100+ Survival Movies Netflix

Netflix, one of the premier streaming platforms in the world, has always been a go-to destination for movie buffs due to its eclectic collection of films from diverse genres.

Among its vast repository, the collection of survival movies has always been an area of immense interest for viewers.

Survival films, characterized by nail-biting tension, epic human endurance, and gritty storytelling, can captivate an audience like no other genre.

This article will delve into the top 100+ survival movies Netflix, providing a brief description and reason to watch each.

List of 100+ Netflix Survival Movies

1. 127 Hours (2010) This harrowing true story of a mountaineer trapped by a fallen boulder is a visceral, engaging tale of human perseverance. Watch it for James Franco’s riveting performance and Danny Boyle’s masterful direction.
2. The Revenant (2015) Set in 1823, this movie is about a frontiersman on a fur trading expedition who fights for survival after being mauled by a bear. It’s a must-watch for Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar-winning performance and Alejandro Iñárritu’s brilliant direction.
3. Bird Box (2018) In a post-apocalyptic world, a woman and her children make a desperate, blindfolded journey to safety. It’s a thrilling watch for its unique concept and Sandra Bullock’s strong performance.
4. Life of Pi (2012) A young man who survives a disaster at sea forms an unexpected connection with another survivor: a fearsome Bengal tiger. The movie is a visual delight and explores deep philosophical themes.
5. Gravity (2013) A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space. The breathtaking visuals and gripping performances by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney make this a must-watch.
6. Cast Away (2000) After a plane crash, a FedEx executive must transform himself physically and emotionally to survive on a deserted island. Watch for Tom Hanks’ unforgettable performance and the captivating storytelling.
7. The Martian (2015) An astronaut, presumed dead, is left behind by his crew on Mars and must find a way to signal Earth that he is still alive. This Ridley Scott film is compelling for its science-based survival tactics and Matt Damon’s captivating performance.
8. Into The Wild (2007) After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Its profound narrative and Emile Hirsch’s earnest performance make this film a compelling watch.
9. I Am Legend (2007) Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure. Will Smith’s excellent performance and the thought-provoking premise make this film worthwhile.
10. Apocalypto (2006) As the Mayan kingdom faces its decline, a young man is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression. Mel Gibson’s directorial prowess and the gripping narrative make it a must-see.
11. A Quiet Place (2018): In a post-apocalyptic world populated by creatures that hunt by sound, a family must live in silence to survive. The ingenious use of sound and silence in the film makes it a thrilling experience.
12. The Shallows (2016): A woman surfing on a secluded beach finds herself on the feeding ground of a great white shark. This one is for the fans of edge-of-your-seat thrillers and Blake Lively’s powerful performance.
13. The Road (2009): In a dangerous post-apocalyptic world, an ailing father defends his son as they slowly travel to the sea. Its gripping storytelling and the poignant performances by Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee make it a must-watch.
14. The Impossible (2012): The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The film is notable for its heartbreaking narrative and strong performances by Naomi Watts and Tom Holland.
15. Alive (1993): The film narrates the story of a Uruguayan rugby team stranded in the snow-swept Andes, forced to use desperate measures to survive after a plane crash. This is a classic survival movie that’s as emotional as it is harrowing.
16. San Andreas (2015): In the aftermath of a massive earthquake in California, a rescue-chopper pilot makes a dangerous journey with his ex-wife to rescue his daughter. Dwayne Johnson’s charismatic performance and the thrilling disaster sequences make it an exciting watch.
17. Train to Busan (2016): Passengers on a train from Seoul to Busan fight to survive as a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea. Watch this for its innovative blend of horror, survival, and action elements.
18. Deepwater Horizon (2016): A dramatization of the disaster in April 2010, when the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon exploded and created the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The film stands out for its thrilling action sequences and commendable performances by Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell.
19. All Is Lost (2013): A man is lost at sea and struggles to survive with his sinking yacht. The film is a testament to Robert Redford’s exceptional acting prowess and is a masterclass in minimalistic filmmaking.
20. Open Water (2003): Based on a true story of a couple, who are left behind while on a scuba diving trip and must survive in shark-infested waters. This low-budget film delivers high tension and is a fascinating study of human behaviour under stress.
21. Everest (2015): A climbing expedition on Mt. Everest is devastated by a severe snow storm. It’s a visually stunning and emotionally gripping film that showcases the extreme risks mountaineers take.
