When The Revenant hit theaters in 2015, it left audiences stunned with its raw, visceral portrayal of human resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu and starring Leonardo DiCaprio in an Oscar-winning performance, the film follows frontiersman Hugh Glass on a brutal quest for survival and revenge in the 1820s American wilderness.
If you were captivated by The Revenant‘s intense storytelling, stunning cinematography, and themes of survival against all odds, you’ll want to check out these 15 other movies that capture a similar spirit. From harrowing true stories to gripping fictional tales, these films will keep you on the edge of your seat.
1. Jeremiah Johnson (1972)
Jeremiah Johnson is a classic Western adventure starring Robert Redford as a disillusioned Mexican War veteran who seeks solace in the Rocky Mountains as a trapper. As Johnson learns to survive in the harsh wilderness, he unwittingly becomes the target of a long vendetta by the Crow tribe.
Like The Revenant, Jeremiah Johnson portrays the untamed American frontier with breathtaking cinematography. Both films depict the gritty realities of survival and one man’s struggle against the elements and hostile forces. Redford imbues his character with a quiet intensity that will feel familiar to fans of DiCaprio’s performance.
2. The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Loosely based on James Fenimore Cooper’s classic novel, The Last of the Mohicans is an epic historical drama set during the French and Indian War. As the British and French fight for control of the American colonies, Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis), a white man adopted by the Mohican tribe, finds himself torn between worlds.
With its tale of survival and clashing civilizations in 18th-century America, The Last of the Mohicans explores similar themes as The Revenant. The film is renowned for its lush visuals, pulse-pounding action sequences, and emotionally charged performances, particularly from Day-Lewis and Madeleine Stowe.
3. Apocalypto (2006)
Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto transports viewers to the twilight of the Mayan civilization. When a peaceful hunter named Jaguar Paw is captured by a rival tribe, he must fight for survival to save his family from a prophesied apocalypse.
Like The Revenant, Apocalypto is a heart-pounding survival thriller anchored by themes of family, courage, and the indomitable human spirit. The film’s authentic depiction of Mayan culture, breakneck pacing, and unflinching violence will appeal to fans of Iñárritu’s unflinching realism.
4. The Grey (2011)
After their plane crashes in the remote Alaskan wilderness, a group of oil workers must battle the elements and a vicious pack of wolves to survive in The Grey. Liam Neeson stars as Ottway, a skilled hunter who becomes the group’s reluctant leader in a life-and-death struggle against nature’s fury.
The Grey shares The Revenant‘s unforgiving natural setting, as well as its exploration of primal survival instincts. Neeson’s gritty performance anchors the film’s philosophical undertones, making this a thought-provoking and pulse-pounding entry in the survival genre.
5. Dances with Wolves (1990)
Kevin Costner directs and stars in this sweeping Western epic about a Union Army lieutenant who befriends a Native American tribe on the American frontier. As John Dunbar immerses himself in Lakota culture, he finds his loyalties tested when the U.S. Army threatens his adopted people.
While Dances with Wolves trades the gritty realism of The Revenant for a more romanticized view of the American West, it shares similar themes of cultural clash, survival, and one man’s transformative journey in the wilderness. The film’s stunning cinematography and emotionally resonant story make it a must-see for fans of the genre.
6. The Edge (1997)
In The Edge, Anthony Hopkins stars as a billionaire stranded in the Alaskan wilderness with two companions after a plane crash. As the men battle the elements and a relentless Kodiak bear, they must confront their own human nature in a primal fight for survival.
The Edge shares The Revenant‘s man-versus-nature conflict and explores the psychological toll of survival. Hopkins delivers a commanding performance, and the film’s taut direction and stunning locations make for a gripping viewing experience.
7. In the Heart of the Sea (2015)
Directed by Ron Howard, In the Heart of the Sea tells the harrowing true story that inspired Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. When the whaling ship Essex is sunk by a massive whale in 1820, the surviving crew face a desperate battle against the elements, hunger, and their own sanity.
Like The Revenant, In the Heart of the Sea is a visceral survival story based on real events. The film’s immersive cinematography and strong performances from Chris Hemsworth and Benjamin Walker bring the crew’s harrowing ordeal to life in vivid detail.
8. The Road (2009)
Based on Cormac McCarthy’s bleak novel, The Road follows a father (Viggo Mortensen) and son as they navigate a post-apocalyptic landscape ravaged by an unnamed cataclysm. With civilization collapsed and survivors turning to cannibalism, the pair must fight to maintain their humanity.
