6 Best Desert Island Survival Movies

By Vlad Zakh · March 22, 2026

Total isolation on an uncharted island has always tested cinematic heroes to their limits, forcing resourcefulness against nature and solitude. In Cast Away (2000): A FedEx executive stranded alone on a deserted island for years must find the will to survive. Just as strong is Robinson Crusoe (1954): A shipwrecked sailor spends decades alone on a remote island before rescuing a native companion.

Adrift (2018)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A young sailing couple fights for survival after their yacht is destroyed by a massive hurricane.

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur · 1h 36m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Hulu · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Robinson Crusoe (1997)

TMDB ★ 5.9

A shipwrecked sailor spends years alone on a remote island before befriending a native companion.

Directed by George T. Miller & Rod Hardy · 1h 32m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Cast Away (2000)

TMDB ★ 7.8

A FedEx executive stranded alone on a deserted island for years must find the will to survive.

Directed by Robert Zemeckis · 2h 23m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)

TMDB ★ 6.4

An astronaut stranded alone on Mars must find ways to survive the hostile planet.

Directed by Byron Haskin · 1h 50m · Rated NR

Where to watch

Stream: FlixFling, Cultpix · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

TMDB ★ 6.9

A shipwrecked family builds an elaborate treehouse home while fending off pirates on a tropical island.

Directed by Ken Annakin · 2h 06m · Rated G

Where to watch

Stream: Disney Plus · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Robinson Crusoe (1954)

TMDB ★ 7.1

A shipwrecked sailor spends decades alone on a remote island before rescuing a native companion.

Directed by Luis Buñuel · 1h 30m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Criterion Channel, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Shout! Factory Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, FlixFling

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Desert Island Survival Movies

Adrift (2018)

Robinson Crusoe (1997)

Cast Away (2000)

Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964)

Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

Robinson Crusoe (1954)

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