Top 10 Desert Island Movies

The iconic Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune starred opposite Lee Marvin, a classic American tough guy, for this stripped-down drama. Set during WWII, the film sees the two men relying on each other for survival on an island with no other human beings, with the absence of subtitles reflecting the psychological burdens of the characters. The casting of Mifune was a wonder in itself, and English director John Boorman managed to team up the former member of the Japanese Imperial Army with Marvin, the recipient of a Purple Heart as a U.S. Marine. Controversial and thrilling, “Hell in the Pacific” left viewers gasping.

‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin was still breakin’ necks and cashin’ checks for the WWE in 2007, and his star appeal landed him a role in this Scott Wiper film. After being locked up in a Central American hellhole for blowing up a building, Jack Conrad and nine other killers receive an offer they can’t refuse, and are swiftly transported to a deserted island for a most dangerous game of survival. Although “The Hunger Games” would up the ante a few years later, “The Condemned” offered ankle-bracelet bombs and grown men duking it out for freedom.

Based on the 1996 Alex Garland novel, this Danny Boyle classic unleashed the charms of Leonardo DiCaprio and the beauty of Thailand’s Maya Bay. Seeking a wild adventure during a summer abroad, an American college student learns of a secret paradise containing enough marijuana for the ultimate purple haze and sets off with an equally excited French couple. However, the colorful characters of the island defend their gift from Mother Nature with vigor, and the island dreams soon become a horrific nightmare.

The legendary Spanish director Luis Bunuel gave the world this thrilling adaptation of the Daniel Defoe novel. Robinson Crusoe was a character born to rebel, but his vivacious demeanor lands him alone on a deserted island with plenty of time to reflect. Eighteen years after his arrival and several beards later, a group of cannibals shows up and threatens to eat Mr. Crusoe for lunch, literally and figuratively. Irish actor Dan O’Herlilhy earned an Academy Award nomination for his performance and 1950s America trembled while viewing Bunuel’s unforgettable images.

A New York City journalist played by Anne Heche finds herself chased by Asian pirates and her own pilot in this Ivan Reitman comedy. Harrison Ford co-stars as the handsy but hilarious Quinn Harris; a man who experiences a different side of island life after crash-landing with his blonde love interest. The snarky banter and sexual tension kept audiences cackling and the film’s vibrant backdrop had them dreaming of a dangerous island excursion. Booze, explosions and beautiful visuals. Winning.

Backwoods thrills and brilliant nicknames made this Jeff Nichols film a cinematic gem. While most country teenagers seek outdoor excitement, they don’t typically expect to find a boat in the trees with a man named Mud living it. In this drama thriller, Matthew McConaughey stars as a convict on the run, and his poignant life lessons are embraced by two Arkansas boys navigating their own turbulent worlds. As “Mud” depicts two separate visual landscapes, audiences were mesmerized by Mr. Mud and his questionable but endearing demeanor.

Family bickering reached new heights when these European travelers failed to find New Guinea and instead found… DANGER. Audiences slowly clapped in amazement at the innovative techniques of the stranded family and laughed hysterically when the two rambunctious boys discovered the true identity of a character known as “Bertie.” The dialogue may cause modern viewers to snicker, but once upon a time the Swiss Family Robinson was truly the cat’s ass. They came, they saw and they figuratively inspired a brilliant young mind named Angus MacGyver.

While this Randall Kleiser classic failed to impress film critics, the world was enraptured by a young actress named Brooke Shields and her character’s pure innocence. As two cousins who survive a shipwreck, Emmeline and Richard grow to love their tropical island along with the company of each other. Sure, they don’t understand the difference between pregnancy and becoming fat, but then again they don’t actually know many human beings. The controversial images of “The Blue Lagoon” earned the film an R rating, but just as the main characters attempted to defy the odds, so did curious teenagers by searching for their own VHS copy.

If there’s a film meant to scare trouble-making children, Peter Brooks’ 1963 drama is it. After a group of rambunctious British adolescents survives a plane crash, they quickly learn that a new order is essential for survival on the remote island that’s to be their new home. It’s not long until an impaled hog head appears and the group Chief goes buck wild and crazy. The film’s dissection of the human element stunned audiences, along with the lush visuals of the tropical location. While this adaptation of William Golding’s novel was applauded, a 1990 remake also scared the living daylights out of schoolyard bullies. The beast will get you!

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- “Swept Away” (1974)
- “Island of the Blue Dolphins” (1964)
- “Jurassic Park III” (2001)
- “Welcome to the Jungle” (2013)

Oh, Wilson! Tom Hanks formed a fond friendship with a smiling volleyball in Robert Zemeckis’ Academy Award-nominated film. After a Pacific Ocean plunge, Chuck Noland discovers that his background in systems analysis may not protect him from the mental trappings of a desert island. The gut-wrenching performance and physical transformation of Hanks thrilled viewers, along with the blossoming bromance with the unlikeliest of characters. “Cast Away” showed us that a road to redemption always exists, even if you’re not sure which way to go.

Do you agree with our list? What is your favorite desert island movie? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.