20 Best Survival Movies Of All Time

All is Lost is a pretty typical survival drama on paper. A man (played by Robert Redford and never named), on a solo voyage across an unnamed sea, finds his ship wounded after a collision with a shipping container. As storms and waves strike and hope slips away, the man must do all he can to survive and reach safety.

And that's it. There have been many films like it, some of which could have taken its place on this very list, but All is Lost is special for one very simple reason: Robert Redford. The legendary actor's performance in this film is nothing short of breathtaking; there are no other actors in the entire film, and few lines of dialogue, and yet Redford is able to capably carry the plot through its many intense scenes and confrontations.

Directed by J. C. Chandor, the film moves beautifully through lashing storms, high winds and moments of true anguish, but the man's perseverance and hope never fully waver, giving the whole flick the sense that all will be okay despite the dire circumstances.

It's also film-making at its finest; large in scene but small in scope, a one-man show packed with emotion and intensity that never once lets up. If you've yet to see it, make sure the edge of your seat is adequately comfortable, because it's all you'll be using.