The best survival movies and shows, ranked

186 survival titles ranked by quality and fame, with where to stream.

1. 1The Pianist (2002)Bleak · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA gifted pianist navigates the bleak, war-torn ruins of Warsaw, fighting for survival and dignity.Peacock · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
2. 2The Walking Dead (2010) · seriesProperly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MAA sheriff awakens to a bleak, zombie-filled world, fighting to find family among desperate survivors.Netflix · Pluto TV
3. 3The Last of Us (2023) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MAA hardened survivor and a 14-year-old girl form an unlikely bond while navigating a bleak, dangerous world.Max
4. 4Titanic (1997)Epic · date night · strong violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13A young woman's forbidden love story unfolds with epic romance and melancholy aboard a doomed maiden voyage.Paramount+ · Kanopy · Hoopla76
5. 51917 (2019)Tense · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RTwo young soldiers race across enemy lines, their desperate mission shaping a relentless, gritty, and epic journey.Netflix
6. 6Squid Game (2021) · seriesProperly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MADesperate players enter a brutal competition of children's games, where deadly stakes drive relentless, bleak suspense.Netflix74
7. 7Primal (2019) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · extreme gore · TV-14A prehistoric man and a dinosaur forge an unlikely bond while battling for survival in a brutal world.Max
8. 8The Thing (1982)Terrifying · extreme gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RAn Antarctic research team faces a shape-shifting alien, creating a chilling atmosphere of paranoia and suspense.Prime Video · AMC+
9. 9All of Us Are Dead (2022) · seriesProperly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MATrapped high school students navigate a relentless zombie outbreak with gritty, high-octane action and bleak suspense.Netflix
10. 10The Martian (2015)Dry wit · uplifting · family watch · emotionally heavy · PG-13An abandoned astronaut uses scientific ingenuity and dry wit to survive alone on a hostile Mars.
11. 11Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)Gritty · late-night trip · brutal violence · graphic gore · RTwo rebels on the run navigate a stark, broken world in a relentless, gritty fight for survival.80
12. 12Love, Death & Robots (2019) · seriesProperly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MABrutal animated tales unfold with dark humor and surreal visions, each a brisk, gritty surprise.Netflix
13. 13The 100 (2014) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-14A relentless, bleak future forces juvenile delinquents to survive a gritty, radioactive Earth.Pluto TV
14. 14Toy Story 5 (2026)Wholesome humor · whimsical · family watch · measured · PGBeloved toys face a new tech obsession, navigating a whimsical adventure to reclaim playtime with heartwarming humor.Disney+
15. 15Into the Wild (2007)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RAn earnest young man abandons everything to find himself in the Alaskan wilderness, embracing a melancholy, intimate journey.Kanopy · Hoopla · YouTube (free)
16. 16Cast Away (2000)Melancholy · full attention · emotionally devastating · a slow burn · PG-13A plane crash leaves a man stranded, forcing intimate survival against a bleak, slow-burn backdrop of melancholy.
17. 17Captain Fantastic (2016)Dry wit · whimsical · family watch · emotionally heavy · RA father's off-grid ideals clash with the modern world as his unique family navigates an emotional journey.Kanopy · Hoopla · Fandango at Home (free)
18. 18Jaws (1975)Properly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PGA seaside town's police chief, a biologist, and a hunter face a monstrous shark in a gritty, tense adventure.Netflix
19. 19Train to Busan (2016)Properly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · NRA relentless zombie outbreak traps passengers on a speeding train, making every moment a gritty fight for survival.Peacock · Hoopla
20. 20The Revenant (2015)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · extreme gore · RA frontiersman's brutal fight for survival against man and nature becomes an epic quest for vengeance.Max
21. 21Dunkirk (2017)Tense · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13Relentless action and gritty tension define this epic, atmospheric true story of wartime survival.Paramount+
22. 22Flow (2024)Whimsical · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · PGA lonely cat drifts on a whimsical, melancholy ark, learning to belong in a world remade by water.Criterion
23. 23Alice in Borderland (2020) · seriesProperly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAFriends navigate a surreal, gritty Tokyo, competing in dangerous games with relentless suspense.Netflix
24. 24The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)Suspenseful · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13A gritty, brisk adventure unfolds as reluctant heroes ignite a tense, epic rebellion against a brutal regime.Hulu · Fandango at Home (free)
25. 25Predator (1987)Suspenseful · graphic gore · brutal violence · brisk · RElite commandos become jungle prey for an extraterrestrial hunter in a tense, gritty fight for survival.
