If you’re embarking on a dangerous journey, you’ll appreciate this material.
In our selection, we have gathered the most vibrant films dedicated to survival in unusual conditions. Whether you’ve encountered a shark, ventured into the mountains, plan to fly to Mars, or are embarking on a research mission into Earth’s orbit, you’ll find practical advice right here.
The Revenant
2015 / Drama, Adventure, Thriller / USA
The film tells the story of the colonist Hugh Glass, left alone with the harsh wilderness. Glass is attacked by a she-bear – he survives, but is on the verge of life and death. Three of his companions – Hawk’s son, as well as hunters Fitzgerald and Bridger – are supposed to wait for their comrade’s death, and then bury him properly. Instead, Glass is left alone. To escape, he must rely solely on his strength and willpower.
The Day After Tomorrow
Imagine our planet slowly but surely moving towards a global catastrophe: natural disasters are wiping entire cities off the face of the earth. An experienced climatologist predicts that the world is soon to enter a new ice age, but no one believes him. Suddenly, everything begins to change dramatically – hailstorms kill people in China, and an unprecedented snowstorm hits India.
Frozen
Are you going to ski on a remote slope? Maybe it’s not such a good idea after all. If the chairlift stops, you’ll encounter some difficulties. The characters in this movie are forgotten on a chairlift that only operates on weekends. To survive, they must make a crucial decision—jump down from a great height or freeze and wait for rescue?
The Shallows
2016 / Drama, Thriller, Horror / USA
No desire to stay in New York? Bought tickets to the sea and planning to surf to your heart’s content? Keep in mind that dangerous sharp-toothed predators may lurk in the depths of the sea. The heroine of the film “The Shallows,” medical college student Nancy, sets off alone to surf. Everything goes well until an unlikely shark appears in this paradise – it drags the girl to the bottom, but Nancy manages to escape to a shallow reef about 200 meters from the shore. The narrative will be almost entirely focused on the main character, played by Blake Lively. The girl makes a promise to herself not to die on this reef and begins to search for a way out.
The Martian
2015 / Drama, Adventure / USA
And if you happen to be an astronaut and have a flight to Mars ahead of you, you won’t find better survival instructions than in the movie “The Martian.” You might even learn how to grow potatoes. The Ares III exploration mission operates on Mars, where a severe storm begins, the strongest in months. The ship’s captain decides to evacuate Mars. Due to a fatal turn of events, botanist Mark Watney is left behind on the planet, as the crew simply presumed him dead. While awaiting rescue, Mark must find a way to survive, and NASA, responsible for the astronauts, must develop a plan to bring the botanist home as soon as possible.
Cast Away
2000 / Drama, Adventure, Romance / USA
Another challenge you might encounter during a sea voyage is being stranded on a deserted island. If a shipwreck occurs, don’t panic. Take your phone or tablet and try to contact the rescue service. No signal? Then just watch “Cast Away” starring Tom Hanks. There’s nothing more important in Chuck Noland’s life than his career: he dedicates 24 hours a day to work, leaving no time for even his beloved woman. Fate has a nasty surprise in store for Chuck: the plane he was flying on crashes into the ocean, miraculously sparing Noland from death, but leaving him stranded on a deserted island. To adapt to the unbearable conditions, Chuck will have to adjust – thus begins the battle for survival.
Gravity
2013 / Drama, Thriller / USA
Doctor Ryan Stone embarks on her first space voyage to the Hubble Space Telescope to replace several panels. The mission is led by experienced astronaut Matt Kowalski, who is set to retire after this flight. It should be simple – just a spacewalk. But during the task, a catastrophe is imminent in low Earth orbit as space debris, consisting of debris from an old satellite, approaches the crew. Only two survive – Kowalski and Dr. Stone. Now they must rely on each other to return to Earth.
The Hunger Games
2012 / Adventure, Thriller
In the future, America will cease to exist, and in its place will emerge the post-apocalyptic state of Panem. As a result of a civil war, the country has been divided into 13 districts, governed from the city of the Capitol. Every year, on the day when the rebellion of the insurgent residents was brutally suppressed, the so-called Hunger Games are held – bloody competitions in which two representatives from each district participate. Only the strongest survive – the weak perish. In the end, only one victor must remain.
Kon-Tiki
2012 / Adventure, Historical Film / Denmark, United Kingdom, Norway
Shot for $14 million, the most expensive film in Norwegian history, “Kon-Tiki” is based on real events and tells a perilous adventure. The heroes of the film had to cover five thousand miles or eight thousand kilometers on a flotation device without a single nail. Thor Heyerdahl and five of his brave friends, who decided to accompany the explorer on his famous journey, risked their lives for the sake of science. But they had loving families waiting for them at home, so not returning was simply not an option.
Titanic
1997 / Drama, Romance / USA
James Cameron’s film, based on real events, tells the story of two lovers, Rose and Jack, who find themselves on board the giant cruise liner “Titanic” on that fateful night of April 14-15, 1912. When the ship collided with an iceberg, panic ensued. 1,492 people perished, and only 712 managed to survive, rescued by the passing steamer “Carpathia.”
Adrift
2018 / Drama, Adventure, Action / USA
Tammy and Richard embark together on a perilous adventure aboard a yacht across the Pacific Ocean. The young couple, planning to get married, intended to sail from Tahiti to the shores of California but encountered a terrifying storm. The boat capsized. When the ocean calmed down, Tammy noticed Richard severely injured in the water. With no help in sight and the radio not functioning, the girl made the decision to swim towards Hawaii on her own.
Everest
2015 / Drama, Adventure, Action / USA
The film is based on a true story that occurred in 1996 on the slopes of the world’s most inaccessible mountain. Three commercial expeditions set out to reach the summit. They all achieved their goal, but on the way back, they encountered an unpleasant surprise – a fierce snowstorm. Now, to return home alive, they must overcome their fears and, in some cases, even confront their own conscience. According to the director, this film tells the story of strong-willed men and the nature that turned their journey into a real icy hell.
World War Z
2013 / Adventure, Horror, Action / USA, Malta
The world is threatened by a deadly virus, as a result of which a person turns into a zombie upon infection. To determine the source of the disease outbreak, UN special envoy Jerry Lane is sent on the trail. Only Jerry doesn’t yet know what his journey will entail and whether he will return home to his family.
Fall
2022 / Thriller / USA, UK
After the death of Dan as a result of falling from a cliff, his wife Becky, who was previously fond of extreme activities, fell into depression. A year later, the girl still cannot recover and regularly drowns her sorrow in alcohol when suddenly an old combat friend, Hunter, appears in her life. She suggests honoring Dan’s memory by climbing to the top of the B67 radio tower and scattering his ashes there. The girls set out for the tallest structure in the United States, unaware of what they will have to face at its summit.
Society of the Snow
2023 / Drama, Adventure, Historical / USA, Spain, Chile, Uruguay.
A rugby team flies over the Andes, but the plane crashes, slamming into one of the glaciers. Only 29 people survive, and they must do everything possible to survive.
Prey
2024 / Thriller, Action / USA
A young couple is forced to abandon their humanitarian mission and flee from a camp in the Kalahari Desert as they are threatened by a gang of militants. A smuggler pilot agrees to take them out, but the plane crashes in the middle of a reserve, leaving the passengers to fight not only against humans but also against hyenas, leopards, and lions.