MovieChat Forums > 127 Hours (2011) Discussion > 'Survival' movies

'Survival' movies

posted 12 years ago by L0GAN5
16 replies | jump to latest

There seems to have been a few of these in recent years, where the protagonists find themselves isolated and up the creek without a paddle and are left to the mercy of nature. It has almost turned into a sub-genre. Here's a few I can think of:

Walkabout (1971) - A teenage girl and her brother are stranded in the Australian outback.
Alive (1993) - Plane survivors face starvation after a plane crash.
Apollo 13 (1995) - Maybe stretching the definition here since the astronauts remain in contact with Houston, but basically they are on their own.
Open Water (2004) - A scuba-diving couple are left behind at sea.
Adrift (2006) - A boat party can't get back on the boat after swimming in the sea.
Frozen (2010) - Three people become trapped in a ski lift as freezing temperatures set in.
127 hours (2010) - A man finds himself between a rock and a hard place.

Can anyone think of any more? I'm trying to steer clear of the "desert island" trope because there are so man of them: Robinson Crusoe, Cast Away The Blue Lagoon etc.

[–] miguelcardoso36 12 years ago

Don't forget Liam Neeson's "The Grey", fantastic movie!

[–] carlagarciarina 12 years ago

Rabbit-Proof Fence is amazing and a must see.

I would put Shawshank Redemption in this list because I felt the whole movie was about the character having to survive prison.

Into The Wild and Open Water are based on real life events.

The Host is a fun fiction tale.

Also Lord Of The Fleas, Mad Max, and Lost TV series

Zombie movies: 28 Days Later, Dawn of the Dead, and I Am Legend

[–] suednim1960 11 years ago

Touching the Void, Into Thin Air and Man in the Wilderness, all based on actual events.

[–] Degree7 10 years ago

Amen on Touching the Void.

In fact, I think that is a much better film and an altogether more incredible story of survival.

~ I've been very lonely in my isolated tower of indecipherable speech.

[–] L0GAN5 11 years ago

I think we can add Gravity to this list too.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] L0GAN5 11 years ago

A couple more.

First up is "The Reef" which could be part of a triple bill along with Open Water and Adrift: a boat sinks and its four occupants have to swim to an island. The only problem is that a shark is picking off the party one by one. Supposedly "based on a true story".

Next is the James Cameron produced "Sanctum" about a bunch of cave divers who get trapped in a cave by a flood. They have to make their way through a series of underwater caverns to make it to the surface. This one is "inspired by true events".

[–] L0GAN5 11 years ago

And one I forgot: "Rogue". Tourists on a boat trip in the Australian outback end up stranded on a small island after their boat is irreparably damaged by a giant crocodile. Things turn desperate as the tide comes in and submerges the island with the hungry croc lurking in the water.

[–] fkelleghan 11 years ago

"The Ruins" -- 2006 novel by Scott Smith, and 2008 film adaptation. Most people think the novel is much better, but I quite liked the movie as well; and the characters go through some very harsh, scary times. (Not everyone survives.)

"City of Ember" -- adaptation of a Y.A. science fiction novel. There isn't much doubt that some will survive, but the question is how, and whether the city folks can all make it. (They don't all make it.) What do you do when your world and the future are literally going dark, and you don't know what is beyond the city? Fun, with some monsters, and Bill Murray is a great villain.

Fiona

Science first! And information: also first!

[–] maguew_9 11 years ago

http://www.imdb.com/list/ls001981318/

my list should help you guys

[–] Jhollyfield25 10 years ago

Here is some survival movies involving animals

Eight Below with Paul Walker is a really good one (2006)- A man has to leave his sled dogs behind in Antarctica and the dogs must survive.
Far From Home The Adventures Of Yellow Dog (1995) A boy and his dog get stranded in the wilderness of British Columbia.
The Adventures Of Milo And Otis (1986) A cat and a dog must survive after straying from their farm in Japan.
Homeward Bound The Incredible Journey (1993) Two dogs and a cat embark together on a journey to find their way back home through the California wilderness.