The Best Movies About Surviving The Wilderness

As a seasoned movie connoisseur with a penchant for survival stories that leave me on the edge of my seat, I must say that both “Gravity” and “Wild” have truly captivated my imagination and stirred my adventurous spirit.

A good protagonist is someone we can really root for, and that’s never more true than with survival movies. As viewers, putting ourselves in the shoes of characters fighting for their lives can be a riveting and rewarding experience. The main characters in the following movies clash with all manner of wild animals (sharks and tigers and bears, oh my!) and face the harshest of environments, from the freezing storms of the Andes Mountains to the barren expanse of the Indian Ocean. They find all sorts of creative solutions to their problems, from building a raft out of the wreckage of a porta-potty to climbing inside the corpse of a horse.

Watching these awe-inspiring wilderness survival movies, you’ll be astonished by how the characters overcome incredible odds and the raw power of nature. Their performances are so convincing that you might find yourself thinking, “I could be in their shoes” or, more realistically, “I’m glad I’m not them.

The Revenant

Following the bear attack that nearly claimed his life, frontiersman Hugh Glass is abandoned by his companions in the vast wilderness. Incredibly, Glass manages to live on, but tragedy strikes when the individual who had deserted him kills his son. Determined to seek justice, Glass struggles to rise from his grave and traverse countless miles of untamed wilderness to exact his revenge.

In the film “The Revenant,” the camera seems to take on a life of its own, capturing stunning panoramic landscapes and prolonged shots that are nothing short of mesmerizing. The lead actor, Leonardo DiCaprio, delivers an exceptional performance, making his character’s struggles so intense that it’s reported he was deeply affected by the film. The movie’s graphic scenes, such as eating raw bison liver, swimming in freezing rapids, and seeking shelter within a dead horse, are hard to watch, yet the level of detail is so precise that it’s difficult to look away. So, while “The Revenant” may not be an easy film to watch due to its intensity, it is undeniably awe-inspiring.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Will Poulter
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu
Year: 2015
Runtime: 2h 36m
Rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 78%

Society of the Snow

In the movie titled “Society of the Snow,” a tragic plane crash strands a Uruguayan rugby team in the Andes Mountains for an extended 72 days. While other films, such as the 1993 release “Alive,” have depicted these events, “Society of the Snow” stands out for its intensely realistic portrayal. Scenes from the film were actually shot at the crash site itself, with additional scenes filmed in the Sierra Nevada mountains in Spain. This dual filming location lends an unprecedented level of scale and authenticity to the production that is rarely seen in survival-themed movies. The towering presence of the mountains serves as a constant reminder to viewers of their immense size.

In “The Society of the Snow,” we encounter chilling visuals, such as survivors smearing blood on the aircraft windows and a desperate man consuming his own cigarettes. Yes, it does involve cannibalism, but presents this grim reality with surprising tenderness. Despite its gloomy atmosphere, the movie ultimately offers a hopeful message, highlighting the camaraderie these men forged to endure the unimaginable.

Starring: Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt
Director: J. A. Bayona
Year: 2023
Runtime: 2h 24m
Rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%

Cast Away

In the film “Cast Away,” character Chuck Noland, played by Tom Hanks, is a diligent FedEx manager who becomes stranded on a deserted island and realizes that his work-related rules and timelines hold no value in the wilderness. All he has left is the dream of being reunited with his girlfriend to keep him grounded in reality. Tom Hanks singlehandedly carries this entire movie, joined only by Wilson, his volleyball companion. Hanks demonstrates remarkable dedication, undergoing substantial transformations to convincingly portray a castaway. Interestingly, this unforgettable role caused Hanks to fall ill physically.

This movie doesn’t hesitate to portray the intense, soul-crushing loneliness experienced during a four-year stint in the wilderness. Unlike many other survival films, “Cast Away” delves deeper by focusing on what transpires after the protagonist re-enters civilization. Our hero, Chuck, must grapple with the question of how to proceed with his life now that he’s back among people, and finds that the dream he clung onto throughout his island ordeal is no longer attainable. This is why “Cast Away” leaves a lasting impact on its viewers.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Paul Sanchez
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Year: 2000
Runtime: 2h 23m
Rating: PG-13
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Jaws

In the film “Jaws,” a ruthless shark starts causing havoc on a New England island, particularly during peak tourist season. Not long after, the local police chief (played by Roy Scheider), a scientist specializing in marine life (Richard Dreyfuss), and an experienced fisherman (Robert Shaw) embark on a mission to find this formidable great white shark. The initial part of the movie unfolds on a beach, but as the story progresses, it transforms into a nail-biting tale of survival for these three men as they navigate through a cramped boat while confronting a ferocious predator. Viewers can sense that their boat might not return intact at the end of this ordeal with the relentless shark.

Despite the sensational nature of its plot, “Jaws” surprisingly exhibits remarkable self-control. It avoids stereotypical characters and overused shock tactics, opting instead for intricate personalities and intense suspense. Moreover, it withholds showing the shark in full until close to the end, making the rare glimpses even more petrifying.

