38 Best Survival Thriller Movies for Preppers

People love watching survival thriller movies. No, we’re not just talking about Swiss Family Robinson; although that one is a great film too.

Say you were leading a rescue mission, dropped off in a remote area, abandoned aboard a boat, left for dead after a plane crash, or even sent into space. Would you possess the necessary skills to endure? That’s probably what everyone thinks when they see the best survival movies.

The genre of survival films is clearly vast, and we may have left out one, two, or twenty-seven films that may have made the cut had we not focused on the sub-genres we felt had the best survival movies.

There are several subgenres of survival fiction, including action, survival horror, survival drama, post-apocalyptic world, and true story.

Why Do People Love Watching Survival Films?

If you’re anything like me, you love a good survival movie. There’s something about watching people fight against all odds to survive in a hostile environment that just gets the blood flowing.

And if it’s based on a true story, even better! But have you ever wondered why we’re so fascinated by survival stories?

Part of it might have to do with the fact that we live in a pretty comfortable world. For most of us, the worst thing that happens on any given day is that we get stuck in traffic or our coffee is cold.

We can’t imagine having to worry about where our next meal is coming from, or whether we’ll be alive at the end of the day. So in a way, survival movies are a way for us to vicariously experience what it would be like to be in a truly dangerous situation.

But There is More to It

The best survival movies are exciting (even if the most action you’re getting at home is grabbing for your popcorn bowl), whether they’re set in outer space, an uninhabited island, a wasteland in South America, or the middle of the ocean.

Perhaps you feel like seeing a film based on a true story of a catastrophic natural disaster or a failed military operation.

You may be interested in watching a science fiction thriller, but you probably want one set in the far future or an alternate world where the events are, you know, less likely to actually happen (hopefully). There’s a nail-biting survival drama for every taste out there.

We watch survival movies because we secretly yearn for a simpler time, before the world was so complicated.

In a survival story, there are no politics or financial problems or relationship drama. The only thing that matters is staying alive. In a sense, it’s a return to our basic instincts.

So next time you’re looking for something to watch, consider a survival movie. You might just find yourself pleasantly surprised.

What Can You Learn from Survival Films?

There’s something both exhilarating and anxiety-inducing about watching a survival film. On the one hand, you’re on the edge of your seat, rooting for the protagonist to make it through against all odds.

On the other hand, you can’t help but wonder what you would do in their situation. Would you have the courage to keep going? The resourcefulness to find food and shelter? The stamina to keep going when everything is against you?

Survival movies often teach us as much about ourselves as they do about survival. plane crashes and127 hours are just two examples of films that will leave you contemplating what you would do in a critical situation.

So next time you’re looking for a film to watch, don’t discount the survival genre – you might just learn something about yourself.

The Best Survival Movies

In this list, we have included survival films that have captured people’s interest and attention. We have also included film adaptations of true-to-life survival stories and documentaries.

The Grey

Released in 2012, The Grey is a story of survival. It portrays humanity fighting against nature through a couple of people working on an oil pipeline in Alaska.

In this film, Liam Neeson takes the character of a man who just lost wife because of an illness and got a job in the oil pipeline while killing a pack of wolves that surround the camp.

In this action-thriller from director Joe Carnahan, the individuals working on an oil pipeline in Alaska are involved in a plane crash. Each person struggles with the cold weather and the lack of resources.

And the men were in a complicated situation as wolves are now hunting them. In order to escape, they need to outwit the wolves and cling to their lives.Despite the harsh and cold temperatures. A movie filled with suspense, The Grey hides a deeper and more philosophical meaning. While also giving you the time to contemplate, as Neeson also recalls his memories with his wife.

Life of Pi 2012

Another survival film that caught people’s attention in 2012 was the Life of Pi, which was based on a best-selling book by Yann Martel. In the book, it captures the story of a boy who faces impossible odds. And conquers them with his unwavering philosophy.

In the movie, Director Ang Lee presents the story bringing the heart and soul of the character as Pi an Indian boy, who ends up in the middle of the sea with the company of a hungry Bengal tiger.

Seemingly a “children’s movie,” the Life of Pi 2012 never failed to highlight the actual danger Pi may be facing with a tiger beside him, especially after he devoured a hyena.

This is not a typical movie that talks about a boy having a friendly tiger, and both of them having a nautical adventure together.

