In addition to providing a fun viewing experience, survival films can teach audiences important life lessons. In these films, the protagonists face impossible odds and must rely on their wits, cunning, and willpower if they are to succeed. These films include dramatic and suspenseful battles between the protagonist and a variety of antagonists, including the environment, adverse terrain, and various predators.

Here are the top 11 survival movies that everyone should watch.

The Revenant (2015)

The Revenant is a visually gorgeous and violent survival movie based on the true incident of Hugh Glass, a fur trapper who was left for dead in the forest after a bear assault. The film, in which Leonardo DiCaprio starred and for which he won an Academy Award, is about the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

Cast Away (2000) 

Tom Hanks stars as FedEx employee Chuck Noland in Cast Away, directed by Robert Zemeckis and portrays himself in the role of director. Chuck must learn to survive on the island by using his wits and resources, as he has no chance of being rescued. The film’s message of hope and the strength of the human spirit rings true.

127 Hours (2010)

127 Hours, based on the true account of a hiker named Aron Ralston who became stuck in a canyon in Utah for five days, is an exciting and motivating tale of survival. With a career-defining performance from James Franco, the film demonstrates the strength of the human desire to survive and the value of making tough decisions under pressure.

The Grey (2011)

The Grey, starring Liam Neeson as a plane crash survivor in the Alaskan Arctic, is a dramatic and terrifying film. The survivors must fight against a troop of wolves as well as the harsh environment. This film emphasizes the value of working together, being creative, and staying focused in the face of hardship.

Gravity (2013)

Gravity is an exciting and frightening space survival film directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. The two astronauts are left to fend for themselves in the vacuum of space after the destruction of their space shuttle. The necessity of maintaining composure and staying focused under extreme pressure are both emphasized in this film.

Alive (1993)

Alive is a dramatic and gripping survival film based on the real-life experience of a Uruguayan rugby team whose plane crashed in the Andes. The survivors are fighting for their lives against the elements of cold, hunger, and solitude. This film demonstrates the value of perseverance, cooperation, and resolve in the face of insurmountable odds.

Into the Wild (2007)

Into the Wild is an emotional and motivational survival film based on the true tale of Christopher McCandless, a recent college graduate who journeyed into the Alaskan wilderness in search of personal fulfillment. The film celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity and highlights the contrast between the gentleness and harshness of nature.

The Martian (2015)

The Martian, starring Matt Damon, is an exciting and scary survival film about an astronaut who is left behind on Mars after a mission goes wrong. The protagonist must use his wits and resourcefulness to endure on the hostile planet until relief arrives. The power of education, ingenuity, and fortitude in the face of hardship are all on display in this film.

All is Lost (2013)

Robert Redford acts as a lone sailor whose vessel is destroyed during a solo voyage across the Indian Ocean in this sparse survival drama. Without any means of contact and with few provisions, the sailor must rely on his own cunning and knowledge of survival techniques to try to make it through the ordeal. The film’s concentration on Redford’s physical acting, along with the absence of words, results in a spooky and tense environment.

The Edge (1998)

The film stars Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin as two men who, after their plane crashes in Alaska, must struggle to survive. The men learn the true meaning of survival as they face their own inner problems while battling the elements and a territorial grizzly bear.

Touching the Void (2003)

This documentary-style video is based on the true story of two climbers who set out to reach the peak of a Peruvian Andean mountain. In order to save his own life when one of them gets hurt, the other must make the heartbreaking decision to cut the rope and let his friend fall to his death. Interviews, reenactments, and real footage of the climbers combine to make a stirring and moving film.

In conclusion, survival films have been a crowd pleaser for many years. These movies show us the power of nature, the strength of the human spirit, and the necessity of being ready for anything. Man vs nature, man versus man, or man versus one’s own self—we can’t get enough of survival flicks. So, pop some corn, settle in, and prepare for an exciting and unforgettable film.