries that I wholeheartedly recommend:

1. 'Blackfish'

This one’s a heartbreaker. It will ensure that you never go to Seaworld again. Beyond that, it will make you want to fight Seaworld. The film details the cruel and negligent manner in which Seaworld treats its orca whales. Specifically, it follows Tilikum, a specific orca associated with the deaths of three Seaworld personnel. It shows how the captivity of the orcas can essentially drive them to insanity and really makes you feel for the poor creatures that suffer for people’s entertainment. You don’t have to be an animal rights activist to appreciate “Blackfish”. You just have to be human.

2. 'Food, Inc.'

“Food, Inc.” has a way of infuriating you and scaring you at the same time. The movie details how the practices of the meat and produce industries are neither economically nor environmentally sustainable. Specifically, for the meat portion of the film, it also displays the inhumane conditions under which many corporations keep their livestock. Additionally, it shines a light on how deceptive food labeling is and how many household food businesses have a way of selling us contaminated food while yielding massive profits. If you eat food of any kind, watch Food, Inc.

3. 'I Am Not Your Negro'

Based on an unfinished manuscript by civil rights advocate James Baldwin, “I Am Not Your Negro” follows the activism of Medgar Evans, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr. from the eyes of James Baldwin. All three men lost their lives for the causes they supported and the actions of all three heavily affect the world we live in today. The history of American racism is also explored in other capacities that are especially relevant in today’s world. Anyone looking to have an in-depth discussion on race in America should watch this.

4. 'Inside Job'

Another infuriating film, “Inside Job” explores the causes and effects of the 2008 financial crisis. It highlights the ways in which extreme deregulation and ubiquitous corruption throughout the financial industry resulted in a recession that the middle class essentially paid the price for. It then explained how many of the people responsible for the crisis were never reprimanded for their actions because most of them were legal at the time. Despite how drab some of the subject matter sounds, the film’s pacing and its mix of hostile and revelatory interviews keep you engaged the entire time.

5. 'Jesus Camp'

Disclaimer: I understand this documentary does not depict the way that most people of faith, Christians specifically, behave. That being said, it does provide insight into an underbelly of religious fundamentalism here in the United States. The film follows the activities that go on at a radical Christian youth summer camp in North Dakota. The camp was essentially brainwashing children with an ultraconservative political perspective and a fanatical version of Christianity. “Jesus Camp” offers a fascinating take on religious identity in America that will definitely make you think about your position and others’.

6. 'More Than Honey'

The bees are dying at an alarming rate. We’ve all heard it, but what does that really mean and how will it affect us if this gets out of hand? This documentary explores the answer to that dire question. It outlines how and why honeybees are essential to the continued human life on Earth. I’d also like to add that, if this Slate article is to be believed the bees are actually doing pretty well right now. But nonetheless, if we don’t keep pesticide use in check and continue to appropriately monitor their populations, bee endangerment could easily be back on the table and that would be catastrophic.

7. 'The Thin Blue Line'

A film that basically managed to acquit a falsely accused man, “The Thin Blue Line” tells the story of Randall Adams, who was wrongly imprisoned for twelve years for murdering a police officer. The title is a reference to the idea that police are "the thin blue line" that separates society from anarchy. The movie uses a series of interviews with the many people involved in the court case as well as several reenactments of the criminal act itself. By the end, a clear narrative has been pieced together and the real killer all but confesses to the murder. Anyone interested in a story of law enforcement negligence and corruption would enjoy this one.

8. '13th'

This movie will get you to Woke Level 100. This movie is so incredibly insightful about race and mass incarceration and it simultaneously saddens and enrages you. “13^th”, named after the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, provides a well-argued explanation for why the current prison system is, for all intents and purposes, an extension of American slavery. It sounds outlandish; it sounds extreme; it sounds like a bizarre conspiracy theory, I know. But just watch the movie. Director Ava DuVernay lays out her case in an accessible and completely logical manner that will make you rethink everything you think you know. This is another one that will keep you invested from start to finish. I recommend this one for everybody honestly.