Top 5 Documentaries About Mushrooms and Other Psychedelic Drugs
Psychedelics have the attention of America.
Just about everyone is interested in effective healing solutions for health and well-being, and it’s clear that traditional solutions aren’t working.
So how does someone go from a doubter of psychedelics to a believer in psychedelics?
There are a few ways. Some people learn best by reading, so they might check out the Best Books on Psychedelic Therapy.
Others might save the reading for later and prefer to jump into a movie.
Luckily, there are some great films and documentaries about psychedelics which can help anyone learn about psychedelics.
Here are some of our and our clients’ favorites.
Fantastic Fungi (2019)
Louie Schwartzberg directs this visually-stunning, remarkable film, narrated by Brie Larson, who walks us through the amazing power of mushrooms and fungi.
These organisms are not quite plants, not quite animals. They were the first living things on earth and will likely be the last.
Scientists and mycologists, including Paul Stamets, talk throughout the documentary about how these organisms offer amazing healing benefits to humans and the planet.
To the mushroom-curious individual, Fantastic Fungi is the best place to get started. You can watch the the trailer below and the full documentary on Netflix:
How To Change Your Mind (2022) - Michael Pollan
Based on Michael Pollan's New York Times Best Selling book of the same name, this four part documentary series provides an overview of psychedelics and the use of these plants as medicines.
Pollan caught wind of the psychedelic renaissance in the mid 2010s and, as an investigative journalist, decided to try these plants himself.
He put his personal findings, historical research, and interviews with psychedelic pioneers into his book and this documentary series.
Featuring several psychedelic researchers, How To Change Your Mind guides the viewer through the science behind MDMA and classic psychedelics like LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and mescaline containing cacti.
This docuseries shows us how psychedelics hold immense promise for individuals with post traumatic stress disorder, clinical depression, and alcohol addiction.
The Way Of The Psychonaut: Stanislav Grof’s Journey Of Consciousness (2020)
This hour long documentary film explores the life and work of psychiatrist and psychedelic pioneer Stanislav Grof.
Grof is responsible for several significant psychedelic findings:
Groundbreaking psychedelic research on LSD
Holotropic breathwork as a non-substance induced altered state of consciousness
Transpersonal psychology as a framework for facilitating psychedelic therapy
The Way of The Psychonaut delivers a deep dive into world of psychedelic therapy, spiritual awakening, and consciousness.
You can watch the trailer for the film below and buy or rent it here.
Hamilton's Pharmacopeia (2016)
This VICE documentary series follows Hamilton Morris, psychedelic enthusist and researcher, as he investigates the science, history, and cultural use of psychedelic drugs.
Drug development is the subject of billion dollar life science companies and it has massive implications on the lives of Americans.
We see medicine commercials and advertisements every day, but how did we get here and what agenda is behind this?
Morris explores psychedelics and other psychoactive drugs through his own personal experience and experiments.
If the power of magic mushrooms peaked your interest, check out this docu-series to discover even more about what's out there.
You can watch it on VICE or check out the season 3 trailer below:
Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics (2020)
Narrated by Nick Offerman, this interview-style piece features actors, musical artists, and comedians.
Each celebrity talks about their unique psychedelic experience and shares insights into what it was like, not just whether or not it helped them.
Through story-telling, comedy, and animation, Have A Good Trip provides a window into the cultural relevance of these psychedelic medicines.
The film is light-hearted and entertaining, offering a nice break from the research and clinical light within which we often picture psychedelics.
For those who are still unsure about psychedelics, perhaps start elsewhere. If you're already "on-board" this should bring you some good laughs.
You can watch on NETFLIX or check out the trailer below:
More on Magic Mushrooms, Psychedelic Research and Therapy
We've provided this short list so you can easily get started watching documentaries on psychedelics.
That said, there are dozens of well-made, well-researched documentaries and films on plant medicines and the healing potential of these powerful psychedelic substances for mental health issues.
Here are a few honorable mentions that you might explore next:
The Mind, Explained: Psychedelics (2019) - This docu-series has one 21 min episode on psychedelics and their effects on the brain. Available on Netflix
Magic Medicine (2018) - This documentary follows the research of Imperial College of London as they run a trial for clinical depression and guide people on therapeutic psychedelic experiences. Available on YouTube
Ram Dass, Going Home (2017) - A short documentary on the life and teachings of psychologist and spiritual teacher Ram Das, known for incorporating Eastern philosophy into Western Psychology. Available on Netflix.
Do you have a movie in mind that didn't make the list? We'd love to hear about it and include it in a newsletter or future article.
You can make contact with us at Pivot to share more about what excited you about psychedelics.
