Wildeye's Favourite Survival Movies
Here are a few types of survival or lost out in the wild type movies; recommended by Wildeye Adventures. Different types of genres and styles in no particular order. From hiking wild trails, to being lost in woodlands, to plane crashes, surviving in freezing conditions, to being lost at sea or stuck on deserted tropical islands. There's drama, romance, thrillers, action, subtitled and even horror survival films to keep you on the edge of your seat. Hopefully something for everyone to enjoy on this list. If you think of any other survival movies you can suggest. Feel free to pop any movies suggestions in the comments. It's always good to keep the list updated and hear of anything new or unseen. Maybe you will discover something new on this list. Happy watching.
ALPHA
This film is beautiful and reminds us of the relationship that humans once had with animals. Keda, the son of a tribe chief, tries to survive alone in the wilderness after his tribe accidentally leaves him. Incidentally, he finds himself in the company of an injured wild wolf that has been abandoned by its pack. Keda and the wolf develop a connection and their friendship is what helps them both survive. Definitely one to watch.
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
This is a top movie and one the teams favourite. Good characters and storyline too.`We can watch this film over and over. It's fresh, quirky and funny.
A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.
NOWHERE
This is a very well made Spanish film about a young pregnant woman named Mia that escapes from a country at war by hiding in a maritime container aboard a cargo ship. After a violent storm, Mia gives birth to the child while lost at sea, where she must fight to survive.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
This is another really well made movie about a family living off grid in the woods. It shows a constrast of living in the modern world compared to being off grid. It's very cleverly done.
Deep in the forests of the Pacific Northwest, isolated from society, a devoted father (Viggo Mortensen) dedicates his life to transforming his six young children into extraordinary adults. But when a tragedy strikes the family, they are forced to leave this self-created paradise and begin a journey into the outside
THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US
Two strangers become stranded together after a terrible plane crash. They must create a connection together in order to survive the extreme elements on a vast snow-covered mountain. They soon come to realise that help is not coming, so they begin a strenuous journey into unknown wilderness.
JUNGLE
Daniel Radcliffe has come far within his diverse acting career and has reached amazing new levels with this impressive performance.
Three enthusiastic lone travels who meet and embark on a journey into the Amazon rainforest with their new guide. Their journey takes a turn for the worst, with dark intentions, perilous journeys and a test of friendship. They face deadly threats of the wild and the entire trip forces them to a serious fight for survival.
Wild
Reese Witherspoon representing a troubled Cheryl Strayed, who is recently divorced and decides to start a new chapter in life. By hiking along the 1,100 mile-long Pacific Crest Trail in USA. Along the trail she emotionally relives dark memories of the past and also rediscovers herself on the journey.
Into the Wild
Based on a true story. Christopher McCandless is a young graduate who decides to go off grid, reject all his possessions and hitchhike across America heading towards Alaska. During his journey, he encounters different characters and situations which evolve him as an individual.
Those Who Wish Me Dead
Hannah (played by Angelina Jolie) is a grieving fire fighter and survivalist traumatised by the loss of three lives. She observes in a watchtower high above the Montana wilderness and soon encounters Connor. A boy who's bloodied, traumatised and on the run in the remote forest. As Hannah tries to bring him to safety, she's unaware of the real dangers to follow: two relentless killers are hunting Connor and a fiery blaze is consuming everything in its path.
Rabbit Proof Fence
Definitely one to watch. Showing a vast amount of strength, determination and resilience. In 1931 three young aboriginal girls escape, after being kidnapped from their home by white settlers, to be trained as servants. They manage to find a way to escape and begin a massive journey trekking across the vast outback alone. Based on a true story.
Castaway on the Moon
Accidentally discovering this movie whilst trying to look for "Castaway" with Tom Hanks. For a subtitled film it was easy to follow and a super great discovery.. Give the subtitles a chance and you'll get sucked into this story straight away. It turned out to be a really clever storyline with fresh contrasting characters.
Castaway on the Moon is a 2009 South Korean romantic comedy film written and directed by Lee Hae-jun. It is a love story between a suicidal man turned castaway on Bamseom in the Han River and a Hikikomori woman who is addicted to Cyworld.
The Emerald Forest
American Bill Markham (Powers Boothe) has taken his family to the jungles of Brazil, where he has been hired to design a dam. Unexpectedly, a native tribe abducts his son, Tommy (Charley Boorman). Bill spends an entire decade looking for Tommy, only to discover that the boy has adopted the ways of the indigenous people he's been living with. Bill tries to convince his son to return to his family, but their reunion is interrupted when another group of natives attacks Tommy's tribe.
