keyboard_arrow_left keyboard_arrow_right CLIMATE ACTION: NOT GREAT FOR MOVIES. BUT...
Think about it. For years, we have been watching movies, reading comics and listening to music which made fossil fuels look cool. And in a planet where coal, oil and gas are heating things up, cool is something they’re definitely not. So maybe it’s time to start making some cool movies, songs and tv shows with renewable energy in the background. It might not make the stories any better, but it will definitely make real life better.

WATCH THE FILMS

Can energy efficiency make movies more exciting? Heat pump installation make them more dramatic? Community energy make them more entertaining? Probably not. Believe us, we’ve tried.

 

You can watch the results below. And maybe agree with us that while climate action doesn’t make for the best plot-twists in fiction, it is in real life where we really need it.

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FOSSIL FUELS IN POP CULTURE

Gas-guzzling cars, oil barons, energy waste… For decades, pop culture has glamorized and promoted fossil fuels and polluting behaviour, sometimes without us noticing.

 

Your favourite TV shows, movies and songs might have been painting a rosier picture of fossil fuels than you realised. Click on the cards to find out exactly why, and also to imagine how we could make them more climate-friendly. That won’t make them any more interesting, but it will definitely make real life better.

GASOLINA

Song by Daddy Yankee
2004

GREASE

Film by Randal Kleiser
1978

THELMA & LOUISE

Film by Ridley Scott
1991

SONS OF ANARCHY

TV Show
2008-2014

ARMAGEDDON

Film by Michael Bay
1998

DALLAS

TV Show
1978-1991

FUEL

Song by Metallica
1997

LOVE ACTUALLY

Film by Richard Curtis
2003

MOTOMAMI

Album and Song by Rosalía
2022

CARS

Film by John Lasseter
2006

TRANSFORMERS

Toys, TV Show and Movie series
1984

BLOOD & OIL

TV Show
2015

THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES

TV Show
1962-1993

TINTIN IN THE LAND OF BLACK GOLD

Comic book
1950

THE POLAR EXPRESS

Film by Robert Zemeckis
2004

THE OFFICE

TV Show
2006

FRIENDS

TV Show
1996

PHINEAS & FERB

TV Show
2008

THE SIMPSONS

TV Show
1994

RATATOUILLE

Film by Brad Bird
2007

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1_Gasolina_Original

GASOLINA

Song by Daddy Yankee
2004

How it portrays fossil fuels

This hit song from 2004 introduced world audiences to Spanish-language reggaeton with a catchy chorus which literally translates as “she likes gasoline, give her more gasoline”.

While we confess to having danced to this song more than once, it would be awesome to think that maybe the next big reggaeton hit could be about a more climate-friendly type of energy.

 

Could it be more climate friendly?
2_Grease_Original

GREASE

Film by Randal Kleiser
1978

How it portrays fossil fuels

This beloved high-school musical premiered in 1978, although the story takes place in the 1950s. And it shows.

Not only because of the greased-up hair, but also because the only thing that John Travolta’s character loves more than singing ballads about teenage love is working on fast, gas-guzzling cars to compete in illegal races.

Would the film’s iconic “Greased Lightin’” be any better if it were about an electric car? Maybe not, but it would certainly be better for real life.

 

Could it be more climate friendly?
3_Thelma&Louise_Original

THELMA & lOUISE

Film by Ridley Scott
1991

How it portrays fossil fuels

In Thelma & Louise, two women did things that, up to that point, were almost exclusively done by men in movies: shooting guns, drinking whiskey… and driving combustion-engine cars across the desert like there’s no tomorrow.

We’re not saying that the movie would have ended any better if they had jumped off the Grand Canyon riding a more sustainable vehicle. But the world will certainly be better if we stop glamorizing gasoline cars.

 

Could it be more climate friendly?
4_SonOfAnarchy_Original

SONS OF ANARCHY

TV Show
2008-2014

How it portrays fossil fuels

A decade after airing its final episode, Sons of Anarchy has spawned a cult following, with people all over the world wearing replicas of their signature vests.

We’re the first to admit that those vests look pretty cool but, should we maybe think twice about idolizing a gang of criminals who not only smuggled drugs and weapons, but also drove highly polluting, petrol-based motorbikes?

Could it be more climate friendly?
5_Armageddon_Original

ARMAGEDDON

Film by Michael Bay
1998

How it portrays fossil fuels

Wait, what does Armageddon have to do with fossil fuels, you ask?

If you’re asking, you might have forgotten that the group of unlikely heroes that end up saving the world from an incoming meteorite are workers from an offshore oil rig.

So… literally the fossil fuel industry saving the planet. Pretty much the opposite of reality.

If there’s ever a remake, why not have them work in an offshore wind farm? The plot won’t be more or less exciting, but it will be better for real life.

 

Could it be more climate friendly?
6_Dallas_Original

DALLAS

TV Show
1978-1991

How it portrays fossil fuels

If you’re a certain age, you probably know this family as well as your own.

Set in oil-rich Texas, Dallas portrays a group of oil barons who lead lives of luxury thanks to one of the worst polluting energies in the world.

We’re all for soap-operas, family dramas and charming villains, but next time, maybe leave the oil part in the 1970s.

 

Could it be more climate friendly?
7_Metallica_Original

FUEL

Song by Metallica
1997

How it portrays fossil fuels

Some songs and movies in this list have subtle messages that can be interpreted as promoting fossil fuels. This isn’t one of the subtle ones.

The lyrics go:

Ooh, on I burn
Fuel is pumping engines
Burning hard, loose, and clean
And on I burn, churning my direction
Quench my thirst with gasoline

We’re pretty sure most doctors would advise against quenching your thirst with gasoline. We would also add that there are cleaner and cheaper alternatives to power a vehicle.

