Whether it is a true story or a fictional story, survival films always make for good cinema. They create high stakes in life-or-death situations, while portraying several moments of intensity. Throughout the years, there have been several great survival films that took place in different settings. A survival story in the wilderness usually shows us great animal threats such as wolves or bears. If they take place in the snowy mountains, there are the dreadful threats of starving or freezing to death. Matt Damon showed us in The Martian, how to effectively survive on a distant planet.
Many great survival movies come from books, while others are based on amazing true stories. It takes a unique individual to embark into the wild, and it takes great bravery and skills to come out alive. Reese Witherspoon showed us in Wild, that venturing into the wilderness can be a cathartic and life-changing experience for the better. No matter what, nature can be a cruel place that will create many life-threatening situations. Because of this fact, survival movies have given us several thought-provoking and exciting stories. Let’s take a deep dive into the best survival films of all time.
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9 The Grey
Open Road Films
In The Grey, Liam Neeson leads a group of oil-men stranded in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. Although the threat of freezing to death is in front of them, there is also the threat of a pack of vicious wolves. As the men make their way through the snow, they are picked off one-by-one by the wolves. Neeson’s character is very knowledgeable of wolves and the wild, so he gives the audience several fascinating facts about survival. The movie is a great example of the threat of vicious animals when you are in their habitat.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 Wild
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Jean-Marc Vallée’s Wild tells the true story of Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) who embarks on the Pacific Crest Trail to come to terms with her mother’s death and failed marriage. It is a fantastic story about redemption and finding meaning in life through nature. Strayed must complete challenge after challenge while living in immense discomfort. Through her epic journey, she comes out on top and changes her life forever.
7 127 Hours
Danny Boyle’s brutal film tells the true accounts of Aron Ralson (James Franco) after his arm was pinned between two rocks in the Utah Canyons. It is a film that depicts the importance of conservation, problem-solving, and sheer will to survive such a situation. Ralston overcame all odds and cut his own arm off after five days stranded in the canyon. 127 Hours is a fantastic film about the power of the will to live.
6 Rescue Dawn
MGM Distribution Co.
Werner Herzog’s Rescue Dawn tells the true story of Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), an American pilot who crash-landed, and was captured during the Vietnam War. The movie shows you the strength and determination that it took to survive being a prisoner of war. Bale, as well as the other actors, also portray the physical and mental toll that being a POW has on an individual. Luckily, after a dangerous escape, Dengler was brought to safety.
5 The Martian
20th Century Fox
The Martian is an extremely accurate science fiction film depicting an astronaut, Mark Watney (Matt Damon), who was left behind on Mars due to his crew members believing that he was dead. Watney is put to the task of solving several problems including growing food and communicating with NASA. It is a fascinating look into the intellect that it takes to be a NASA astronaut and Damon gives a fantastic performance of a man faced with catastrophe.
4 Alive
Buena Vista Pictures
Alive is a brutal true story about a Uruguayan rugby team, whose plane crashed in the Andes mountains. After their food supply ran out, the team resorted to eating the flesh of the ones who had already died. It is a fascinating story of survival and the will to live at all costs. It also shows you the brutal forces against you when it comes to surviving in snowy, freezing mountains.
3 The Revenant
The Revenant may be a story of revenge, but it is also an epic story of survival. It follows Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) who is left for dead in the middle of the American wilderness. He must bring himself together, and try to return to his camp, one foot at a time. We watch several fascinating survival techniques including healing your wounds with gunpowder and using the corpse of an animal for shelter. It is a beautiful film that will fascinate anyone interested in surviving in the wilderness.
2 Into The Wild
Paramount Vantage
Sean Penn’s Into The Wild tells the true story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) who left all of his belongings and money behind to embark on an epic quest to Alaska. Along the way, he meets several memorable characters who change his life. The film cuts back and forth to McCandless living in the Alaskan wilderness where lives and hunts for food. Unfortunately, in the tragic ending, we learn that McCandless was unable to survive due to the harsh and deadly environment.
1 Cast Away
Cast Away is a classic film about Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a FedEx executive whose plane crashes into the Pacific Ocean, and he is eventually washed ashore an uninhabited island. Nolan has very few survival techniques, and he must use his time to learn how to crack coconuts and make fire, among other things. This is another great story about the will to survive and never giving up, even when you are face to face with deadly circumstances. At the same time, it shows how your love for others can give you the courage and strength to find your way back home.
