The idea of changing the world may seem vast and unattainable, but with the many ways people are achieving this on a daily basis it seems more and more doable as time goes on. With social media, it’s easier to find out about people making a difference in their community all around the world, and those people often inspire others to do the same, creating this beautiful ripple effect of positive change.

With the rise of documentaries being produced comes a rise in the awareness of all kinds of problems, from the ethics of the palm oil industry to the starvation of children in different parts of the world, and with it has come a new generation of people looking for a way to help.

If you are one of those people, you might be confused about where to start when it comes to learning about what’s going on and what needs to be done, but you need look no further. This article contains a comprehensive list of documentaries that are life-changers and will motivate you to get up and make a difference.

The best part is that all of the below films are free to watch online, unless otherwise stated. Just click on the title and it will direct you to the site where they can be viewed. Go forth and watch these films, then let us know in the comments what you thought of some of these titles.

The Economics of Happiness ($5)

Explores the world’s conflicting states: those who want to consolidate corporate power and advocate for globalization and those who want to de-regulate these old institutions of power.

Money & Life

This documentary asks a fundamental question: what if we saw the economic crisis not as a disaster, but as an opportunity?

The New Story for Humanity

Promotes learning from other cultures to create a new story for humanity going forward that relies on the interconnectedness of humans and the environment.

Schooling the World

Takes a look at the effects of modern education on the world’s last remaining indigenous cultures.

War Made Easy

Exposes a 50-year pattern of government deception and media spin that has forced the U.S. into war over and over again.

The Corporation

Examines the nature, evolution, impacts and future of the modern business corporation and the increasing role it plays in society and our everyday lives.

HUMAN

Captures deeply personal and emotional accounts of topics that unite us all; struggles with poverty, war, homophobia, and the future of our planet mixed with moments of love and happiness.

Crossroads: Labor Pains of a New Worldview

The film reveals the inner workings of the human experience in the 21st century, urging viewers to step out of the box and challenge their own assumptions about who we really are, and why we do what we do.

Within Reach ($5)

One couple sold all of their belongings to “bike-pack” 6500 miles around the U.S. to explore 100 ecovillages, cohousing communities, co-op houses, communes, transition towns, and their own principles and commitment.

Dirt! The Movie

It tells the story of Earth’s most valuable and under-appreciated source of fertility–from its miraculous beginning to its crippling degradation.