bitat is threatened in his newfound home in Florida.
- Shooting Vegetarians. A young vegetarian is forced to go into his father's business as a butcher and finds a strange way to exact his revenge for it in this quirky movie.
- Up. This animated film deals with issues of urban sprawl, ecology, and responsible stewardship in the midst of a touching story about unexpected friendships.
- The Cove. This documentary takes a look at both the massive slaughter of dolphins that occurs annually in a small Japanese fishing village and the dangerous health impact of mercury poisoning.
- Silkwood. Based on a true story, this movie recounts the story of Karen Silkwood, an employee at a nuclear processing plant who blew the whistle on worker safety issues going unchecked at the plant.
- Gorillas in the Mist. Another film based on a true story, this one focuses on the work of Dian Fossey as she lived with and studied the mountain gorillas in Rwanda. After fighting against the illegal poaching of the gorillas, she was mysteriously murdered.
Bringing literature to life through film is an excellent way to inspire students to appreciate what they are reading.
- Romeo + Juliet. This popular film retells the Shakespeare classic and is a great way to bring the drama to life.
- Master Harold and the Boys. This drama written by South African Athol Fugard tells a semi-autobiographical story of a teenage boy and his relationship with a black man in the era of apartheid. A new version of this movie is set to be released this year.
- Fahrenheit 451. A firefighter meant to burn all books begins reading a few of them and his eyes are opened to a new perspective.
- Wuthering Heights. Emily Bronte's novel comes to life in this film version.
- Macbeth. Like Romeo + Juliet, this film offers a modern version of the Shakespearean classic.
- A Streetcar Named Desire. This adaptation of Tennessee Williams' play is an excellent version to show your class.
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail. A popular choice in college-level English classes, this movie is not only filled with classic British humor, but also provides examples of the idea of the literary quest, allusions to the legend of King Arthur, and more.
- Dead Poets Society. This film provides a great chance to study the poetry mentioned within as well as show an inspirational film to your students.
- Freedom Writers. A high school teacher inspires her students to reach beyond their tough lives through writing.
If your music class could use a burst of song and inspiration, try these movies.
- The Sound of Music. This famous and much-loved film about the Von Trapp family is a must-see.
- Woodstock. As much about history as it is music, this film chronicles the famous 1969 festival.
- Almost Famous. Following a rising rock band, a young man in high school writes a story for Rolling Stone Magazine on the band.
- West Side Story. The Jets and the Sharks are gangs at odds, but when a member of the Jets falls for the sister of the leader of the Sharks, the story really takes off.
- The Phantom of the Opera. Share this beloved story of a disfigured musician who lives hidden in the Paris opera house and his desire for a young woman.
Science and Technology
From a view of insects in their natural environments to a look at the beginnings to two major computer companies to fictional accounts of science and technology in action, these movies have it all.
- Microcosmos. This French film shows close-ups of insect life in their natural habitats.
- Manhattan Project. When a high school science project becomes larger than expected, chaos ensues.
- Pirates of Silicon Valley. This film provides a biographical peek into the early days of Microsoft and Apple and their founders.
- Project X. When a new recruit to the military is assigned to look after the chimpanzees in Project X, the military gets more than they bargained for.
- TRON. A hacker trying to prove that several computer programs were stolen gets transported into a computer, where he fights evil forces in an effort to replace them with a system security program.
- Ant