Documentaries
Abortion and Women’s Rights in 1970: A Film (1972)
A pre-Roe advocacy piece, real stories from people who had illegal abortions and an outline of the need for full reproductive justice beyond abortion.
Preconceived (2024)
Documentary about “crisis pregnancy centers” aka CPCs/fake clinics.
Vessel (2014)
About Rebecca Gompertz and Women on Waves getting started; and working with Ecuador feminists to set up an abortion hotline.
La Operación (1982)
History of sterilization abuse in Puerto Rico.
Zurawski v Texas (2024)
About the plaintiffs suing Texas over SB8.
Battleground (2022)
Following three women who lead anti-abortion organizations.
Plan C (2023)
Grassroots network distributing abortion pills in the face of increasing state bans and post-Dobbs America.
When Abortion Was Illegal: Untold Stories (Dorothy Fadiman, 1992)
Including providers, partners, family members; emphasizing the need to speak out about experiences with illegal abortions.
From Danger to Dignity: The Fight for Safe Abortion (Dorothy Fadiman, 1995; 56 minutes)
Comprehensive outline of the various efforts to legalize in 60s by women’s networks (Society for Humane Abortion, Jane), clergy, medical, legislative, leading to Roe.
The Fragile Promise of Choice: Abortion in the U.S. Today (Dorothy Fadiman, 1996)
Erosions and consequences post-Roe. Legislative obstacles to access and anti-abortion violence
With a Vengeance (Lori Hiris, 1989)
History of struggle since 1960s; Redstockings, Jane Collective, and grassroots activists advocating for more robust, intersectional reproductive justice.
Documentary Shorts
Evangelical Christians Are Ambushing Abortion Clinics (2022)
A look at the anti-abortion harassment that clinic escorts have to deal with in Charlotte, NC.
Anti-abortion Crusaders: Inside the African-American Abortion Battle (2017)
A look at the African-American anti-abortion movement in the United States.
Podcasts
Embedded: The Network (NPR and Futuro Media, 2025).
Women in Brazil in the 1980s start secretly sharing info about a new pill that can be used off-label to induce abortion; gradually word spreads across Latin America.
Saint-o-tec (ep. 1) | Breaking Bread (ep. 2) | Déjà Vu (episode 3)
Throughline (2022)
Before Roe: The Physician’s Crusade (52 minutes) — 19th century. Mme Restell and Anthony Comstock
After Roe: A New Battlefield (52 minutes)
Throughline: The history of abortion after 1973 (2022, 6 minutes)
”Smashmortion” (On the Media, 2017)
Abortion, With Love
Variety of conversations with activists, carers, people who’ve had abortions: a “love letter to the abortion community”
The Notorious Madame Restell: The Abortionist of Fifth Avenue (The Bowery Boys: New York City History, 2022)
Someone Knows Something: The Abortion Wars (Season 7, 8 episodes; produced by CBC)
Journalist Amanda Robb investigates the 1998 murder of her uncle, Dr. Barnett Slepian, in Amherst, NY.