26. 26Sweet Home (2020) · seriesProperly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MASurvivors battle relentless monster attacks as humanity's bleak struggle for survival unfolds with gritty suspense.Netflix
27. 27A Quiet Place (2018)Properly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13A family's silent struggle against sound-hunting creatures creates relentless, gritty tension.Paramount+ · MGM+71
28. 28Children of Men (2006)Bleak · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RA desperate man races against time to protect humanity's last hope in a bleak, infertile future.89
29. 29Life of Pi (2012)Whimsical · late-night trip · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PGA shipwrecked boy and a tiger embark on a surreal, uplifting, and epic adventure across the Pacific.Max
30. 30Finch (2021)Dry wit · melancholy · full attention · emotionally heavy · PG-13A robot learns about life and friendship while protecting a dog on a melancholy, post-apocalyptic adventure.Apple TV+
31. 31Shaun of the Dead (2004)Mildly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · brisk · RA slacker's mundane life becomes a darkly comedic fight for survival when zombies interrupt his pub routine.Peacock · AMC+
32. 32Kingdom (2019) · seriesProperly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAA crown prince fights a zombie plague and political conspiracy in a relentless, gritty, and bleak medieval Korea.Netflix
33. 33Predator: Badlands (2025)Properly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · relentless · PG-13A young Predator and a damaged android embark on a relentless, gritty, and suspenseful adventure for a powerful adversary.Hulu
34. 34Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007)Big broad humor · epic · party watch · strong violence · PG-13Pirate lords unite for a whimsical, brisk, and epic adventure to save piracy from a powerful trading company.Disney+
35. 35Saw (2004)Terrifying · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RTwo strangers awaken to a sadistic game, forced to make impossible choices in a relentless, gritty fight for survival.Peacock
36. 36Zombieland (2009)Mildly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · brisk · RSurvivors of a zombie apocalypse discover that their biggest threat might be their own darkly comic dysfunction.Max
37. 37I Am Legend (2007)Properly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13A solitary scientist navigates a desolate, infected city, desperately seeking human connection amidst constant peril.
38. 38Fear the Walking Dead (2015) · seriesProperly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAWitness the relentless, bleak, and suspenseful beginning of the end in a transforming Los Angeles.Netflix · Prime Video · AMC+
39. 39Apollo 13 (1995)Tense · family watch · emotionally heavy · relentless · PGA true story of technical failures turns into a relentless, gritty fight for survival in space.MGM+
40. 40A Quiet Place Part II (2021)Properly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13The fight for survival against sound-hunting creatures becomes a gritty, relentless gauntlet in the outside world.Paramount+
41. 41The Impossible (2012)Tense · light gore · emotionally devastating · measured · PG-13A family's idyllic holiday shatters into a harrowing fight for survival against nature's terrifying wrath.Netflix
42. 42The Warriors (1979)Gritty · light gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA Coney Island gang fights for survival on a gritty, relentless journey through a hostile city.Netflix · Tubi
43. 43The Man from Earth (2007)Cerebral · late-night trip · measured · NRA professor's farewell party becomes an intimate, cerebral debate when he reveals an impossible secret about his past.Prime Video · Kanopy · Hoopla
44. 4428 Days Later (2002)Properly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA relentless, chilling struggle for survival unfolds as a killer virus creates homicidal maniacs.Apple TV+ · Tubi
45. 45Lone Survivor (2013)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RFour Navy SEALs face relentless, gritty combat in Afghanistan after a moral decision leads to a tragic ambush.Prime Video · Starz
46. 46Happiness (2021) · seriesTense · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-14A deadly virus seals off an apartment building, forcing residents to confront class conflict and mounting dread.Netflix · The Roku Channel
47. 47Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)Dry wit · whimsical · comfort watch · measured · PG-13A defiant city kid and his cantankerous foster uncle forge an unlikely bond while on the run in the New Zealand bush.Prime Video · Peacock · The Roku Channel
48. 48Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018)Suspenseful · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13Escaped Gladers face a relentless, high-octane mission through a deadly labyrinth to save their friends.Max
49. 49The Walking Dead: Dead City (2023) · seriesProperly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MASurvivors navigate a relentless, gritty Manhattan, where anarchy and danger lurk around every crumbling corner.Netflix · AMC+ · Prime Video
50. 50Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)Melancholy · date night · emotionally heavy · measured · PG-13A marsh girl's isolated life turns suspenseful as romance and melancholy intertwine with a murder investigation.Hulu
51. 51Battle Royale (2000)Properly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RTeenagers on a remote island are forced into a brutal fight to the death by a dystopian government.Prime Video · Kanopy · Hoopla
52. 52Fall (2022)Tense · light gore · emotionally heavy · relentless · PG-13Two best friends conquer fears by climbing 2,000 feet, then fight for survival stranded high above ground.
