6 Best Deserted Island Movies

By Vlad Zakh · September 12, 2026

Stranded on an island, people reveal who they really are. Lord of the Flies traps schoolboys in a descent into savagery, in both the 1963 and 1990 versions, Sweetheart has a woman washed ashore facing the elements by day and something malevolent by night, and Swept Away watches class divides collapse under survival. Return to the Blue Lagoon and Blue Lagoon: The Awakening are the sunnier, more romantic takes.

Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991)

TMDB ★ 6.2

Two children stranded on a beautiful South Pacific island build a simple life together, growing up isolated from civilisation.

Directed by William A. Graham · 1h 38m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Sweetheart (2019)

TMDB ★ 6.4

A woman washed ashore on a remote island must survive the elements by day and a malevolent force that emerges at night.

Directed by J.D. Dillard · 1h 22m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

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

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Lord of the Flies (1990)

TMDB ★ 6.4

Twenty-five schoolboys are trapped on a tropical island after a plane crash leaves them far from help.

Directed by Harry Hook · 1h 31m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Blue Lagoon: The Awakening (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.5

Two stranded high school students rely on each other to survive on a tropical island while falling in love.

Directed by Jake Newsome & Mikael Salomon · 1h 25m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Philo · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Lord of the Flies (1963)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A group of schoolboys marooned on a deserted island after a plane crash descend into savagery.

Directed by Peter Brook · 1h 32m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: HBO Max Amazon Channel, Criterion Channel, Cinemax Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Cinemax Apple TV channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Swept Away (1974)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A rich woman and a working-class deckhand stranded on a desert island find their social roles and beliefs turned upside down.

Directed by Lina Wertmüller · 1h 50m

Where to watch

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

▶ 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. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Deserted Island Movies

Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991)

Sweetheart (2019)

Lord of the Flies (1990)

Blue Lagoon: The Awakening (2012)

Lord of the Flies (1963)

Swept Away (1974)

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