Iconic movies like Cast Away (2000), The Edge (1997), and Deliverance (1972) have kept pulses racing for decades. No matter how far-fetched the catastrophe may be in movies like in Don't Look Up (2021) or the inexperience of the characters, tales of survival outdoors in cinema continue to engage audiences as they watch from the comfort of a theater seat or their home. The tales of desperation to live prompt us to ask ourselves how far would be willing to go to make it out alive.
Whether they draw from a real-life experience or not, the continuity of how to survive an outdoor accident is met with these films. The intensity of each film's predicament is elevated by gruesome injuries and psychological warfare. Before heading out on an outdoor adventure, be sure to properly educate yourself on the dangers and prepare accordingly, or you could end up like our heroes and heroines.
Arctic (2018)
Another excellent addition to Mads Mikkelsen's filmography, Arctic follows a plane crash survivor as he struggles to decide whether to stay put or trek into the treacherous arctic unknown to find help. The ingenuity and resourcefulness of Overgard (Mikkelsen) keep audiences believing he's capable of holding out until help arrives.
The only place viewers want to be while watching this movie is under a blanket, avoiding anything that looks like snow. The bitterness of Overgard's situation poses the question to viewers, would you stay or would you go? Never letting up, this 2018 survival story is one that leaves an impressive mark on the genre.
The Shallows (2016)
Surfing alone off a secluded beach, Nancy (Blake Lively) is attacked by a shark, leaving her stranded on a rock 200 meters from the shore. Thankfully not another shark movie, The Shallows brings a simple premise to an oversaturated genre as she uses instincts and intelligence to fend off the great white.
Swapping gore for emotion, The Shallows, one of the best shark attack flicks, avoids falling into the usual clichés of its predecessors. Viewers are reminded to be mindful of what lurks below the surface and that accidents can happen at any time. Nancy's will to survive and reluctance to give up provides an admirable example of a true heroine.
127 Hours (2010)
A true story of unimaginable survival, 127 Hours follows the experienced mountaineer Aron Ralston (James Franco) as his arm becomes pinned by a fallen boulder. Based on the book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" by the real Aron Ralston, this film places viewers in the agonizing trenches with Ralston as he must decide to wait out for help or amputate his arm and free himself.
Nominated for six Oscars, this tale of extreme survival left viewers cringing and devastated for the circumstances Ralston fell into. Franco's portrayal earned him a nod for Best Actor in a Leading Role among the film's half dozen nominations. The feat encountered by Ralston and depicted in this movie forced viewers to ask themselves how far they would go to make it out.
Adrift (2018)
Never imagining what they were sailing into, adventurers Tami Oldham (Shailene Woodley) and Richard Sharp (Sam Claflin) fall victim to one of the deadliest hurricanes in history and must struggle to survive the aftermath. Based on the true story, Adrift depicts the real-life couple and the devastation they endured from Hurricane Raymond in 1983.
The psychological and emotional toll this film presses on audiences demonstrates how desperate survival situations can be when resources are scarce. Crossing genres in survival and romance, this movie is one to add to the watchlist for a real-life survivor story.
The Grey (2012)
Not just another high-action Liam Neeson movie, The Grey is a fleshed-out survival story of stranded Alaskan oil workers who are hunted down by a pack of wolves. A bitterly cold film to screen, this intense adventure film pits man versus nature. As the survivors scavenge the wreckage to make use of anything left worth saving, audiences are introduced to the supporting characters and begin to root for them alongside the central character, Ottway (Neeson).
Where this tale differs from others like it in the genre, the well-crafted intelligence of the heroes (survivors) and villains (wolves) isn't overshadowed by gore and unlikely action sequences. The Grey provides excitement and suspense for viewers needing a kick to their movie night.
Wild (2014)
A story of emotional survival by way of wilderness, Wild follows the true story of Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) as she embarks on a 1,100-mile hike across the Pacific Crest Trail. This 2014 film is based on Strayed's memoir "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail" where she set out to heal from a downward life spiral following her mother's death.
With no experience or expertise, Cheryl's desperation to reset her life demonstrates how survival and nature coincide and are not always pitted against each other. This real-life-to-film tale earned Witherspoon an Oscar nomination for her portrayal. Audiences fell in love with this film's journey and the narrative of how healing nature can be.