The Edge
Charles, who is played by Anthony Hopkins is an intelligent billionaire, who finds himself stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with some friends. To their disbelief, they learn that they are being hunted by a bear with a serious vendetta towards humans.
Castaway
WILSON!!! You got to love Tom Hanks performance in Castaway. After a deadly plane crash, his character Chuck finds himself marooned on an isolated island. With no way to escape and ending up stuck there for years. Chuck is left with not choice but to find ways to survive on his new home.
Adrift
A lost and stranded at sea movie involving the power of love. Personally I'm more of a land creature. Wavy seas unfortunately make me sea sick so would not be a good survivalist on open waters. This woman character however, shows serious mental strength on next levels whilst adrift on open uncharted waters.
After facing a category 4 hurricane on a sailing trip, they face the unimaginable when they get stuck in the Pacific Ocean.
The Grey
This one is more of a suspenseful thriller type. Liam always plays a strong character and something about his husky voice makes you feel safe. His character John is a wolf hunter, and one of the eight survivors of a plane crash. He must fight off a pack of hungry wolves, mortal injuries and the icy elements to get himself and the survivors back to safety.
The Revenant
Another legendary acting performance from Leonardo DiCaprio.His character Hugh Glass is a legendary frontiersman and is severely injured in a bear attack whilst having being abandoned by his hunting crew. He uses his mental strength and skills to survive to take revenge on his companion, who seriously betrayed him.
Apocalypto
Directed by Mel Gibson, a film based about a survival story during the Mayan civilisations of the past. Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), a peaceful hunter in a remote tribe, is captured along with his entire village in a raid. He is scheduled for a ritual sacrifice until he makes a daring escape and tries to make it back to his pregnant wife and son.
127 Hours
This movie teaches you about the number one rule. Always tell someone where you are going and when you will return, especially if you are hiking out alone in the wilderness. This character Aron Ralston is a mountain climber on a hiking adventure in Utah, when he accidentally gets trapped in a canyon. Soon, he takes desperate measures to survive and struggles for 127 hours before he is rescued.
Into the Forest
This movie is another thriller set In the near future about two sisters Nell and Eva, living together in a secluded woodland house. As their society collapses around them they stick to being off grid in the woods. They go through struggles & hardships and must stick together if they are going to survive.
The Martian
When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home, while his crew mates hatch their own plan for a daring rescue mission.
Everest
A deep and emotional true story about an expedition in the Himalayas that went terribly wrong due to unexpected stormy weather. Two groups, one led by Rob Hall and the other by Scott Fischer encounter major challenges and live-threatening weather conditions as they attempt to scale Mount Everest.
Arctic
He is on his own. His personal will power and strength of will, is what keeps him survive. A lone pilot, who has survived a plane crash in the below freezing Arctic desert, is wiling away time in the hope that someone would hear his radio signals. Although things adapt when he finds another human being.
Backcountry
Alex and Jenn have left the city to go camping in the country. After setting off in the woods, they realise they've forgotten their phone and they become lost. The trip turns into a fight for survival when they are stalked by a man-eating bear.
Alive
Based on a true story. After their flight crashes into the Andes mountain range, a Uruguayan rugby team must undertake desperate measures in order to survive.
Six Days Seven Nights
You got to love Harrison Ford. What a legend. In this romantic comedy these two characters end up stranded on an island together after a plane crash. They are completely different but the hardships and unpredictable journey that unfolds before them. Brings them together in a way they could never imagine.
What Keeps You Alive.
A shocking and tense thriller. A newly wedded couple on their anniversary. The story takes a dramatic shift, creating a fight for survival in ways you would not believe.
Lord of the Flies
Made in the 90's. A group of young boys become stranded on an deserted tropical island. They become almost like savages, but this is what happens when there is no mother figure around to teach the boys some manners
6 Below
Based on a true story. Former professional hockey player Eric LeMarque finds himself stranded on a mountain during a fierce snowstorm. Coming to terms with his personal demons, he soon rediscovers the power of faith while fighting for survival.
Thirteen Lives
Based on a true story. A rescue mission is assembled in Thailand where a group of young boys and their soccer coach are trapped in a system of underground caves that are flooding. Directed and produced by Ron Howard, from a screenplay written by William Nicholson
The Blue Lagoon
A boy and girl are shipwrecked on a tropical island in the South Pacific. The teenagers try to survive without adult guidance, but soon sexual maturity sets in and they get attracted to each other.
Return to the Blue Lagoon
A widow, her daughter and a boy are cast away from a ship. They drift to a tropical island where the children grow up, learn life lessons and eventually fall in love.