53. 53The Strain (2014) · seriesProperly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAA relentless viral outbreak in New York City unleashes an ancient evil, chilling humanity's fight for survival.Hulu · AMC+
54. 54Identity (2003)Properly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RStrangers trapped by a storm at a remote motel become chilling prey for a pulpy, deranged killer.
55. 55Lost in Space (2018) · seriesSuspenseful · family watch · emotionally heavy · measured · TV-PGA family stranded on an alien planet faces constant, suspenseful dangers while fighting to survive.Netflix
56. 56The Platform (2019)Bleak · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RIn a vertical prison, a descending feast reveals humanity's brutal hierarchy, sparking a desperate rebellion.Netflix
57. 573:10 to Yuma (2007)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA struggling rancher escorts a notorious outlaw to justice, navigating a brutal landscape of greed and violence.Plex
58. 58Dawn of the Dead (2004)Properly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RSurvivors barricade inside a mall, battling relentless, flesh-eating zombies with gritty, pulpy horror.Starz
59. 59Vikings: Valhalla (2022) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MAA new generation of legendary heroes forges its destiny in a gritty, epic, and suspenseful world.Netflix
60. 60Bird Box (2018)Properly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA mother and her children navigate a bleak, unseen threat where one glimpse means certain death.Netflix
61. 61The Mist (2007)Terrifying · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA relentless mist descends, trapping townsfolk in a grocery store with unseen, chilling horrors and mounting dread.Prime Video · AMC+ · Kanopy
62. 62The Piano (1993)Melancholy · full attention · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA mute woman's piano becomes her voice in a bleak new world, forging an intimate, forbidden connection.
63. 63La Brea (2021) · seriesSuspenseful · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-14A massive sinkhole in Los Angeles reveals a primeval land, launching a gritty fight for survival.Netflix · Peacock · Tubi
64. 64Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)Mildly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · brisk · RA snarky makeshift family faces evolved zombies and growing pains across the American heartland.Max
65. 65The Descent (2005)Terrifying · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RA caving adventure turns into a relentless, chilling fight for survival against unseen horrors.AMC+ · The Roku Channel · Plex
66. 66The Road (2009)Bleak · full attention · strong violence · graphic gore · RA father and son navigate a bleak, ash-choked landscape, clinging to hope in a world without warmth.Prime Video · Kanopy · Hoopla
67. 67Deliverance (1972)Properly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally devastating · RFour city friends discover the terrifying, primal cost of adventure in the unforgiving American back-country.
68. 68Dredd (2012)Gritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · RRelentless action meets gritty sci-fi as a lone lawman battles a ruthless drug lord in a dystopian city.The Roku Channel · YouTube (free)
69. 69Star Trek Beyond (2016)Dry wit · epic · party watch · strong violence · PG-13A witty and brisk adventure pushes the Enterprise crew to their limits against a formidable new enemy.Paramount+ · Kanopy
70. 70The Book of Eli (2010)Gritty · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA lone warrior treks across a bleak, post-apocalyptic America, guarding a sacred book that holds humanity's last hope.YouTube (free)
71. 71American Primeval (2025) · seriesGritty · full attention · brutal violence · graphic gore · TV-MAA mother and son navigate a bleak Western landscape, forming a found family amidst freedom and cruelty.Netflix
72. 72Nowhere (2023)Tense · light gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · RA pregnant refugee hides in a cargo container, giving birth alone on the open sea, fighting for every breath.Netflix
73. 73#Alive (2020)Properly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RA lone man fights a relentless virus, digitally cut off from help and desperate to escape his apartment.Netflix
74. 74Pitch Black (2000)Properly scary · light gore · strong violence · brisk · RSurvivors on a remote planet face a total eclipse and deadly creatures, forcing them to trust an escaped convict.