Starring: Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw
Director: Steven Spielberg
Year: 1975
Runtime: 2h 4m
Rating: PG
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%

Life of Pi

In the film “Life of Pi,” a young character named Pi (played by Suraj Sharma) embarks on a journey from India, accompanied by assorted animals from his family’s zoo. Unfortunately, their voyage is cut short by a devastating sea accident, leaving Pi alone in a lifeboat. To make matters worse, his boatmate is none other than Richard Parker, a fearsome tiger. As the movie demonstrates, having such a formidable creature as a companion can lead to some tense and unpredictable situations.

In simpler terms, “Life of Pi” is nothing short of breathtaking. The story revolves around a young boy who amazingly tames a ferocious animal within the limited space of a lifeboat. Beyond being a survival tale, “Life of Pi” delves deeper into the subject of faith, making it a thought-provoking piece. The vibrant hues and sprinkle of whimsy in the film make Pi’s narrative uplifting rather than distressing. From the strikingly realistic CGI tiger to a whale soaring over Pi’s boat, the movie underscores that nature’s deadliest creatures can also be stunningly beautiful.

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain
Director: Ang Lee
Year: 2012
Runtime: 2h 7m
Rating: PG
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 86%

127 Hours

If you believe that a movie about a character with an arm pinned under a rock for 90 minutes would be dull, then you haven’t experienced “127 Hours.” The concept is straightforward: Adventurer Aron Ralston (played by James Franco) ventures alone into Bluejohn Canyon without informing anyone of his whereabouts. When he finds himself trapped in a crack deep within the wilderness, he understands that he can’t depend on others for rescue – survival depends solely on his own resourcefulness.

The pivotal role in a solitary-in-the-wilderness film could either elevate or ruin it, but James Franco doesn’t fall short. He portrays a diverse spectrum, from charming and self-confident to frantic and disoriented. Director Danny Boyle skillfully incorporates flashbacks and dreamlike sequences to draw viewers into the film. “127 Hours” is a tension-filled movie that you won’t be able to look away from until the end, and it adds an extra layer of intensity knowing that it’s based on real events.

Starring: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara
Director: Danny Boyle
Year: 2010
Runtime: 1h 34m
Rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

The Martian

You can’t make a list of the best survival movies without including films about surviving in the cosmos. “The Martian” shows viewers that the Red Planet is a more hostile environment than any that can be found on Earth. After astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) accidentally gets left behind on Mars, he must use his wits to survive this uninhabitable planet. Matt Damon lends his character a laid-back, wisecracking charm. It’s easy to root for Mark as he tackles one challenge after another with the help of science.

In crafting the film, great attention was paid to ensuring scientific authenticity (despite certain aspects in “The Martian” remaining puzzling). Moreover, “The Martian” stands out as a unique survival story with an appealing disco soundtrack. Whether Mark is improvising by reusing an old transmitter from a previous mission or utilizing waste as fertilizer, his resourcefulness will continuously astound you. Essentially, the movie serves as a tribute to human creativity and problem-solving abilities.

Starring: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels
Director: Ridley Scott
Year: 2015
Runtime: 2h 24m
Rating: PG-13
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%

Backcountry

In the film, Alex and Jenn, portrayed by Jeff Roop and Missy Peregrym respectively, venture off on a trail that Alex hasn’t traversed in over ten years. Eager to impress his girlfriend and perhaps propose amidst picturesque scenery, Alex decides against carrying a map while guiding her through the wilderness. However, as they journey deeper into the untamed terrain, he realizes that his camping knowledge may not be as extensive as he believed.

The film “Backcountry” is thrilling yet nerve-wracking to watch, mainly due to Alex’s seemingly endless string of foolish choices that escalate tension throughout the movie. As Alex leads them further into peril, the stakes become increasingly high. One particularly intense scene involves a prolonged bear attack (over 6 minutes) where the couple seeks refuge in their tent, praying for the beast to depart. Regrettably, it does not, and events take a grim turn. This movie is uncompromising in its depiction of both the bear attack and the portrayal of harmful masculinity.

Starring: Jeff Roop, Missy Peregrym, Eric Balfour
Director: Adam MacDonald
Year: 2014
Runtime: 1h 32m
Rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Deliverance

Four urban dwellers embark on a canoe adventure through rural Georgia, but they quickly discover that the locals aren’t overly welcoming to these four strangers roaming around in their territories, viewing it as undiscovered nature meant to be respected rather than conquered. Before long, tensions escalate and the city-dwellers encounter more trouble than they anticipated during their wilderness excursion.

From the film’s iconic banjo duel to all the disturbing violence that unfolds, “Deliverance” is not a movie you will soon forget. Watching these men stumble blindly through the great outdoors will fill you with dread as you wait for the inevitable moment when they’ll slip and fall. With his macho bluster and bushy sideburns, Burt Reynolds leaves a lasting impression. “Deliverance” is a movie that is darkly funny even as it’s deeply uncomfortable — it takes risks in a way that you rarely see in cinema anymore.