While set in a very different time and place than The Revenant, The Road shares its central theme of survival against all odds. Mortensen delivers a haunting performance as a father desperate to protect his son, and the film’s gray, wasted landscapes lend an air of palpable dread.
9. Hostiles (2017)
Set in 1892, Hostiles stars Christian Bale as a U.S. Army captain tasked with escorting a dying Cheyenne war chief (Wes Studi) and his family back to their tribal lands. As the group journeys across the dangerous American West, they are forced to confront the violence of their shared history.
Hostiles shares The Revenant‘s revisionist Western sensibilities, offering a grim deconstruction of the genre’s myths and a sober look at the human cost of America’s expansion. Bale and Studi anchor the film with raw, understated performances, while Masanobu Takayanagi’s cinematography captures the stark beauty of the frontier.
10. Bone Tomahawk (2015)
When a tribe of cannibalistic cave dwellers kidnaps settlers from a small town in the Old West, a ragtag band of gunslingers sets out to rescue them in Bone Tomahawk. Led by Kurt Russell’s grizzled sheriff, the group ventures into the unknown for a bloody showdown.
Bone Tomahawk combines Western and horror tropes for a brutal, darkly funny survival tale that echoes The Revenant‘s unflinching violence. Russell leads an ensemble cast that includes Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Richard Jenkins, each bringing depth to their archetypal characters.
11. The Power of the Dog (2021)
Jane Campion’s slow-burn Western drama follows two brothers, Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George (Jesse Plemons), whose lives on a Montana ranch are upended by the arrival of George’s new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her teenage son (Kodi Smit-McPhee). As Phil torments the newcomers, long-buried secrets threaten to surface.
While less overtly a survival story than The Revenant, The Power of the Dog shares its deliberate pacing, psychological complexity, and undercurrent of simmering violence. Cumberbatch delivers a career-best performance as the menacing Phil, and Campion’s masterful direction creates an atmosphere of slow-building tension.
12. Cold Mountain (2003)
Based on Charles Frazier’s novel, Cold Mountain tells the story of a Confederate soldier (Jude Law) who deserts his unit and embarks on a perilous journey home to reunite with his sweetheart (Nicole Kidman). Along the way, he faces the dangers of a war-torn landscape and his own haunted memories.
Like The Revenant, Cold Mountain is a survival story set against a backdrop of historical upheaval. Law and Kidman deliver emotionally charged performances, while Renée Zellweger won an Oscar for her scene-stealing supporting turn. The film’s lush visuals and stirring score make it a feast for the senses.
13. The Nightingale (2018)
Set in 1825 Tasmania, The Nightingale follows Clare (Aisling Franciosi), an Irish convict seeking revenge against the British officer who committed atrocities against her family. Guided by an Aboriginal tracker named Billy, Clare ventures into the wilderness for a harrowing confrontation.
The Nightingale shares The Revenant‘s themes of revenge and survival in an unforgiving landscape. Director Jennifer Kent brings a raw, unflinching approach to the material, crafting a brutal yet ultimately cathartic viewing experience anchored by Franciosi’s powerhouse performance.
14. Ravenous (1999)
Set during the Mexican-American War, Ravenous follows a disgraced U.S. Army captain (Guy Pearce) sent to a remote California outpost, where he uncovers a dark secret involving cannibalism and the mythical Wendigo. As he investigates, the line between man and monster begins to blur.
Ravenous combines elements of horror, black comedy, and historical drama for a truly unique take on the survival genre. Like The Revenant, it explores the primal depths of human nature against a backdrop of the American frontier, with Pearce delivering a darkly compelling lead performance.
15. Legends of the Fall (1994)
Spanning decades in the early 20th century, Legends of the Fall tells the story of the Ludlow family, led by patriarch William (Anthony Hopkins) and his three sons (Brad Pitt, Aidan Quinn, and Henry Thomas). As the brothers navigate love, loss, and war, they find themselves inexorably drawn back to their Montana homeland.
While more of a sweeping family saga than a survival story, Legends of the Fall shares The Revenant‘s epic scope and lush natural backdrops. The film’s themes of family, destiny, and man’s relationship to the wild will resonate with fans of Iñárritu’s masterpiece, as will its powerful performances and stunning cinematography.
From pulse-pounding thrillers to contemplative dramas, these 15 movies capture the spirit of survival, revenge, and the indomitable human will that made The Revenant an instant classic. Whether you’re drawn to the untamed wilderness, the clash of cultures, or the depths of the human psyche, these films offer a wealth of gripping stories and indelible images that will stay with you long after the credits roll. So bundle up, brace yourself, and embark on a cinematic journey into the heart of darkness and the triumph of the human spirit.
