15 Best Survival Movies On Netflix [November 2024]

Do you like to feel a thrill while watching movies? For fans of thrilling tales of endurance, Netflix is home to some of the best survival movies available. Explore our top picks for survival movies on Netflix and experience unforgettable stories of resilience.

15 Survival Movies on Netflix

Most movies are set in extreme environments, such as treacherous landscapes and desolate wildernesses. Whether it's battling the elements or overcoming incredible odds, these films showcase the power of human spirit. 

1Nowhere

The Spanish film is a survival thriller that has captivated several Netflix subscribers. It narrates the story of a pregnant woman (Mia), who gets stuck in a shipping container. Being separated from her spouse, she has constantly struggled for survival in the midst of the ocean.

Nowhere is a tightly-woven narrative that will capture your attention with stunning visuals. You will see the human’s strong spirit to endure hostile circumstances. The emotional survival story is a must-watch on Netflix.

You will also find a touch of dictatorship in Spain, where the story has been set. As the government decides to eradicate pregnant women and children, Mia has tried to protect her baby.

2Society of the Snow

The movie draws inspiration from a true story, the Andes Flight tragedy of 1972. Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 slammed into the snowy peaks. The film's portrayal of the survivors' mental struggles will move you.

The movie depicts how the survivors have taken desperate measures to save their lives. Many people have chosen it as the best survival movie Netflix.

3Against the Ice

Released in 2022, Against the Ice is a survival movie based on the 1909 Danish expedition. Ejnar Mikkelsen is the leader of the real-life mission. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays the role of Mikkelsen, whereas Joe Cole has starred as Iver Iversen. Mikkelsen and his crew member (Iversen) started a risky mission to find evidence to show Greenland.

The evidence is highly essential to disprove an American claim of the presence of 2 territories in Greenland. This claim would make Denmark's sovereignty weaker. Hostile environments and stunning cinematography have made the film popular.

4Backcountry

The Canadian survival thriller released in 2014 is the real-life story of a couple who embarked on a camping trip and encountered a bear. The plot has been set in Canada (Algonquin Park). The journey to the remote provincial park was initially peaceful and romantic.

But, it then becomes a nightmare when Alex, an outdoorsman, Alex, an experienced outdoorsman, persuades Jenn to accompany him on a hike. After entering a deeper area of the forest, they met the predatory bear. At this point, the movie builds tension. Most audiences of the movie have appreciated the realism presented in the film.

5127 Hours

127 Hours is a biological survival drama film released in 2010. The story is related to a famous mountain adventurer, Aron Ralston. A boulder in Blue John Canyon trapped Aron in 2003. James Franco has played the role of Ralston in the movie. The film shows how James has struggled to survive, as the dislodged rock has pinned his arm.

After a 5-day struggle, he has freed himself. However, he felt hunger and dehydration in those days. 127 Hours is an award-winning survival movie for the Netflix audience.

6Cast Away

This survival film (2000) has starred Tom Hanks to play the role of Chuck Noland, a highly skilled FedEx systems analyst. The story depicts how Chuck encountered a plane crash and landed on a deserted island.

As there are no modern amenities and tools, Chuck has learned to overcome mental and physical challenges. He makes fire and hunts for food to manage isolation. His journey symbolizes the human spirit even in extreme adversity.

The cinematography in the film beautifully captures the dangers and beauty of the environment. It shows that the island is not just a prison but a place for unleashing personal growth potential.

7Deepwater Horizon

Deepwater Horizon, one of the good survival movies on Netflix, perfectly represents the 2010 BP oil spill incident. Kate Hudson and John Malkovich are some prominent stars in the movie.

The plot shows how the crew working in the Deepwater Horizon oil rig faced an environmental disaster. The fire and explosion have caused the deaths of a number of workers. Barrels of oil have flowed into the Gulf of Mexico.

Deepwater Horizon has received positive feedback because of its flawless portrayal of events.

8Unbroken

The war drama film depicts the story of the famous Olympic athlete, Louis Zamperini. During his flight, the plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean. However, Zamperini and crew members have been floating at the sea for more than a month. With strong willpower, Louis has encountered sharks and overcome other adversities.