Starring: Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty
Director: John Boorman
Year: 1972
Runtime: 1h 49m
Rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%

Swiss Army Man

It might seem that if you’re stranded on a desert island, you’d have to hunt for food and construct a shelter. But that’s not the case for Hank (Paul Dano). Instead, he finds everything he needs in an unlikely source – a washed-up body on the shore, which surprisingly turns out to be quite useful. This corpse, played by Daniel Radcliffe, is more helpful than a Swiss Army knife. He can generate fresh water with his mouth, chop wood with his arm, and even function as a Jet Ski when propelled by farts. Hank affectionately calls this corpse “Manny,” and he rekindles Hank’s will to live after a period of despair.

Swiss Army Man” is an unusual film that breaks away from traditional survival movie patterns. Unlike any other role we’ve seen, Daniel Radcliffe plays Manny with a blend of innocent charm and deep insight. This offbeat and surprisingly emotional tale pulls you in irresistibly.

Starring: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead
Director: Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan
Year: 2016
Runtime: 1h 35m
Rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 73%

Into the Wild

Into the Wild” stands out among survival films due to its unique twist: the protagonist, Chris McCandless (played by Emile Hirsch), does not survive his Alaskan wilderness adventure. The movie is based on real events, chronicling the journey of a young man yearning for freedom who met his end because he underestimated the challenges of survival in the wild. Although some parts of the film show McCandless wandering through rural America, moving from one town to another while living the nomadic life he had always desired, the main narrative focuses on him alone in the untamed wilderness.

In Alaska, Chris McCandless sets up his dwelling inside an abandoned bus in the wilderness. Here, he learns survival skills and documents his adventures. Despite knowing the movie’s outcome prior to watching, it remains startling to witness Chris transition from a carefree explorer to a man confronting his own mortality. The film masterfully balances portraying McCandless as both adventurous and naive, highlighting his fatal errors while simultaneously instilling a touch of his infectious optimism in viewers.

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener
Director: Sean Penn
Year: 2007
Runtime: 2h 28m
Rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%

All Is Lost

If you found the desert island from “Cast Away” to be solitary, then you haven’t seen “All Is Lost.” In this movie, a man (played by Robert Redford) is sailing his yacht alone across the Indian Ocean when he collides with a drifting cargo container, causing damage that leaves him stranded in the middle of an enormous ocean. “All Is Lost” is often praised as one of Robert Redford’s finest performances, especially in the last 25 years.

This movie is a solo performance in every sense, as it features only Robert Redford in the cast list. He skillfully carries the film, making viewers feel stranded at sea alongside him without requiring any prior knowledge about his character or background. What makes this even more remarkable is that he manages to convey emotion with minimal dialogue, setting it apart from films like “Life of Pi” and “Cast Away.” Unlike those movies, there’s no Wilson companion for Redford’s character – he stands alone in his struggle.

Starring: Robert Redford
Director: J.C. Chandor
Year: 2013
Runtime: 1h 46m
Rating: PG-13
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%

Gravity

Experience a thrilling rollercoaster ride of approximately 90 minutes with the film “Gravity”. This movie promises to deliver some of the most gripping 90 minutes you’ve ever had while viewing a movie. In this contemporary masterpiece, an unforeseen calamity at the Hubble Space Telescope strands astronaut Ryan Stone (played by Sandra Bullock) in the vast expanse of space. Bullock delivers an exceptional performance, and George Clooney shines as her seasoned commander, Matthew “Matt” Kowalski.

As a devoted cinephile, let me share my excitement: If the almost flawless Rotten Tomatoes rating didn’t already clue you in, “Gravity” is one of the most gripping survival films I’ve ever seen. It features some of the most authentic zero-gravity sequences ever filmed in cinema. This riveting movie takes you on a journey, making you feel the exhilaration and peril of drifting aimlessly in the infinite expanse of space. It also underscores how precarious life can be in that environment. The film’s attention to detail is so meticulous that the events portrayed could plausibly occur in reality – and it’s this realism that makes it truly chilling. Never before has space felt more terrifying.

Starring: Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Ed Harris
Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Year: 2013
Runtime: 1h 31m
Rating: PG-13
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%

Wild

Wild” is more than just a story about survival; it’s a healing and optimistic account of a woman regaining control over her life. When Cheryl Strayed, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon, embarks on a journey of over 1000 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail, it’s not because she feels cornered with no other options. Instead, she voluntarily undertakes this journey as a means of personal transformation following her mother’s death (Laura Dern) and subsequent struggles with addiction.

In an exceptional portrayal, possibly her finest yet, Reese Witherspoon delivers a remarkable performance in “Wild.” The film follows her character’s struggles, including misfueling her portable stove and losing her boots – challenges that escalate dramatically when one is stranded in the wild. As Cheryl navigates the wilderness, the movie intertwines flashbacks of memories she is trying to escape. Just like the protagonist, you will undoubtedly find this journey enriching.

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Thomas Sadoski
Director: Jean-Marc Vallée
Year: 2014
Runtime: 1h 55m
Rating: R
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%

2024-10-27 23:31