The Best Documentaries About Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Maya van Oosterhout
- Jun 30, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Discover the best documentaries on psilocybin mushrooms, exploring their science, history, and cultural impact. Learn how psilocybin supports healing, consciousness expansion, and personal transformation. Inspired to experience it yourself? Nature Temple retreats offer guided, safe psilocybin journeys in nature.
Interest in psilocybin mushrooms has surged in recent years — not only because of their psychedelic effects, but also due to the growing scientific evidence supporting their therapeutic potential. As research expands, so does the number of documentaries exploring these remarkable organisms.
Below is an updated list of the best documentaries about psilocybin mushrooms, each of which offers a unique look at their history, science, and cultural influence.
1. Fantastic Fungi (2019)
Director: Louie Schwartzberg
A visually breathtaking journey into the hidden world of fungi.Although “Fantastic Fungi” covers the wider fungal kingdom, it dedicates significant attention to psilocybin mushrooms and their potential to support psychological healing and expand consciousness.
Featuring stunning time-lapse cinematography and insights from experts — including legendary mycologist Paul Stamets — this film beautifully illustrates the ecological and spiritual value of mushrooms.A perfect entry point for anyone new to the topic.
Magic Medicine (2018)
Director: Monty Wates
“Magic Medicine” provides a rare, intimate view into one of the world’s first modern psilocybin clinical trials, conducted at Imperial College London.
The documentary follows patients struggling with severe depression and explores how psilocybin-assisted therapy is designed, administered, and measured.
Through heartfelt interviews with participants and researchers, it delivers a powerful and humanizing perspective on the therapeutic promise of psilocybin.
Director: Robert J. Barnhart
This film explores the reawakening of scientific research into psilocybin and highlights groundbreaking studies at institutions such as Johns Hopkins University. It examines psilocybin’s potential to reduce anxiety in cancer patients, support addiction treatment, and facilitate profound emotional breakthroughs.
By blending scientific findings with personal testimonies, “A New Understanding” offers a compelling argument for the responsible medical use of psilocybin mushrooms.
Director: Oliver Hockenhull
Although broader in scope, “Neurons to Nirvana” provides essential context for understanding psilocybin within the larger psychedelic landscape.The documentary features leading scientists and authors discussing the benefits, risks, and societal myths surrounding substances like psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and more.
It’s an excellent starting point for viewers interested in psychedelic history and modern therapeutic research.
Dosed (2019)
Director: Tyler Chandler
"Dosed" follows the vulnerable and courageous story of Adrianne, a woman who uses psilocybin and other psychedelics in an attempt to escape opioid addiction and depression.The documentary is raw and emotional, offering a ground-level view of what healing can look like outside traditional medicine.
Her journey shows how psilocybin may serve as a catalyst for deep personal transformation.
The Sunshine Makers (2015)
Director: Cosmo Feilding-Mellen
While not specifically about psilocybin mushrooms, “The Sunshine Makers” provides valuable historical context for the entire psychedelic movement.It follows chemists Nicholas Sand and Tim Scully, who famously produced millions of doses of LSD during the 1960s and 70s.
The film offers insight into the cultural energy that shaped both early psychedelic research and today’s modern renaissance — making it an intriguing companion to the more psilocybin-focused documentaries above.
Watch & Learn
These documentaries collectively offer a rich exploration of psilocybin mushrooms — their ecological role, cultural history, scientific potential, and profound human stories.Whether you're curious about the latest clinical research or the personal experiences behind psychedelic healing, these films provide an inspiring window into the evolving world of psilocybin.
As scientific interest continues to grow, these documentaries capture the past, illuminate the present, and help shape the future of psychedelic exploration.
Learn more about the therapeutic potential of psilocybin in our psilocybin research and therapy blog.
Interested to join a mushroom retreat yourself?
If these documentaries sparked your curiosity and you feel inspired to explore the transformative potential of psilocybin yourself, consider taking the next step in a supported and natural environment. At the Nature Temple in Teuge, we offer carefully guided psilocybin truffle retreats that blend ritual, art, music, and deep connection with nature. Our experienced team provides a safe and nurturing space for personal insight, healing, and expansion.
If you're ready to move from watching to experiencing, we warmly welcome you to join us in the Nature Temple. Inspired to experience it yourself?
FAQ
For practical guidance and preparation, see our psilocybin FAQs and preparation guide.
What can I expect from the effects of magic mushrooms?
On an empty stomach, psilocybin truffles generally take effect within 30 minutes. The body may feel restless at first, which often fades as you relax into the experience. The journey usually lasts 4–6 hours and comes in waves. Some people feel mild nausea, which can be eased through breathwork, movement or relaxation.
Experiences can include visions, emotions, insights and shifts in perspective. The journey may move between clarity, emotional release and profound bliss. Our team supports participants before, during and after the ceremony.
Why do people attend a magic mushroom retreat?
People join retreats to:
Heal past experiences
Reduce anxiety or emotional burdens
Gain clarity, insight or vision
Reconnect with creativity and inner guidance
Improve self-care and relationships
Feel supported in an honest, open community
Mark important transitions or life moments
Do you use truffles or mushrooms?
We use psilocybin truffles, which are legal in the Netherlands. Truffles contain the same active compounds as the mushroom fruiting bodies. We use the term “mushrooms” in our texts because visitors outside the Netherlands are more familiar with that term.
How do magic mushrooms compare to ayahuasca?
Although both psilocin and DMT are serotonergic compounds, each substance has a distinct character. Psilocybin tends to be gentler on the body, with less physical detox than ayahuasca. Psilocybin experiences are often described as playful and outward-focused, whereas ayahuasca journeys can be more introspective.
We only serve psilocybin truffles at our centre — no ayahuasca or other plant medicines.
How should I prepare for a retreat?
Good preparation is essential. We recommend:
Adequate rest
Avoiding alcohol, drugs, red meat and heavy foods for one week
Taking time for self-reflection
Setting a clear intention
Once your intake is approved, we send detailed guidelines for preparation.
What are the contra indications?
Our retreats are for people in good mental and physical health. They are not a substitute for medical or psychotherapeutic treatment.
Psilocybin should not be combined with antidepressant or antipsychotic medication. Always consult your doctor if you are under medical care.
We cannot accept participants who:
Are pregnant
Have schizophrenia or psychosis sensitivity
Have borderline personality disorder
Are suicidal or severely traumatised
Have serious cardiovascular or neurological conditions
Honesty in the intake form is essential for your safety and ours.