Could it be more climate friendly?
8_Love_Actually_Original

LOVE ACTUALLY

Film by Richard Curtis
2003

How it portrays fossil fuels

This Christmas rom-com classic will melt your heart every time you see it.

Unfortunately, right at the beginning of the film we see something that also melts things, specifically ice sheets: air travel.

We’re not saying that watching people reuniting at the arrival’s gate at Heathrow airport isn’t heartwarming. But you can watch people hugging at any train station with a lot less emissions to show for it.

 

Could it be more climate friendly?
9_motomami_Original

MOTOMAMI

Album and Song by Rosalía
2022

How it portrays fossil fuels

We’re all for Rosalía’s inspiring message. But there has to be a better metaphor for female empowerment than high-polluting petrol motorbikes.

Could it be more climate friendly?
10_cars_Original

CARS

Film by John Lasseter
2022

How it portrays fossil fuels

Who would want to end fossil-based cars when they have such adorable cartoon eyes and they’re given the Pixar treatment?

The truth is, in the real world, gasoline cars aren’t even remotely cute. And the happiest story is the one where we phase them out in favor of cheaper and cleaner alternatives.

Could it be more climate friendly?
11_transformers_Original

TRANSFORMERS

Toys, TV Show and Movie series
1984

How it portrays fossil fuels

If you want to make kids love trucks, cars and all kinds of petrol-based vehicles, try turning them into cool looking robots from outer space.

That might have been acceptable in the eighties, but it’s 2024, and we should know better.

Could it be more climate friendly?
12_Blood&Oil_Original

BLOOD & OIL

TV Show
2015

How it portrays fossil fuels

Set in North Dakota, Blood & Oil is a show that portrays the oil business as one where everybody is either very rich, very handsome or a combination of both.

Maybe it’s time we left the oil magnate trope in the ground and started telling some fresher, cleaner, more climate-friendly stories?

 

Could it be more climate friendly?
13_Bervely_Hillbilies_Original

THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES

TV Show and Movie
1962 / 1993

How it portrays fossil fuels

What’s the only way for a family from rural Missouri to move to posh Beverly Hills? Why, striking oil on their land, of course.

At least that’s what scriptwriters from one of the most popular TV shows in the sixties must have thought.

Over sixty years later, maybe it’s time to stop equating oil with a life of riches and consider cleaner alternatives.

Could it be more climate friendly?
14_TinTin_Original

TINTIN IN THE LAND OF BLACK GOLD

Comic book
1950

How it portrays fossil fuels

Investigating a series of mysterious explosions, Tintin ends up in a fictional middle-eastern country, whose source of wealth is the title’s “black gold”, AKA oil.

Well, oil sure is black. But the emissions caused by burning it sure aren’t golden.

Could it be more climate friendly?
15_Polar_Express_Original

THE POLAR EXPRESS

Film by Robert Zemeckis
2004

How it portrays fossil fuels

In this Christmas tale, a group of children are transported to the North Pole on a train that runs both on magic… and coal.

We don’t know about you, but we’re definitely not looking forward to getting coal for Christmas ever again.

Could it be more climate friendly?
TheOffice

THE OFFICE S02E17

TV Show
2006

How it portrays fossil fuels

In this episode of the show, Oscar is obsessed with controlling the office thermostat, keeping it at 66ºF to –in his words– “stay focused”, while freezing his coworkers in the process.

We all love Oscar, but if there’s something we love more, it’s energy efficiency.

Could it be more climate friendly?
Friends

FRIENDS S02E09

TV Show
1996

How it portrays fossil fuels

In this episode, Rachel and Monica host a Christmas party at their house, but a faulty radiator turns their place into a giant sauna. Unable to get the super to fix it, they turn it into a tropical-themed Christmas party.

Is it funny? Definitely. Is it a great example of why it makes sense to upgrade to using a heat pump to heat (and cool) your home? Absolutely.

Could it be more climate friendly?
PhineasFerb

PHINEAS & FERB S01E11

TV Show
2008

How it portrays fossil fuels

In the middle of summer, Phineas and Ferb decide to create their own personal “S’winter” (a mix of Summer and Winter) by using all electric equipment in their home to make snow and ice.

The episode ends with a catchy song about this newly created season (and energy waste world record), which luckily exists only in cartoon form.

Could it be more climate friendly?
Simpson

THE SIMPSONS S06E01

TV Show
1994

How it portrays fossil fuels

At the beginning of this episode, Springfield undergoes a blistering heatwave. Homer, ever the thinking man, comes up with an unexpected solution: opening the fridge and setting up a tent right in front of it to keep cool.

Homer being Homer, his “brilliant” idea only lasts for a few minutes before the fridge dies and they’re left with extremely high temperatures.

Next time, try a heat pump, Homer.

 

Could it be more climate friendly?
20_Ratatouille_Original

RATATOUILLE

Film by Brad Bird
2007

How it portrays fossil fuels

In this Pixar classic, Remy the rat becomes a secret chef at a high-end French restaurant, hiding inside his friend Linguini’s hat.

As the two bond and learn to love French cuisine, they prepare all kinds of delicious dishes… always using a gas stove.

Could it be more climate friendly?

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FOSSIL FUELS IN POP CULTURE

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But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
Probably not.
But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
Probably not.
But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
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But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
Probably not.
But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
Probably not.
But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
Probably not.
But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
Probably not.
But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
Probably not.
But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
Probably not.
But it’s great
for real life.

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Is it any better?
Probably not.
But it’s great
for real life.

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