Have you seen all vegan documentaries on Netflix and looking for something different? We found some captivating characters who embrace the vegan lifestyle in popular series, cooking shows where vegan participants compete for the first prize, and movies that place animal rights at the forefront.
Get ready to be entertained, educated, and inspired by these 10 Netflix shows for vegans.Â
Ratatouille
“Ratatouille” is a heartwarming and inclusive movie that can resonate with vegans in many ways. Beyond its endearing storyline, the film promotes acceptance and friendship, highlighting the importance of looking beyond appearances and stereotypes. It beautifully showcases the bond between a rat and a human, reminding us that compassion has no boundaries. Apart from eggs, not one meal includes any animal-related product. The star dish, which they call French ratatouille, but is a variation called confit byaldi, is a naturally vegan recipe.
Ferdinand
“Ferdinand” is a heartwarming animated movie that stands out as one of the relatively few kid movies to tackle the topic of animal rights that are also available on Netflix. Based on the beloved children’s book, the movie tells the story of a gentle bull named Ferdinand, who refuses to conform to society’s expectations of bulls being dangerous and aggressive. Instead of bullfighting, he wants to smell flowers. Through its endearing characters and charming storyline, it introduces young audiences to the concept of animal rights in a relatable and accessible way.
Noah
“Noah” is a biblical drama from 2014 about Noah, who dreamed of a flood that would wipe all living beings off the face of the Earth. He builds an ark to save his family and several animal species. Vegan filmmaker Darren Aronofsky directed it. Remarkably, no live animals were used during its production. Every bird, reptile, and mammal is artfully brought to life by CGI technology. It is important since several videos online show behind-the-scenes footage of how animals are treated and trained for the film and TV industry.
Mowgli
“Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle” is the most accurate adaptation of the classic children’s book, “The Jungle Book,” by Rudyard Kipling. It is quite different from the original animated Disney movie from 1967 and Disney’s live-action movie, “Jungle Book,” directed by Jon Favreau. This movie features actors and computer-generated animals similar to Noah to tell the story of Mowgli, who is raised by wolves in India. With a dark and grounded tone reminiscent of the original novel, it is geared more toward adult audiences. Mowgli highlights the dark side of hunting, taxidermy, and human cruelty against wildlife.
Okja
“Okja” takes place in an unsettling future, where farmers breed giant pig-like creatures for food. The story revolves around a young girl named Mija’s quest to rescue her beloved Okja. The animal was brought to New York from South Korea, where it had lived with Mija for ten years. This captivating story prompts viewers to reflect on the ethics of animal exploitation and the impact of our choices without explicitly preaching a vegan message.
Legally Blonde 2
In “Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde,” Reese Witherspoon’s iconic character Elle Woods takes animal rights to the political stage. Throughout the movie, Elle has an unwavering dedication to championing a bill prohibiting the use of animals in cosmetics testing. Through her tenacity and legal prowess, she is shedding light on the cruelty of animal testing and advocating for a more compassionate approach to beauty products.
Travelers
“Travelers” is a TV series on Netflix with three seasons that takes viewers on a thrilling journey through time. Set in a future where consciousness can be transferred to the past, a team of “Travelers” assumes the lives of people moments before their deaths to change the course of history and prevent a catastrophic future. Throughout the show, there are references to the future being predominantly vegan. One of the characters named Grant, played by Eric McCormack, expresses his surprise at the presence of cow’s milk in the coffee. Another character called, Ellis experiences emotional reactions when confronted with bacon.
Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.
“Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives.” is a docuseries on Netflix that debuted in 2022. The series tells the astonishing story of Sarma Melngailis, the former owner of New York City’s renowned vegan restaurant, Pure Food and Wine. It unravels the shocking events surrounding Sarma’s marriage to Anthony Strangis, a conman known as Shane Fox. Sarma states that Anthony coerced her into stealing money from her restaurant, leading to their eventual flight from the authorities. The couple is charged with illegally transferring over $1.6 million from the restaurant to their personal accounts.
Crazy Delicious
“Crazy Delicious” is a creative cooking show from the UK and is available for streaming on Netflix worldwide. In this six-part food competition, talented participants battle in a fairytale garden with extraordinary dishes. What sets this show apart is the inclusion of Romy London, the sole vegan contestant. Romy brings her innovative plant-based culinary skills to showcase the creativity and deliciousness of vegan cuisine. In the episode she participated in, the task was to devise a creative recipe using oyster mushrooms like vegan chicken wings and reinvent the classic grilled cheese sandwich.
Superstore (honorable mention)
“Superstore” is a sitcom that follows the hilarious and sometimes chaotic lives of the employees at a store called Cloud 9, where they navigate work, relationships, and quirky customers. Regrettably, as of January 2023, the show is no longer available on Netflix. While it is uncertain whether it will come back, we have to mention it since there is an explicitly vegan character, Dina, played by Lauren Ash. Dina is the assistant store manager, who mentions being vegan several times. Despite on cringy theme (no spoiler alert), she is a loveable vegan character to root for.