11 survival TV series that will take your breath away

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Stories of people trapped on a desert island or other planets. As well as reality shows and more.

11. Robinson Crusoe

• USA, UK, Canada, South Africa, 2008-2009.
• Drama, adventure.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

The adaptation of the famous book by Daniel Defoe tells about Robinson Crusoe, who went on a journey to the New World, but was wrecked and spent several years on the island.

The plot in the series is presented nonlinearly: the hero is shown on the island at once, and his past is revealed with the help of numerous flashbacks.

10. Crash

• USA, 2016–2018.
• Comedy, adventure.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

Friends Danny and Owen go on a short trip, but their plane crashes over a desert island. And in a strange way, it is the mediocre heroes who turn out to be the ones who will lead the group of survivors.

Initially, "Crash" was conceived as a parody of "Lost", hence the number of absurd jokes. But gradually the series grew into an independent story. Fortunately, they did not drag out it, stopping at three seasons.

9. Lost on the Island

• USA, 2005-2007.
• Comedy, adventure.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

A group of teenagers find themselves on a desert island. While the pilot and three comrades go for help, the rest are learning to exist in new conditions.

Each episode of the series is dedicated to one day in the life of children, which adds realism to the narrative. And often the authors place more emphasis on the relationship of the characters, and not on the story of survival itself.

8. Siberia

• USA, 2013.
• Science fiction, thriller.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

16 people are taking part in the new reality show. They must spend several weeks at the site of the fall of the Tunguska meteorite. But soon the TV show turns into a real survival game: the heroes really have to fight for their lives.

"Siberia" is distinguished by an unusual approach: the series was indeed filmed in the style of a reality show. Although everything that happens, of course, is played out by the actors.

7. The last man on Earth

• USA, 2015-2018.
• Comedy, drama.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Simple bank clerk Phil Miller believes that only he survived the global pandemic. He leaves inscriptions everywhere and travels in search of at least one living person. As a result, the survivors appear in his hometown.

A lot of stories about the last survivor were filmed, so the funny series from the comedian Will Forte rather parodies the standard plots than follows them. Although there is also enough space for serious topics.

6. Lost in space

• USA, 2018 - present.
• Science fiction, adventure.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

After a global catastrophe on Earth, the Robinson family sets out in search of a new planet suitable for life. Their starship crashes light-years from its destination. Now the Robinsons must fight for life on an inhospitable planet.

Lost in Space is based on the 1965 TV series of the same name. Moreover, they tried to restart the story in the form of a full-length film in 1998. Then the attempt failed, and the filmed pilot of the new project in 2004 was not broadcast at all. However, the modern rethinking has turned out to be successful.

5. Survival game

• Russia, 2020 - present.
• Drama, thriller.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Ordinary people from all over Russia are invited to take part in the reality show "Survivor" in the Siberian taiga. Soon actors Alexei Chadov and Alexandra Bortich join them. But literally after the first day, the heroes find themselves in real danger, not even understanding what they are facing.

The series develops in a very unusual way: in each episode, the characters are thrown into a new location. They have to fight with completely different enemies and get out both from the forest and from a dangerous city.

4. Dead end

• UK, 2008.
• Horror, drama.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

The seven participants in the Big Brother reality show spent two months in isolation. As it turned out, during this time, the zombie virus spread throughout the UK. Together with a couple of survivors, the heroes will have to get out of the dangerous terrain.

And one more story about a reality show. According to the creator of Dead End, he just came up with the idea that Big Brother's isolated studio might be the best hideout during a zombie attack.

3. Jericho

• USA, 2006-2008.
• Science fiction, drama.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Far from the small town of Jericho, a nuclear explosion occurs, after which residents are deprived of contact with the outside world. Now ordinary people have to somehow exist in isolation. They can't even find out if someone else survived, or if their city is the last on Earth.

The series perfectly shows how the worst sides of many people are revealed in the face of danger. Due to the low ratings, Jericho wanted to close after the first season, but the fans made a continuation.

2. The walking dead

• USA, 2010 - present.
• Horror, drama.
• Duration: 10 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

After being wounded, Deputy Rick Grimes lay in a coma. When he came to, he learned that the world was invaded by zombies. Rick teams up with a group of survivors who are trying to escape the invasion of the walking dead. But often the more dangerous enemies are not zombies, but other people.

For 10 years in the series, both the presentation of the plot and the main characters have changed a lot. But it is already known that the 11th season will be the final for the project, further various spin-offs will be released.

1. Stay Alive

• USA, 2004-2010.
• Science fiction, drama, thriller.
• Duration: 6 seasons.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

After a plane crash flying from Sydney to Los Angeles, 48 surviving passengers are on the island. Soon they begin to understand that everything that happens to them is no coincidence.

The series combines a typical island survival story with fantasy and even mysticism. And with each season, the action became more confusing. But the controversial ending of "Lost" disappointed most of the fans.