And in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Pi gets involved in a battle with the elements forcing him to be alert and to look for ways to survive, such as fishing for food, as he tries to satisfy the tiger he is sharing the boat with.

This film is long but definitely worth watching. It was nominated for Best Picture in the Gold Globe Awards.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games movie is set in a dystopian future where the Capitol controls 12 outlying districts.

The story follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers to take her sister’s place in the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death in which two young people from each district compete.

Katniss is joined by Peeta Mellark, a boy she grew up with, and the two must form an alliance in order to survive the games. The Hunger Games is an exciting, action-packed movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

It’s also a thought-provoking film that will leave you wondering about the world we live in today.

The Perfect Storm

The movie is based on a true story of fishermen who caught by the 1991 storm and had gone missing. The story depicts how the struggles the fishermen face amid a very turbulent journey to survive, and how they clung to their lives as gigantic waves lead them to the dangerous parts of the waters.

127 Hours

127 Hours is one of the best survival films that will make you realize that even if you are an expert in a specific hobby, accidents might still happen in a way that will bring you to a lot of trouble.

Based on a real-life story of a backpacker, Aron Ralston, as he was severely pinned while traversing a dusty canyon. This film tells of story of a man who was trapped in the middle of nowhere and has tried to remove himself from the complicated situation that he was in.

It is not only a story of how he got out from being pinned by a boulder, but it was a biographical drama of how a man can go beyond what is expected of him just to survive.

And in our goal of wanting to be free from the circumstance that we are in, we drive ourselves to the extremes, as Aron (played by James Franco) freed his arm by cutting it using a dull pocket knife.

127 Hours is an extraordinary film that leads people to contemplate with their lives emotionally and physically as to what extent can they do to survive in this world.

The Mountain Between Us

The Mountain Between Us is one of the best survival movies out there. It tells the story of two strangers who are stranded in the wilderness after a plane crash. Together, they must find a way to stay alive and eventually make their way back to civilization.

Along the way, they form a bond and discover the true meaning of human spirit. The Mountain Between Us is an adventure drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Rescue Dawn

Released in 2006, Rescue Dawn is a survival film, which was set during the Vietnam War,a nd it stars Christian Bale. It talks about a real-life story of a German-American pilot named Dieter Dengler and how he survived as a prisoner in the war.

The movie portrayed the life of prisoners-of-war as they went through starvation, extreme torture, and fear that the guards will kill them anytime soon. And as they found their way to escape, nothing but chaos and a dangerous jungle welcomed them.

Captain Phillips

When you watch Captain Phillips, one of the questions that will resonate in your head is: What would you do?

This film is inspired by the true events that have taken place during the 2009 Maersk Alabama hijacking. In the hijacking, a captain of an American cargo ship was taken into hostage in the Indian Ocean by Somali pirates from the coast of Somalia.

Captain Phillips also highlights the emerging security issues of pirates with the trade vessels that go inside their region.

In this survival thriller, negotiators were struggling to get Captain Richards Phillips, who was played by Tom Hanks, out of the hands of the Somalian pirates, as they are very persistent and agitated with the current situation around them.

A Quiet Place

If you’re looking for something relaxing to watch, you might want to skip A Quiet Place. This edge-of-your-seat thriller is anything but quiet, as a family of four must navigate their way through a world inhabited by deadly creatures that hunt by sound.

While the premise might sound like your typical horror film, A Quiet Place elevates the genre with its focus on the human spirit and determination to survive. The result is an exciting adventure drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

So if you’re looking for a great survival thriller, you might want to give A Quiet Place a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Open Water

Imagine a perfect scuba diving holiday with your partner, and then the boat that took you to the waters accidentally left you in the middle of the ocean. And then you realize sharks are swimming around you. Yes, it is going to be difficult for you to survive.

And that is what this 2003-released film, Open Water, is all about. It portrays the real-life story of an American couple who went to Australia for their honeymoon and was left in shark-infested waters.

Everest

This adventure drama, Everest, is based on the real events. This movie tells of the story of eight climbers who died as a blizzard hit them in 1996 while they are descending from the summit of Mount Everest.

