The Game Changers
A UFC fighter discovers the world's strongest athletes thrive on plant-based diets, upending everything he thought he knew about protein.
Directed by Oscar®-winning documentary filmmaker Louie Psihoyos and executive produced by James Cameron, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jackie Chan, Lewis Hamilton, Novak Djokovic, and Chris Paul, The Game Changers tells the story of James Wilks — elite Special Forces trainer and The Ultimate Fighter winner — as he travels the world on a quest to uncover the optimal diet for human performance. Showcasing elite athletes, special ops soldiers, visionary scientists, cultural icons, and everyday heroes, what James discovers permanently changes his understanding of food and his definition of true strength. (Source: gamechangersmovie.com)
- Year
- 2019
- Hunter's role
- Director of Photography
- Director
- Louie Psihoyos
- Type
- Feature Doc
- Runtime
- 88 minutes (1h 28m)
- Countries
- USA (CA, GA, LA, NC, PA, TN, TX), UK, Sweden, Zimbabwe
Collaborators
- Mark Monroe — Co-founder, Diamond Docs
- Louie Psihoyos — Executive Director, Oceanic Preservation Society (OPS)
- Wilder Knight — Of Counsel, Pryor Cashman LLP; Board Treasurer, OPS Productions
- James Cameron — Founder, Lightstorm Entertainment
- Arnold Schwarzenegger — 38th Governor of California (2003-2011); Founder, Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative
- Damien Mander — Founder & CEO, Akashinga
- Scott Jurek — Ultrarunner, Author, Speaker.
- Zoe Keating — Cellist, Composer, Electronic Musician.
- Dan Swietlik, ACE
- Kyle Vogt — Tech Entrepreneur. Co-founder of Cruise Automation (self-driving cars).
- Gina Papabeis
- Nick Perron-Siegel
- Stephanie Mechura
- Christian Bonaventura
- Thomas Nguyen
- Sandy Patch — DI Technical Supervisor, Post-Production.
- John Behrens
- Nathan Matthew David
- Jared Levy
Awards
PREMIERE: Sundance Film Festival — January 2018 (World Premiere) NOMINATIONS: • Sundance Film Festival — Audience Award, Top 20 Audience Favorites (2018) • Cinema for Peace — International Green Film Award (2019) • 92nd Academy Awards — Submitted for Best Documentary Feature consideration (among 159 eligible docs) RECOGNITION: • PETA Libby Award recognition (Lewis Hamilton, Chris Paul) • Accredited for CME credits by Defense Health Agency & American College of Lifestyle Medicine • VegNews — Best Vegan Documentaries (2024)
Festivals
Sundance Film Festival — January 2018 (World Premiere) • Global theatrical release — September 16, 2019 via Fathom Events (1,000+ theaters worldwide) • Hollywood ArcLight Cinemas premiere (red carpet with Chris Paul, Tony Gonzalez, Chase Utley)
Real-world impact
The film triggered what media dubbed the "Game Changers effect" — a measurable global shift in plant-based diet adoption, with celebrities like Dolph Lundgren and Greggs CEO Roger Whiteside publicly crediting the film for going vegan. It was accredited for Continuing Medical Education credits by the Defense Health Agency and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, with doctors requesting DVDs for patients. A four-hour debate on the Joe Rogan Experience became a cultural moment, and gamechangersmovie.com evolved into a major plant-based resource hub with recipes, meal plans, and nutrition guides reaching millions.