Charcoal has “starred” in a number of well-known movies, as well as lesser-known ones, mostly as a natural remedy for poisoning or infection, but also for makeup and special effects. Here is a short list of some more recent examples.

In one case, during Final Destination 5, the cast and crew reportedly experienced a bout of food poisoning and were given a charcoal slurry to drink. All recovered without further emergency care.

  • Law & Order [1990]
  • Medicine Man [1992]
  • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly [1966]
  • Something the Lord Made [2004]
  • Heartland TV series [2007-] is a Canadian family drama series set on a horse ranch in southern Alberta. One of the show’s features is its frequent use of home remedies, including charcoal.

In one scene, a horse is grazing along a highway right-of-way and eats grass sprayed with a potent herbicide. A mixture of charcoal powder and water is prepared and given as a drench, and the horse survives.

In another episode [Season 6, Episode 9], a young couple is camping and discovers a wild colt caught in a snare around its neck, leaving a raw band of exposed flesh. They gather charcoal from the campfire, mix it with honey, and use a towel to make a poultice to wrap around the neck. After some time, the colt begins to recover and is set free.

  • Breaking Bad [2008]
  • The Walking Dead [2010 - special effects]
  • Final Destination 5 [2011 - taken by the movie cast and crew for food poisoning]
  • Contagion [2011]
  • The Hunger Games [2012] - During the 50th Hunger Games, one of the characters has charcoal tablets in his backpack, just in case. He ends up ingesting poisonous water, then uses a large number of the tablets to counteract the poison. Although he becomes sick through the night, he survives.
  • House M.D. [2004-2012]
  • The Poisoner’s Handbook [PBS, 2014]
  • Ben-Hur [2016]
  • We Own the Night [2017]