10 Greatest Wilderness Survival Movies

127 Hours

aaron ralston, 127 hours, james franco, danny boyle, wilderness survival movies, films Based on a true story, Aaron Ralston (James Franco), a mountaineer and adventurer, goes out into the Utah wilderness for the weekend alone without telling anyone.

While traversing a canyon near Moab, Utah, a boulder traps the young man's arm against the canyon wall for 127 hours with little food and water.

With will power and determination, Ralston resorts to desperate measures in order to survive and see his family again.

Cast Away

tom hanks, cast away, wilderness survival movies In 2000 Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), a FedEx executive becomes trapped on a desert island after a plane crash with only his desire to return to civilization as his lone hope to survive.

Over his four years on the island, Noland learns how to survive by catching fish, predicting the weather and keeping company with an unlikely companion.

As opportunity strikes, Noland takes a chance to sail back to civilization on a hand-made raft with a sail that floated ashore.

Into the Wild

Christopher McCandless, Emile Hirsch, vince vaughn, wildernsess survival movies, film Based on the true story of Christopher McCandless' journey from college graduate to wilderness wanderer, the young man donates all his money to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska.

During his journey, McCandles (Emile Hirsch) renames himself and meets friends and characters including one played by Vince Vaughn who go on to shape his existence.

Finally alone in the Alaskan wild, McCandless must find food and shelter while constantly pursuing spiritual and intellectual awakening.

Into Thin Air

mount everest, into thin air, wilderness survival movies, films Adapted from the book "Into Thin Air" based on climber Jon Krakauer, this made for TV movie follows Krakauer as he climbs the face of Mount Everest and challenges fate at the risk of his own survival.

River Wild

kevin bacon, meryl streep, river wild, wilderness survival movies, film While on a river rafting vacation, Meryl Streep and her family must navigate the white waters while evading the pursuit of two dangerous murders.

On vacation to strengthen their family ties, Gail (Streep) a rafting expert welcomes seemingly friendly Wade (Kevin Bacon) and Terry to join the family on the week-long trip.

When the two men become suspicious and Gail realizes they are criminals, the family tries to escape.

Held hostage at gunpoint the family must battle the two violent men and the white waters while trying to survive.

Man in the Wilderness

man in the wilderness, wilderness survival movies, films, richard harris, 1800s, forest Set in the early 1800's, fur trappers and Indian traders are returning from their season in the western wilderness with goods to sell in the American cities back east.

When a bear attacks guide Zachary Bass (Richard Harris), the rest of the group leave him to die as the severe winter threatens its approach and they can't wait any longer.

As Bass recovers from his injury, he swears revenge on those who abandoned him and tracks the deserters down.

Alive

alive, wilderness survival movies, films, south american andes Based on the true survival story of the Uruguayan rugby team that crashed landed in the Andes in 1972, the men call upon strength and determination to survive the freezing cold and high altitude.

The Edge

alec baldwin, anthony hopkins, the edge, wilderness survival movies, films Billionaire Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins) and his supermodel wife are on vacation getting photos taken by photographer Bob Green (Alec Baldwin). After seeing a certain kiss, Morse suspects Green of having an affair with his wife.

While the two men are in a private jet flying deeper into the wilderness to get more authentic photos, Morse confronts Green and the plane unexpectedly goes down.

Having barely survived, the men attempt to hike back knowing that they are pursued by a Kodiak bear.

While helping each other survive, the two men bond, but not closely enough it seems.

Cry in the Wild

cry in the wild, wilderness survival movies, film, Jared Rushton When 13-year-old Brian (Jared Rushton) becomes the sole survivor of an unreported plane crash, he must learn to survive in the Canadian wilderness alone.

This 1990 film based on the book Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, depicts Brian's struggle to survive in the Yukon wild with little besides his wits.

Brain must learn to find food, build shelter and battle the hungry animals until he is found or worse, but he can't afford to let the other alternative into his mind.

Swiss Family Robinson

swiss family robertson, wilderness survival movies, films When a family is on their way to New Guinea, a pirate ship chases them into a storm.

The ship's crew abandons the family and their boat crashes and wrecks. The father and two eldest sons salvage what they can and the family attempts to survive alone on the island.

The family manages to make the most of the turn of events by creating modern amenities and fighting off the pirates several times.