22. The Grey (2011): After their plane crashes in Alaska, six oil workers are led by a skilled huntsman to survival, but a pack of merciless wolves haunts their every step. Liam Neeson’s performance and the movie’s intense narrative make it a compelling watch.
23. Green Room (2015): A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar. Its claustrophobic setting and high-stakes survival plot make it a nail-biting thriller.
24. The Survivalist (2015): In a time of starvation, a survivalist lives off a small plot of land hidden deep in the forest. Watch it for its unique post-apocalyptic setting and compelling performance from Martin McCann.
25. Children of Men (2006): In 2027, in a chaotic world in which women have become somehow infertile, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea. Its exceptional storytelling and Clive Owen’s remarkable performance make it a compelling watch.
26. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016): After getting in a car accident, a woman is held in a shelter with two men, who claim the outside world is affected by a widespread chemical attack. The movie stands out for its intense narrative and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s strong performance.
27. Lone Survivor (2013): Marcus Luttrell and his team set out on a mission to capture or kill notorious Taliban leader Ahmad Shah, in late June 2005. The movie is notable for its gritty combat scenes and solid performances from Mark Wahlberg and his co-stars.
28. Zombieland (2009): A shy student trying to reach his family in Ohio, a gun-toting tough guy trying to find the last Twinkie, and a pair of sisters trying to get to an amusement park join forces to travel across a zombie-filled America. Watch it for its unique blend of comedy and survival horror.
29. The Edge (1997): A billionaire and two other men are stranded, unequipped, in the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. It’s a gripping survival movie with standout performances by Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin.
30. World War Z (2013): Former United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself. The movie’s global scale and thrilling action sequences make it a must-watch.
31. Dawn of the Dead (2004): A nurse, a policeman, a young married couple, a salesman, and other survivors of a worldwide plague that is producing aggressive, flesh-eating zombies, take refuge in a mega Midwestern shopping mall. The film’s tense atmosphere and fast-paced narrative make it a standout zombie survival movie.
32. Snowpiercer (2013): In a future where a failed climate-change experiment has killed all life except for the lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, a new class system emerges. Its unique setting and socio-political themes make it a compelling watch.
33. 28 Days Later (2002): Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary. The movie stands out for its haunting depiction of post-apocalyptic Britain and Cillian Murphy’s powerful performance.
34. The Descent (2005): A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators. This film combines survival with horror elements for a truly intense experience.
35. War of the Worlds (2005): As Earth is invaded by alien tripod fighting machines, one family fights for survival in this sci-fi action film. Watch it for its gripping narrative and strong performances from Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning.
36. Rescue Dawn (2006): A U.S. fighter pilot’s epic struggle of survival after being shot down on a mission over Laos during the Vietnam War. Christian Bale’s standout performance and the movie’s realistic depiction of survival make it a must-watch.
37. The Day After Tomorrow (2004): Jack Hall, paleoclimatologist, must make a daring trek from Washington, D.C. to New York City to reach his son, trapped in the cross-hairs of a sudden international storm which plunges the planet into a new Ice Age. Its spectacle of worldwide natural disasters and survival against the odds make it a thrilling watch.
38. I Am Mother (2019): In the wake of humanity’s extinction, a teenage girl is raised by a robot designed to repopulate the earth. Watch it for its unique take on post-apocalyptic survival and the strong performances of Clara Rugaard and Hilary Swank.
39. The Book of Eli (2010): A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. Denzel Washington’s riveting performance and the movie’s intriguing premise make it a standout in the genre.
40. Contagion (2011): Healthcare professionals, government officials, and everyday people find themselves in the midst of a worldwide epidemic as the CDC works to find a cure. It’s a realistic and frightening depiction of a pandemic, with a star-studded cast that includes Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, and Jude Law.
41. Waterworld (1995): In a future where the polar ice-caps have melted and Earth is almost entirely submerged, a mutated mariner fights starvation and outlaw “smokers,” and reluctantly helps a woman and a young girl try to find dry land. Watch it for its unique setting and Kevin Costner’s performance.
42. The Postman (1997): A nameless drifter dons a postman’s uniform and bag of mail as he begins a quest to inspire hope to the survivors living in post-apocalyptic America. It’s a unique take on post-apocalyptic survival, with Kevin Costner leading the cast.
