Person in parka in winter, opens a new window by Daniel Bowman, opens a new window / Unsplash, opens a new window
With temperatures in the single digits, it’s hard to imagine walking around outside for too long without thinking of what would happen if you somehow got stuck and had to survive in such weather.
Thankfully, there are plenty of top-notch, occasionally award-winning films about survival that allow us to simultaneously be relaxed and entertained while providing an easy way to learn how to prepare for an unfortunate event. Some are terrifyingly true stories, while others are equally terrifying yet intriguing realistic works of fiction that force us to imagine ourselves in life-or-death situations, testing our mettle against conditions that appear to be designed to help us meet our end.
It just underlines the fact that nature can be scary for us fragile humans, especially if we are unprepared.
Contemplate the age-old conflict between humanity and the natural world while enjoying a hot cuppa on your sofa this winter with these hand-picked survival films.
The Revenant is an action-packed, revenge-fueled survival film based on a novel of the same name. Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Academy Award for his portrayal of the real-life legendary explorer Hugh Glass.
The Grey finds a group of oil drillers stranded in the Alaskan wilderness following a plane crash, battling the cold and a pack of vicious wolves. This film will keep you on your toes.
In The Mountain Between Us, a widowed neurosurgeon and an engaged journalist are the lone pair of survivors of a plane crash in the Utah mountains. During their dangerous journey through freezing temperatures, they discover much more than their will to survive, making this one of the best survival romances you’ll see.
Alive is based on the true story of the Uruguayan rugby players who crashed in the Andes mountains in 1972. Over ten weeks, the survivors, stranded in the cold and without food, must make a harrowing decision to do what it takes to survive.
Everest expeditions are the ultimate test for mountain climbers, no matter how many years of experience a hiker has. This group is in for one of the harshest snowstorms ever faced and must find a way to survive the treacherous conditions of the highest mountain in the world.
Films about survival take on many different environments. What’s your favorite survival film?