75. 75Tremors (1990)Mildly scary · light gore · strong violence · brisk · PG-13Subterranean monsters turn a sleepy desert town into a hilarious, suspenseful, and broadly campy battle for survival.Peacock · AMC+
76. 76The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023)Suspenseful · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13A young Snow mentors a defiant tribute, navigating a brutal game that shapes a tyrannical future.Hulu · Fandango at Home (free)
77. 77Cloverfield (2008)Properly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13A relentless, gritty home video captures the chilling, suspenseful fight for survival against a skyscraper-sized monster.Paramount+ · Peacock
78. 78Saw X (2023)Properly scary · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA sick man's desperate hope for a cure turns into a relentless, chilling game of pulpy revenge.Netflix
79. 79Yellowjackets (2021) · seriesProperly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · TV-MAHigh school soccer players survive a plane crash, descending into savage clans while grappling with their past.Netflix · Paramount+ · Prime Video
80. 80Triangle of Sadness (2022)Dry wit · satirical · full attention · emotionally heavy · RA luxury cruise ship descends into darkly-comic chaos, forcing the ultra-rich to redefine their social hierarchy.Netflix · Kanopy
81. 81War of the Worlds (2005)Properly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13An ordinary father fights to keep his children alive as an alien invasion relentlessly reshapes their world.Max · Paramount+ · Peacock
82. 82Cube (1998)Properly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RStrangers navigate a deadly, cerebral maze where only their unique skills offer a bleak chance of survival.Kanopy · Hoopla · Fandango at Home (free)
83. 83Lightyear (2022)Wholesome humor · epic · family watch · brisk · PGA legendary Space Ranger and his robot companion embark on an uplifting, brisk intergalactic adventure.Disney+
84. 84The End of Oak Street (2026)Properly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13A cosmic event rips a suburban street into an unknown world, forcing a family to unite for survival.
85. 85Damsel (2024)Suspenseful · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · PG-13A princess fights for survival against a fire-breathing dragon in a relentless, gritty fantasy adventure.Netflix
86. 86Swiss Army Man (2016)Absurdist humor · whimsical · late-night trip · emotionally heavy · RA marooned man finds surreal companionship and absurd tools for escape in a darkly comic adventure.Netflix · Kanopy · Fandango at Home (free)
87. 87The Walking Dead: World Beyond (2020) · seriesProperly scary · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MATeenagers sheltered from the apocalypse embark on a gritty, suspenseful journey to save humanity.AMC+
88. 88No Escape (2015)Tense · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RAn American family frantically seeks escape during a violent coup where foreigners are immediately executed.Prime Video · Kanopy · The Roku Channel
89. 89Wild (2014)Gritty · full attention · emotionally devastating · measured · RA woman embarks on a grueling thousand-mile hike, earnestly confronting her past on a journey of measured, gritty self-discovery.
90. 90Stargate Universe (2009) · seriesSuspenseful · late-night trip · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-14An exploration team navigates the gritty, atmospheric expanse of a distant galaxy, desperately seeking a way home.Prime Video
91. 91In the Heart of the Sea (2015)Gritty · graphic gore · strong violence · emotionally devastating · PG-13A whaling ship's crew endures a bleak, gritty struggle for survival against an epic, vengeful beast.
92. 9228 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)Properly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA doctor's shocking new relationship and a nightmare encounter unleash chilling, world-altering consequences.Netflix
93. 93The Rain (2018) · seriesGritty · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MAA brutal virus forces two siblings into a perilous search for safety across a bleak landscape.Netflix
94. 94Send Help (2026)Mildly scary · light gore · strong violence · emotionally heavy · RStranded colleagues on a deserted island face a gritty, suspenseful, and darkly-comic battle of wills.Hulu
95. 95Z Nation (2014) · seriesAbsurdist humor · gritty · late-night trip · strong violence · TV-14A pulpy, darkly comic trek across a zombie-gutted country, full of absurd humor and brisk action.Peacock · AMC+ · The Roku Channel
96. 96Jurassic World Dominion (2022)Epic · light gore · strong violence · brisk · PG-13Dinosaurs hunt alongside humans, creating an epic and suspenseful adventure that reshapes the future of the planet.Netflix
97. 97Evil Dead (2013)Terrifying · extreme gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA remote cabin retreat becomes a relentless, chilling battle against an ancient evil and its gruesome possession.Netflix · Prime Video · Max
98. 98The Doors (1991)Gritty · full attention · emotionally heavy · measured · RA legendary rock band's journey unfolds with surreal grit, tracing a melancholy path through music history.MGM+
99. 99The Purge: Anarchy (2014)Mildly scary · graphic gore · brutal violence · emotionally heavy · RA relentless night of terror unfolds as a man's revenge mission becomes a desperate fight for survival.Prime Video · YouTube (free)
100. 100The Society (2019) · seriesSuspenseful · full attention · strong violence · emotionally heavy · TV-MATeenagers in a wealthy town build a new, gritty society after everyone else mysteriously vanishes, creating tense drama.Netflix

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