43. Battle Royale (2000): In the future, the Japanese government captures a class of ninth-grade students and forces them to kill each other under the revolutionary “Battle Royale” act. It’s a thrilling, horrifying tale of survival that set the template for movies like “The Hunger Games”.
44. Cargo (2017): After an epidemic spreads all over Australia, a father searches for someone willing to protect his daughter. It’s a heartfelt and unique take on the zombie survival genre.
45. A Night to Remember (1958): A dramatic chronicle of the ill-fated maiden voyage of RMS Titanic, it is an intense tale of survival and human courage. The film’s meticulous detailing and sensitive portrayal of the disaster make it a classic survival movie.
46. How I Live Now (2013): An American girl, sent to the English countryside to stay with relatives, finds love and purpose while fighting for her survival as war envelops the world around her. Its unique blend of romance and survival in wartime make this a compelling watch.
47. Kon-Tiki (2012): The story of legendary explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s epic 4,300-mile crossing of the Pacific on a balsa wood raft in 1947. The film’s beautiful cinematography and gripping narrative make it a must-watch for fans of survival and adventure movies.
48. Underwater (2020): A crew of oceanic researchers working for a deep sea drilling company try to get to safety after a mysterious earthquake devastates their deepwater research and drilling facility. Its high tension, claustrophobic setting, and Kristen Stewart’s performance make this worth watching.
49. Backcountry (2014): An urban couple goes camping in the wilderness and find themselves lost in the territory of a predatory bear. It’s a nerve-wracking survival movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
50. The Strangers (2008): A young couple staying in an isolated vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants. This film’s intense narrative and eerie atmosphere make it a standout in the survival horror genre.
51. Into the Storm (2014): Storm trackers, thrill-seekers, and everyday townspeople document an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes touching down in the town of Silverton. Its thrilling disaster sequences and fast-paced narrative make this a riveting watch.
52. 127 Hours (2010): A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive. It’s a visceral, inspiring tale of human perseverance.
53. Panic Room (2002): A divorced woman and her diabetic daughter take refuge in their newly-purchased house’s safe room when men break into their home in search of a missing fortune. Its high-stakes narrative and Jodie Foster’s performance make this film gripping.
54. No Escape (2015): In their new overseas home, an American family soon finds themselves caught in the middle of a coup, and they frantically look for a safe escape from an environment where foreigners are being immediately executed. The thrilling narrative and intense performances make this a must-watch.
55. The Colony (2013): Forced underground by the next ice age, a struggling outpost of survivors must fight to preserve humanity against a threat even more savage than nature. The film’s post-apocalyptic setting and survival narrative make it a thrilling watch.
56. The Reef (2010): A great white shark hunts the crew of a capsized sailboat along the Great Barrier Reef. It’s a tense survival thriller that uses its real-life setting effectively.
57. Apollo 13 (1995): NASA must devise a strategy to return Apollo 13 to Earth safely after the spacecraft undergoes massive internal damage putting the lives of the three astronauts on board in jeopardy. The film is a classic tale of survival in space, showcasing human ingenuity and resilience.
58. The Most Dangerous Game (1932): An insane hunter arranges for a ship to be wrecked on an island where he can indulge in some sort of hunting and killing of the passengers. As one of the first films in the survival genre, it’s a must-watch for fans of classic cinema.
59. The Mountain Between Us (2017): Stranded after a tragic plane crash, two strangers must forge a connection to survive the extreme elements of a remote snow-covered mountain. This survival drama is powered by the strong performances of Idris Elba and Kate Winslet.
60. Life of Pi (2012): A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery with a Bengal tiger. This visually stunning film presents survival in a fresh, poignant manner.
61. The Martian (2015): Stranded on Mars, a NASA astronaut (Matt Damon) must figure out how to survive while waiting for rescue. This film is notable for its scientific accuracy and optimistic take on survival.
62. Bird Box (2018): In a post-apocalyptic world, a woman and her children make a desperate, blindfolded journey to safety while being stalked by unseen creatures. This film’s unique twist on the survival genre and Sandra Bullock’s performance make it a must-watch.
63. Gravity (2013): Two astronauts work together to survive after an accident leaves them stranded in space. Its breathtaking visuals and thrilling narrative make it a standout survival movie.
64. Cast Away (2000): A FedEx executive undergoes a physical and emotional transformation after crash landing on a deserted island. This film is a testament to human resilience, with Tom Hanks delivering an exceptional performance.
65. Jaws (1975): A killer shark unleashes chaos on a beach community, and it’s up to a local sheriff, a marine biologist, and an old seafarer to hunt it down. This classic survival film blends horror and adventure elements.
