5 Survival Movies To Binge If You Loved Society of the Snow
The fresh Netflix hit has breathed new life into the survival movie genre, but there are other cinematic gems that deserve your attention.
Less than a month after its debut on Netflix on January 4, 2024, J. A. Bayona's survival thriller Society of the Snow, based on the real-life crash of Flight 571 over the Andes on October 13, 1972, has climbed to the top of the streaming service's global top 10 list.
Despite being in Spanish, which often cuts off the part of the audience that doesn't like to read subtitles, it has managed to capture the hearts of countless viewers who have spent a total of 26.8 million hours watching it.
So if you can't get enough of this intense survival story, here are five similar movies that should be right up your alley.
The Grey (2011)
Starring Liam Neeson, this movie has a somewhat similar setup to the Netflix hit, despite being based on the purely fictional short story Ghost Walker by Ian MacKenzie.
When the personnel of a remote oil plant in Alaska survive a plane crash in the middle of the frozen wastes on their way home from work, they find themselves in a fight for their lives.
John Ottway, one of the survivors who suffered from severe depression before the crash and even considered taking his own life, must use his marksmanship skills to protect the group from wild animals and possibly find a new reason to live.
The Revenant (2015)
Vaguely based on Michael Punke's novel of the same name, which is itself based on the story of real-life 19th-century frontiersman Hugh Glass, this movie caused a huge stir when it won Leonardo DiCaprio his first Best Actor Oscar.
Some fans still argue that it was more of a gesture of recognition after the actor had been denied the award for so many years, as they don't consider it to be the best of his roles, even if it was great.
Regardless, The Revenant is still an incredibly well-made movie that grips the viewer with Glass' intense story of survival in the wilderness after narrowly surviving a bear attack.
127 Hours (2010)
From iconic filmmaker Danny Boyle, this film starring James Franco tells the story of real-life mountain climber Aron Ralston, who spent nearly a week in a slot canyon after his arm got trapped by a boulder.
Even if you already know how the story ends (thanks, Deadpool ), the gorgeous cinematography and a stunning performance by Franco perfectly convey the horror of the situation, making it well worth your time.
Jungle (2017)
After dedicating many years to the Harry Potter franchise, Daniel Radcliffe has tried his hand at a number of very different films, including this one, based on the true story of Yossi Ghinsberg's journey into the Amazon rainforest.
Though the film is clunky at times, resulting in only moderately positive reviews, Radcliffe's acting makes up for it, and the movie does a good job of depicting the dangers of the uncharted jungle.
The Martian (2015)
If you don't mind that the survival story takes a sci-fi approach (though it remains quite realistic), you should definitely check out this 2015 film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon.
Based on the novel of the same name by Andy Weir, the movie follows Dr. Mark Watney, who is accidentally left on the surface of Mars by the rest of his team and must use all of his skills to survive the extremely hostile environment.