The film showed the great danger one would face as they climb up the Mount Everest, and that even with their climbing expertise, weather patterns and blizzards may interfere and create a perilous journey. It is definitely one of the best survival movies.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park is a classic 90s movie that tells the story of a Central America theme park where dinosaurs have been brought back to life. When the park’s security system breaks down, the dinosaurs escape and start terrorizing the visitors.

The movie is full of suspense and excitement, and it’s sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for a classic 90s adventure, Jurassic Park is definitely the movie for you.

The Way Back

If you are going to make a list of all the great survival films of all time, The Way Back must be included in your list. Set in the time of World War II, it is a film that sparks tension to the viewers.

This survival horror narrates the story of Polish prisoners-of-war and their escape from a Soviet Gulag, which means walking around 4,000 miles.

Picture yourself walking in Siberia. Where you are greeted with the cold breeze of the place that can freeze you to death. The movie’s story is set in a freezing cold environment that leads to the Mongolian desert.

This film narrates the hazards of going into two extreme environments all at once. Where adaptation and instinct are necessary for you to survive.

The Edge

In this 1997 movie, the story follows the story of three men whose plane crashes in an area in Alaska. As they are in search of a particular person in the bear-infested country.

Unfortunately, a Kodiak bear found their trail and followed them. And at night, the bear attacks to get a snack. For them to survive, the men looked for ways to outwit the bear and kill him.

Apocalypto

In Apocalypto, a world ruled by the powerful and ruthless Aztec Empire is on the brink of collapse. The emperor’s chief advisor, Jaguar Paw, is a young man who has been tasked with leading a group of warriors on a dangerous mission to capture new slaves.

However, when the group is ambushed by rivals, Jaguar Paw is forced to fight for his life. As the world around him descends into chaos, he must find a way to save his people from the coming apocalypse.

Apollo 13

Inspired by the aborted 1970 Apollo 13 lunar mission, this movie takes place in space. What makes it more interesting is the fact that you need to step up your game. And improvise your plans when the application of average physics is not enough. When things go wrong, you can actually say you are doomed.

In this film, NASA technical specialists were involved in making sure that everything about the story is followed correctly and accurately.

In a typical survival movie, you would see people trying to cope up with the lack of food and water. As well as the extreme temperatures and harsh weather conditions. In this film, you see how characters cling to life as the most crucial need is deprived: oxygen.

Cast Away – 2000

Cast Away 2000 stars Tom Hanks. It’s the story of a time-obsessed executive named Chuck Noland. He was stranded in a deserted island when his plane crashed over the Pacific Ocean.

Having a little to no survival skills, Noland was forced to learn how to fish, split coconuts, build fires, and utilize the FedEx boxes that were with him. Cast Away is the perfect adventure drama for movie nights. It is so good that Tom Hanks won as Oscar for this one.

Behind Enemy Lines

Behind Enemy Lines is a 2001 action thriller film directed by Paul Greengrass, starring Owen Wilson and Gene Hackman. The film tells the story of a U.S. naval aviator who is shot down over Bosnia during a rescue mission and becomes stranded behind enemy lines with his navigator.

With the help of a disillusioned Serbian soldier, they must fight their way back to safety while evading capture by the Bosnian Serb army. Behind Enemy Lines was released to mixed reviews but was a box office success, grossing over $92 million worldwide.

The Road

If you are into dark movies, The Road might be something you would want to consider watching. It’s a story of a journey of a father and son across a post-apocalyptic America.

The Road is a movie of survival. And the characters are in their search of a hospitable environment where they can live safely and securely.

Touching the Void

If you are looking forward to watching a relaxing documentary, Touching the Void would kill your anticipation. This documentary will make you feel like you are jumping on a cliff.

This is not the typical documentary on how people made fires. Or how they were able to set a trap for fishes. Touching the Void is a narration of the dangerous adventure of Simpson and Yates as they were heading to Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in the year 1985.

This nerve-wracking journey is told by these two experienced mountaineers. Touching the Void conveys a real experience of surviving amidst life threatening injuries, thirst, and hunger in an extremely harsh environment. You fear for the safety of the mountaineers.

But, the documentary also showcases the menacing beauty of the mountain ranges. Along with the struggles of the climbing survivalists, and the dangerous glacial crevices that leave your heart beating erratically.

Against the Sun

Based on a true story of the US Navy Pilots in the World War II who had been stranded in the middle of the sea after their bomber plunged into the South Pacific.