66. The Hunger Games series (2012-2015): In a dystopian future, teens must fight to the death on live television. It’s a thrilling and thought-provoking series that explores survival in a cruel, game-like context.
67. Deliverance (1972): Intended to be a peaceful retreat, a trip to the wilderness turns into a fight for survival for four friends. It’s a gripping survival film that explores the clash between man and nature.
68. I Am Legend (2007): Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure. Will Smith’s performance and the movie’s chilling atmosphere make it a compelling watch.
69. The Revenant (2015): A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar-winning performance makes this a must-watch.
70. Don’t Breathe (2016): Hoping to walk away with a massive fortune, a trio of thieves break into the house of a blind man who isn’t as helpless as he seems. This film offers a unique twist on the survival genre, blending it with elements of horror.
71. The Purge series (2013-2021): Set in a future America where all crime is legal for a 12-hour period once a year, these films are a thrilling exploration of survival in a lawless society.
72. Crawl (2019): A young woman, while attempting to save her father during a Category 5 hurricane, finds herself trapped in a flooding house and must fight for her life against alligators. This movie offers a unique and thrilling animal-attack survival story.
73. Rogue (2007): An American journalist on assignment in the Australian outback encounters a man-eating crocodile while trapped on a rapidly flooding mud island. It’s a thrilling survival movie that uses its real-life setting effectively.
74. The Shallows (2016): A surfer gets stranded on an islet while a great white shark circles her. This film’s intense narrative and Blake Lively’s performance make it a gripping survival thriller.
75. Arctic (2018): A man stranded in the Arctic after a plane crash must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his makeshift camp or to embark on a deadly trek through the unknown. It’s a gripping and visceral tale of survival against the elements.
76. The Forest (2016): A woman goes into Japan’s Suicide Forest to find her twin sister and confronts supernatural terror. It’s a horror-infused survival movie that keeps the tension high.
77. Green Room (2015): A punk rock band is forced to fight for survival after witnessing a murder at a neo-Nazi skinhead bar. It’s an intense, claustrophobic survival thriller with a compelling narrative.
78. Miracle Mile (1988): A man hears a chance phone message warning of nuclear war. He and a woman he just met must find shelter before it’s too late. This is a unique blend of romance and survival drama set against a ticking clock.
79. The Impossible (2012): The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The film’s intense realism and emotionally-charged performances make it a must-watch.
80. The Survivalist (2015): In a time of starvation, a survivalist lives off a small plot of land hidden deep in the forest. His existence is threatened when two women stumble across his refuge. This film is a dark and tense post-apocalyptic survival drama.
81. Alive (1993): A Uruguayan rugby team stranded in the snow-swept Andes are forced to use desperate measures to survive after a plane crash. It’s a harrowing true story of human endurance.
82. The 33 (2015): Based on the real-life event when a gold and copper mine collapses, it traps 33 miners underground for 69 days. This movie is a testament to human spirit and survival against the odds.
83. Deepwater Horizon (2016): Based on the true story of the offshore drilling rig, Deepwater Horizon, that exploded during April 2010 and created the worst oil spill in U.S. history. The film is a thrilling, action-packed survival drama.
84. Everest (2015): The story of New Zealand’s Robert “Rob” Edwin Hall, who on May 10, 1996, together with Scott Fischer, teamed up on a joint expedition to ascend Mount Everest. It’s a gripping and heart-wrenching survival film.
85. Free Solo (2018): Alex Honnold attempts to become the first person to ever free solo climb El Capitan. It’s a documentary that uniquely combines adventure sports with survival themes.
86. Into the Wild (2007): After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. It’s a poignant exploration of survival and self-discovery.
87. Apollo 18 (2011): Decades-old found footage from NASA’s abandoned Apollo 18 mission, where two American astronauts were sent on a secret expedition, reveals the reason the U.S. has never returned to the moon. The film blends the survival genre with science fiction and horror.
88. Open Water (2003): Based on a true story of a couple left behind by their scuba diving group in shark-infested waters, it’s a tale of survival against the terrifying elements of the open sea.
89. Children of Men (2006): In a grim future where humans can no longer reproduce, a former activist agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea. This film stands out for its dystopian setting and social commentary.
90. Frozen (2010): Three skiers are stranded on a chairlift and forced to make life-or-death choices that prove more perilous than staying put and freezing to death. This movie creates intense survival drama in a unique setting.
91. War of the Worlds (2005): A father must protect his children after Earth is invaded by alien tripod fighting machines. It’s a thrilling survival movie with science fiction elements.
