Top 14 Paleo Films & TV Shows
There seem to be quite a few Paleo Films and TV shows with a Paleo theme.
My favourites are: –
- Robb Wolf in ICaveman As I'm sure everyone has heard by now Robb Wolf was just on ICaveman on Discovery spreading the Paleo message.
- Tom Naughton’s Fat Head Tom made this film in response to “Super Size Me” and it’s a great watch, Tom is a very funny guy!
- Food Inc This film is about how big corporations control Americas food industry, scary watching!
- Food Matters This documentary is about the role of nutrition in health, an obvious link, but one that is often ignored.
- Fresh This is a good follow-on film to Food Inc, addressing how we go about changing the way food is produced.
- Flow All about water…
- King Corn How the food system works
- Future of Food Food and GMO
- Forks over Knives Linking diseases with processed foods
- Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead How an overweight man saved himself by taking control of his diet
- Gourmet Farmer This is a documentary series filmed in Tasmania, Australia following a former restaurant critic as he attempts to become self sufficient on his recently acquired farm. He’s not Paleo and it is a bit of an Aussie version of Riverside cottage – but it’s all about whole, real food and self sufficiently – and that is Paleo.
- Riverside Cottage Perhaps the inspiration for “Gourmet Farmer” another series about self sufficiency and real food.
- Man V’s Wild It doesn't get much more Paleo than watching Bear Grylls mastering the art of survival in very challenging environments!
- Castaway So, not strictly Paleo, but it has Tom Hanks in it and explores quite a Primal situation!
More Paleo-Inspired Documentaries to Add to Your Watchlist
There’s no shortage of powerful documentaries and series that shine a light on real food, ancestral health, sustainable living and the systemic issues behind modern food production. If you’re passionate about the Paleo lifestyle, these additional films are worth watching for inspiration, education and insight.
The Magic Pill
The Magic Pill is an Australian-made documentary that follows several people with chronic illnesses as they transition to a low-carb, high-fat, real-food diet. The film features experts like Pete Evans and Dr. Gary Fettke and draws parallels with ancestral eating patterns — closely aligned with Paleo. It covers Indigenous nutrition, the reversal of Type 2 diabetes, autism, and the power of real food.
That Sugar Film
That Sugar Film is another Aussie contribution, created by Damon Gameau. It follows his 60-day experiment where he consumes what many would consider a “healthy” low-fat diet — full of hidden sugars. The results are shocking, and the film does a great job exposing the deceptive food labelling practices and dangers of processed food. While not strictly Paleo, it makes a compelling argument for a return to whole foods.
In Defense of Food
In Defense of Food, based on Michael Pollan’s book of the same name, is a beautifully shot film that explores the Western diet and its consequences. Pollan’s advice to “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” aligns with many of the principles of Paleo, especially the emphasis on real, unprocessed food and avoiding industrialised ingredients.
The Paleo Way
The Paleo Way is a television series created by Australian chef and Paleo advocate Pete Evans. The show explores the science and simplicity of ancestral nutrition, featuring recipes, movement tips and interviews with doctors, researchers and wellness experts. If you’re looking for a more structured, educational programme, this series is ideal — and filmed in Australia, too.
Hunters, Gatherers and Vegans
This thought-provoking documentary contrasts hunter-gatherer societies with modern veganism. It doesn’t take a hard stance on any one diet but offers a balanced look at how traditional diets — often meat-centric — contributed to health and survival. If you’re interested in evolutionary nutrition, it offers important context around how and why humans have eaten animal products throughout history.
Food-Related Series That Align with Paleo Principles
Chef’s Table
Though not explicitly Paleo, Chef’s Table on Netflix occasionally features chefs who focus on foraging, fermentation, and sustainability — all of which support Paleo values. Certain episodes, especially those featuring chefs from traditional and Indigenous backgrounds, highlight the importance of seasonal and local food, connection to nature, and nose-to-tail cooking.
Cooked
Cooked, another Michael Pollan-inspired series, is structured around the four elements: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. It explores how cooking transformed human culture and biology — a key evolutionary step in our species. The series reinforces the benefits of real food, traditional preparation methods and the deep human connection to our meals. It’s highly aligned with Paleo philosophy in its call to return to the roots of how we eat.
Down to Earth with Zac Efron
Though broader in theme, Down to Earth with Zac Efron touches on food systems, clean water, natural remedies and holistic living. The series visits different cultures and communities around the world, exploring how people live in harmony with nature. The Iceland and Sardinia episodes, in particular, are fascinating for their approach to ancestral-style diets and community-based living.
Survival-Based Entertainment with a Primal Edge
If you love the raw, survival side of Paleo, there are more options beyond Man vs. Wild and Castaway. Here are a few shows with a primal edge:
Alone
Alone is a survival competition series where participants are dropped into remote wilderness with minimal gear and must survive as long as possible — hunting, foraging and building shelter entirely on their own. It’s a real-life test of primal living and has incredible lessons in resourcefulness, food preparation, and mental resilience.
Survivorman
Survivorman with Les Stroud is another classic survival series that leans into traditional skills, wild food and mental fortitude. Unlike many overproduced shows, Stroud is alone, self-filming his experience and often consuming insects, small animals and foraged plants to survive — something any Paleo enthusiast will find fascinating.
Films That Inspire a Paleo Mindset
Into the Wild
This beautifully filmed movie tells the story of Christopher McCandless, who leaves behind modern society to live off the land in Alaska. While tragic, it highlights the desire many feel to disconnect from consumerism and return to simplicity and nature — a key tenet of Paleo thinking.
Before the Flood
Before the Flood is a powerful documentary about climate change featuring Leonardo DiCaprio. While not food-focused, it’s relevant to the Paleo mindset of sustainability, conscious consumption and our relationship with the natural world.
Have You Found a Hidden Gem?
It’s always great to uncover lesser-known shows or films that align with ancestral health, sustainability, or traditional food wisdom. If you’ve watched something inspiring recently — whether it’s fiction or documentary — that celebrates real food, minimalism, movement or self-reliance, I’d love to hear about it. This list is far from complete, and the world of Paleo-relevant media is growing all the time.
I'm sure I've missed hundreds of Paleo related documentaries, films and TV shows. I love to hear about your favourites and what I've missed off the list!