Over time, the Japanese Navy captured Louie and another survivor. They were imprisoned and experienced inhumane treatment. Most Netflix subscribers and other movie lovers have appreciated Louie's mental strength and resilience. 

9Alive (1993)

Alive is another story representing the 1972 incident of the Andes plane crash. The film shows how survivors have been stranded in chilly conditions with a small amount of food. Their determination to stay alive has tempted them to resort to cannibalism. The film has aptly depicted the traumatic story of survival and endurance.

The main characters in the story are Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa. They aim to find someone’s assistance and have started a trekking adventure. The movie ended with the resilience and hope of survivors. 

10Everest

Released in 2015, Everest is a biographical adventure movie revealing a story related to the Mount Everest disaster (1996). The prominent stars in the film are John Hawkes, J. Brolin, and Jason Clarke. The expedition groups reached the summit but were confronted with severe weather conditions. The movie shows the risks and challenges of high-altitude climbing. 

You can watch the emotional scenes of the conversation between Rob Hall and his wife. The movie also shows the danger and beauty of the mountains.

Everest has received good feedback because of its strong performances and impressive visuals.

11Platform-

The Spanish sci-fi film released in 2019 has elements of horror. The plot has been set in a vertical self-management center. The multi-level vertical prison accommodates 2 prisoners at every level. The platform symbolizes inequality and greed. You will find human behavior in case of scarcity.

When the resources get reduced, human morality loses its value. The film shows how humans get involved in brutal acts to survive. Goreng is the main character who has persuaded others to share food for survival.

The horror elements and the characters’ performances are awesome. If you want to watch a film on societal inequality, go for Platform.

12Lift

Lift is a survival thriller film that depicts a tense situation. This Indian Tamil language horror film stars Amritha Aiyer and Kavin. Initially, Disney and Hotstar users could watch the film. But, today, Netflix users can enjoy this thriller film. The movie has a blend of supernatural elements and suspense.

The plot shows Guru as a newly appointed team leader in an IT company. On the contrary, Harini works as the HR manager. Both these characters have confronted a series of distressing events. You will find a haunting atmosphere that has built tension.

13Damsel

Damsel is one of the latest survival movies available to Netflix subscribers. It describes the story of a young woman (Elodie) who has been married to a charming prince. However, the fight for survival starts when the woman encounters a fire-breathing dragon for a ritual sacrifice. Elodie has shown her bravery and used her wit to survive.

Millie Bobby has played the role of Elodie, whereas Nick Robinson has acted as Prince Henry.

Damsel is a slightly different survival film, as it is the story of a fantasy adventure.

14Apollo 13

Apollo 13 is a historical survival film where the story relates to the real NASA's Apollo 13 lunar mission (1970). Tom Hanks and Kevin Bacon are some stars in the film. Astronauts on board face a catastrophic event because of the oxygen tank explosion. The movie reveals a struggle to move to Earth. NASA works diligently to find solutions and bring them back safely.

The film is about human survival and space exploration. You will enjoy the scenes where astronauts quickly respond to the crisis.

15The Neon Highway

The Neon Highway is a newly released film that relates to the world of country music. Rob Mayes has played as Wayne Collins, a musician dreaming of a stardom. After having an accident, he has chosen an office job.

However, later, he encountered country musician, Claude Allen. But, the music industry has not been interested in their music style. The movie has revealed the harsh realities of entering the music industry. 

Although the characters are fictional, the story perfectly shows the professional and personal challenges of musicians. 

Bonus: How to Watch the Best Survival Movies on a Bigger Screen

When you search these best survival films on Netflix on your phone, PC, you may want to watch it on a bigger screen. For this need, we recommend you to use the AirDroid Cast- a free screen casting app that allows you to mirror your movie screen to a big screen like TVs.

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Conclusion

We have created a list of the top survival movies on Netflix. Most survival films show how the protagonists have overcome unique challenges in extreme conditions. You will learn about the strong human spirit. So, survival movie enthusiasts have subscribed to Netflix to get entertained.