The majority of the scenes had taken place in a small life raft in the middle of the ocean. Against the Sun shows how the survivors have managed starvation, dehydration, and sharks.

We hope you enjoyed the list of best movies about survival. Whatever movie you choose to watch we know you will enjoy. If you are a survival/prepping enthusiast and want our Ultimate Guide To Prepping Ebook, you can download a free copy here.

Last Survivors

In the adventure drama “Last Survivors,” a father and son hide out in the wilderness while the rest of the world around them collapses. That premise hardly seems like fiction these days, but this surival thriller focuses on their father-son relationship as well.

Over the course of twenty years, Troy and his young son Jake have survived without any form of modern infrastructure. Every day is a struggle for life, and Troy has warned his kid that he will pay a high price if he ever ventures outside the boundaries of the forest paradise he and his father have created.

Jake, though, is growing increasingly interested in the world outside their remote wilderness. And now, thanks to a fortuitous meeting with a gorgeous stranger, everything is about to come tumbling down in a devastating wave of lies, betrayal, and domestic terror.

12 Years a Slave

This is a historical drama about making it through the harsh conditions of African slavery in pre-Civil War America. Filmed here is Solomon Northup’s autobiography of the same name.

The film chronicles his ordeal as an African-American free man born in New York State who is kidnapped and sold into slavery.

As a survival strategy, he adopts a false identity and feign illiteracy. Northup endures starvation, malnutrition, and physical abuse as he is passed from one slave owner to another.

Despite everything he had to go through, he maintained his sense of self and never gave up on his dream of independence.

The Impossible

On December 26th, 2004, one of the deadliest tsunamis in history struck the Indian Ocean. The resulting devastation claimed the lives of more than 230,000 people in fourteen different countries. In the midst of this tragedy, one family fought to survive.

The Impossible is based on the true events surrounding Maria Belon and her family’s fight to stay alive. They were vacationing in Thailand when the tsunami hit.

As Maria fought to stay alive and find her husband and three sons, she realized that the only way to survive was to work together. The Impossible is an harrowing human survivor tale that has been hailed as one of the best survival movies ever made.

Buried

If you’re looking for the best survival movies, look no further than Buried. The story follows a young man who wakes up buried alive inside a coffin. With only a lighter and a cell phone, he must find a way to escape before he runs out of air.

This edge-of-your-seat thriller will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Swiss Family Robinson

The Swiss Family Robinson is considered one of the best survival movies of all time. The movie follows a young woman who is stranded on a deserted island with her family.

The family must use all of their ingenuity and resourcefulness to survive the elements and dangerous wildlife. The Swiss Family Robinson is an adventure drama that is fun to watch and has become one of the classics.

The Omega Man

The Omega Man is one of the best survival movies ever made. In it, human survivor Neville (played by Charlton Heston) wanders a post-apocalyptic wasteland that has been overrun by an infectious disease that turns people into mutants.

To survive, Neville must not only fend off the attacking mutants, but also find other human survivors in order to create a resistance.

The movie is both exciting and suspenseful, and it features some of the best acting from Charlton Heston. If you’re looking for a great survival movie, then be sure to check out The Omega Man.

The Edge

If you’re looking for one of the best survival movies out there, look no further than The Edge. Starring Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin, the film tells the story of a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness and the fight for survival against wild animals and the elements.

While it may not be based on a true story, The Edge is nonetheless an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. And if you’re a fan of best survival movies, you’ll definitely want to add this one to your list.

Crawl

Looking for a good survival movie to watch? Then check out Crawl, one of the best examples in the genre. The story follows a young woman who finds herself trapped in a flooding house during a hurricane.

With the waters rising and no help in sight, she must use all her resourcefulness to find a way out before it’s too late. From director Alexandre Aja, Crawl is a suspenseful and action-packed survival horror movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Kon-Tiki

If you’re looking for a good survival movie, you can’t go wrong with Kon-Tiki. Based on the true story of Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, the film follows Heyerdahl and his crew as they attempt to sail from South America to Polynesia in a handmade raft. Kon-Tiki is one of the best survival movies out there, and it’s definitely worth a watch.

The Revenant

The Revenant is a survival horror movie based on the true story of frontiersman Hugh Glass.

After a vicious bear attack, Glass is left for dead by his companions. However, he refuses to give up and sets out on a desperate journey across the wilderness, determined to survive at all costs.