92. I Am Mother (2019): In the wake of humanity’s extinction, a teenage girl is raised by a robot designed to repopulate the earth. But their unique bond is threatened when an inexplicable stranger arrives with alarming news. This movie presents survival in a post-apocalyptic world with a unique twist.
93. Hush (2016): A deaf and mute writer who retreated into the woods to live a solitary life must fight for her life in silence when a masked killer appears at her window. It’s an innovative survival horror movie that makes effective use of its premise.
94. The Platform (2019): In a future dystopia, prisoners housed in vertically stacked cells watch hungrily as food descends from above — feeding the upper tiers, but leaving those below ravenous and radicalized. It’s a unique and thought-provoking survival thriller.
95. The Edge (1997): After a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, two survivors (played by Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin) must bond to survive the harsh landscape. It’s a gripping survival adventure film filled with unexpected plot twists.
96. The Road (2009): In a post-apocalyptic world, a father and his son walk alone through burned America, heading through the ravaged landscape to the coast. This film is a profound examination of the human condition and a stark portrayal of survival at all costs.
97. The Book of Eli (2010): A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. Its unique take on the post-apocalyptic survival genre and strong performances make it worth a watch.
98. The Maze Runner series (2014-2018): This series is about a group of teenagers, who wake up with no memory in a maze and must work together to escape. This dystopian science fiction series puts a unique twist on the survival genre.
99. Waterworld (1995): In a future where the polar ice-caps have melted and Earth is almost entirely submerged, a mutated mariner fights starvation and outlaws. It’s a unique post-apocalyptic film with a strong survival element.
100. Cloverfield (2008): A group of friends venture deep into the streets of New York on a rescue mission during a rampaging monster attack. This found footage film combines survival with science fiction and horror elements.
101. The Day After Tomorrow (2004): Jack Hall, paleoclimatologist, must make a daring trek from Washington, D.C. to New York City to reach his son, trapped in the cross-hairs of a sudden international storm which plunges the planet into a new Ice Age. It’s a gripping survival film with an environmental message.
102. Snowpiercer (2013): In a future where a failed climate-change experiment has killed all life except for the lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, a new class system emerges. This film combines action, survival, and social commentary.
103. A Perfect Storm (2000): An unusually intense storm pattern catches some commercial fishermen unaware and puts them in mortal danger. This true story showcases survival against the relentless power of nature.
104. Outbreak (1995): Army doctors struggle to find a cure for a deadly virus spreading throughout a California town that was brought to America by an African monkey. This survival thriller offers a realistic portrayal of a viral outbreak.
105. World War Z (2013): Former United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatens to destroy humanity itself. This film combines zombie horror with intense survival drama.
106. The Grey (2011): After their plane crashes in Alaska, six oil workers are led by a skilled huntsman to survival, but a pack of merciless wolves haunts their every step. This survival film stands out for its intense realism and character development.
107. Dante’s Peak (1997): A vulcanologist arrives at a countryside town recently named the second most desirable place to live in America, and discovers that the long dormant volcano, Dante’s Peak, may wake up at any moment. This film is a thrilling survival movie against a volcanic disaster.
108. Alive Inside (2014): This documentary follows social worker Dan Cohen as he fights against a broken healthcare system to demonstrate music’s ability to combat memory loss and restore a deep sense of self to those suffering from it. A unique survival documentary that deals with survival of identity and memory.
109. The Darkest Hour (2011): In Moscow, five young people lead the charge against an alien race who have attacked Earth via our power supply. This movie combines alien invasion with survival thriller elements.
110. Adrift (2018): Based on the true story of survival, a young couple’s chance encounter leads them first to love, and then on the adventure of a lifetime as they face one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history. It’s a gripping tale of love and survival against the odds.

Conclusion

With their thrilling narratives and exploration of human fortitude, survival movies make for some of the most riveting viewing experiences.

With its rich catalog, Netflix offers various survival films worldwide, each bringing a unique tale of endurance, resilience, and the indomitable human spirit.

Whether you’re a fan of gripping tension, inspiring stories, or love the human spirit’s triumph in the face of adversity, the list of 100+ survival movies on Netflix offers everyone something.

Dive in and prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride of emotions and adrenaline-pumping action that will leave you at the edge of your seat and inspire you in equal measure. Happy watching!