Climate Reality Check: Exploring Award-Winning Titles Like ‘Bugonia’ and ‘Sirāt’ That Address Environmental Issues
Climate Reality Check: Third Edition Released, Highlights Films Addressing Climate Change
The third edition of the Climate Reality Check, a detailed assessment of how feature films portray climate change, was published this afternoon.
Compiled by Good Energy, a consultancy focused on collaborating with TV and film creators telling stories about the climate crisis, the report evaluates films and television series based on two primary criteria: the presence of climate change in the narrative and the awareness of characters regarding this pressing issue.
This year, the report identified sixteen Oscar-nominated scripted feature films that met its eligibility criteria, which stipulate that films must be set in the present, recent past, or future, on Earth. Among these, five films successfully passed the evaluation: Arco, Bugonia, Jurassic World Rebirth, The Lost Bus, and Sirāt.
This results in a pass rate of 31%, a notable increase from the 10% recorded in 2025.
The report emphasized, “Climate isn’t a genre. These five films are strikingly different from one another, spanning genres, tones, and scales, from intimate animation to blockbuster franchise spectacle. Climate reality appears in satire and survival drama, in independent film and major studio releases alike.” It highlighted that these films collectively demonstrate the myriad ways climate change can be depicted in cinema, paralleling the diverse experiences of those affected by it.
Additionally, the report remarked, “In dark times, filmmaking is an act of courage. In a moment that calls for extraordinary bravery, creativity, and connection, these five films turn the lens toward the question before us: What does it mean to be human in the age of climate change?”