Along the way, he faces incredible hardships and must grapple with his own humanity as he fights to make it back to civilization. The Revenant is an epic tale of survival and human endurance that will leave audiences on the edge of their seats.

Children of Men

In the year 2027, eighteen years after the last baby was born, the world is on the brink of extinction. The only hope for humanity lies in a group of dissidents who band together to get a pregnant woman to safety.

With time running out, they must battle their way through a chaotic and dangerous world to ensure the survival of the human race.

Children of Men is a gripping and visually stunning thriller that explores the very human story of what happens when we lose hope. This movie from Universal Pictures will leave audiences both moved and amazed.

The Way Back

Former Polish prisoner, Janusz Wieszczek, is struggling to survive in a Siberian gulag.

When he is offered the chance to participate in a prisoner exchange, he jumps at the opportunity. However, the journey back to Poland is fraught with danger, and Janusz must battle the elements and his own personal demons in order to make it home alive.

The Way Back is an heartbreaking and inspiring tale of one man’s fight for freedom.

Jaws

Few movies have had as much of an impact on popular culture as Steven Spielberg’s shark attack movie, Jaws. Released in 1975, the film tells the story of a killer shark that terrorizes a small town on the Fourth of July weekend.

Although it was met with mixed reviews from critics, audiences were fascinated by the story and the groundbreaking special effects. The film went on to become the highest-grossing movie of all time and spawned three sequels.

Spielberg’s masterful direction and John Williams’ iconic score create an unforgettable cinematic experience that has terrified and thrilled audiences for generations.

The Martian

Astronaut Mark Watney is the sole survivor of a mission to Mars, which goes awry.

When a fierce storm caused by space debris forces his crew to abort their mission and return to Earth, Watney is left behind. presumed dead, Watney must use all his resourcefulness to find a way to survive on a hostile planet while waiting for the rescue mission.

As he struggles against the odds, his fellow astronauts back on Earth race against time to bring him back to Earth safely. The Martian is a thrilling tale of endurance and hope, and proves that when it comes to survival, there’s no limit to what humans can achieve.

In the Heart of the Sea

The new movie In the Heart of the Sea is based on the true story of the England whaling ship Essex, which was sunk by a massive sperm whale in 1820.

The survivors were forced to resort to extreme measures to stay alive, and the events of the disaster would later inspire Herman Melville’s classic novel Moby Dick.

The movie stars Chris Hemsworth as first mate Owen Chase, who was one of the leaders of the Essex survivors. Hemsworth is no stranger to playing larger-than-life characters, and he brings a likability and charisma to Chase that helps to make him a sympathetic figure.

The supporting cast is also strong, including Cillian Murphy as first mate Matthew Joy and Brendan Gleeson as Captain Georges Pollard.

In the Heart of the Sea is an engaging recounting of a fascinating true story. It’s a suspenseful tale of survival that will leave you on the edge of your seat, and it’s also a thought-provoking look at the lengths humans will go to in order to survive.

Into the Wild

Into the Wild is a 2007 American biographical survival drama film directed, co-produced, and written by Sean Penn. This road movie is an adaptation of Jon Krakauer’s 1996 non-fiction book of the same name, which tells the story of Christopher McCandless, a college graduate who chooses to abandon society and live in the Alaskan wilderness.

2012

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and what better way to ring in the apocalypse than with a big-budget disaster flick? That’s the premise of 2012, Roland Emmerich’s latest foray into the world of destruction porn.

The year is, you guessed it, 2012, and a group of scientists (played by an all-star cast including John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Amanda Peet) has discovered that a massive solar flare is going to fry the earth to a crisp.

As they race against the clock to warn the world’s leaders and get their families to safety, they must also contend with natural disasters of biblical proportions. Will they make it in time? Will humanity go out with a bang or a whimper? You’ll have to watch to find out.

But one thing’s for sure: 2012 is sure to be one heck of a ride.

Final Thoughts

The survival film genre is one of the most popular in cinema, and for good reason. These movies are thrilling, suspenseful, and often inspiring. They make us feel like we can conquer anything, even if the odds are against us. And who doesn’t love a good underdog story?

These are just a few of the many great survival and thrilling films out there. So pop some popcorn, snuggle up, and enjoy!