Originally by Ranker FilmList RulesMovies must feature the struggle to survive in some way.
A list of the best survival movies. All of the best survival films have been included, but if you feel we somehow missed one, feel free to add it to the list yourself. Survival films, above all else, are about one thing: staying alive.
What are the top survival movies? Whether it be monsters, an apocalypse, or the Earth itself, survival films are all about trying to outlast whatever it is that's trying to kill you. Perseverance is key, so as one can guess, many of these films could even be described as "inspirational" (some in their own perverse way). Enjoy!26
9845Pitch Black
Vin Diesel, Radha MitchellReleased: 2000
Directed by: David Twohy
Pitch Black is a 2000 science fiction horror film co-written and directed by David Twohy. The... more on Wikipedia
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276146Apocalypto
Raoul Trujillo, Gerardo TaracenaReleased: 2006
Directed by: Mel Gibson
Apocalypto is a 2006 American epic adventure film directed and produced by Mel Gibson. It was... more on Wikipedia28
210120The Pianist
Adrien Brody, Thomas KretschmannReleased: 2002
Directed by: Roman Polanski
The Pianist is a 2002 historical drama film co-produced and directed by Roman Polanski,... more on Wikipedia29
9632Behind Enemy Lines
Owen Wilson, Gene HackmanReleased: 2001
Directed by: John Moore
Behind Enemy Lines is a 2001 action film directed by John Moore in his directorial debut, and... more on Wikipedia30
8212Alien
Sigourney Weaver, John HurtReleased: 1979
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Alien is a 1979 science fiction horror film directed by Ridley Scott. The crew of the... more on Wikipedia31
9546Speed
Sandra Bullock, Keanu ReevesReleased: 1994
Directed by: Jan de Bont
Speed is a 1994 American action film directed by Jan de Bont in his feature film directorial... more on Wikipedia32
10149The Poseidon Adventure
Gene Hackman, Stella StevensReleased: 1972
Directed by: Irwin Allen, Ronald Neame
The Poseidon Adventure is a 1972 American action-adventure disaster film, directed by Ronald... more on Wikipedia33
9718The Shawshank Redemption
Morgan Freeman, Rita HayworthReleased: 1994
Directed by: Frank Darabont
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont... more on Wikipedia34
8220Predator
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse VenturaReleased: 1987
Directed by: John McTiernan
Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan and was... more on Wikipedia35
15394Children of Men
Julianne Moore, Clive OwenReleased: 2006
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Children of Men is a 2006 science fiction thriller film directed and co-written by Alfonso... more on Wikipedia36
9043The Flight of the Phoenix
James Stewart, Richard AttenboroughReleased: 1965
Directed by: Robert Aldrich
The Flight of the Phoenix is a 1965 American drama film starring James Stewart, produced and... more on Wikipedia37
155110The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh HutchersonReleased: 2014
Directed by: Francis Lawrence
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is a 2014 American dystopian science fiction adventure... more on Wikipedia38
6738The Descent
Shauna Macdonald, Natalie MendozaReleased: 2005
Directed by: Neil Marshall
The Descent is a 2005 British adventure horror film directed by Neil Marshall. Six women enter... more on Wikipedia39
7746Reign of Fire
Christian Bale, Matthew McConaugheyReleased: 2002
Directed by: Rob Bowman
Reign of Fire is a 2002 post-apocalyptic action fantasy film directed by Rob Bowman and... more on Wikipedia40
144102Lord of the Flies
James Badge Dale, Balthazar GettyReleased: 1990
Directed by: Harry Hook
Lord of the Flies is a 1990 American survival film adapted from the classic novel Lord of the... more on Wikipedia41
6735Lifeboat
Tallulah Bankhead, Hume CronynReleased: 1944
Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
This film is an American drama thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock from a story by John... more on Wikipedia42
17528The Martian
Matt DamonReleased: 2015
Directed by: R. Scott
The Martian is a 2015 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, based on the novel by... more on Wikipedia43
10161War of the Worlds
Tom Cruise, Morgan FreemanReleased: 2005
Directed by: Steven Spielberg
War of the Worlds is a 2005 American epic science fiction disaster film and a loose adaptation... more on Wikipedia44
10251The Impossible
Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregorReleased: 2012
Directed by: Juan Antonio Bayona
The Impossible is a 2012 drama film directed by Juan Antonio Bayona and written by Sergio G.... more on Wikipedia45
161103Gravity
Sandra Bullock, George ClooneyReleased: 2013
Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
Gravity is a 2013 science fiction thriller film directed, co-written, and produced by Alfonso... more on Wikipedia46
9357All Is Lost
Robert RedfordReleased: 2013
Directed by: J. C. Chandor
All Is Lost is a 2013 survival drama film written and directed by J. C. Chandor. The film... more on Wikipedia47
7142Touching the Void
Nicholas Aaron, Brendan MackeyReleased: 2003
Directed by: Kevin Macdonald
Touching the Void is a 2003 documentary based on the book of the same name by Joe Simpson... more on Wikipedia48
6428Man in the Wilderness
Richard Harris, John HustonReleased: 1971
Directed by: Richard C. Sarafian
In the 19th century, Hugh Glass, a fur trapper, is mauled by a bear while hunting. His companions rob him and leave him to die, but he survives and sets out to get revenge on the men who betrayed him. It's the first movie, befor the Revanant (2015) to tell this story in an epic way.. Very good movie!49
9064The Postman
Kevin Costner, Tom PettyReleased: 1997
Directed by: Kevin Costner
The Postman is a 1997 American epic post-apocalyptic adventure film. It is directed by,... more on Wikipedia50
5630Das Boot
Jürgen Prochnow, Herbert GrönemeyerReleased: 1981
Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Das Boot is a 1981 German epic film written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, produced by... more on Wikipedia
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