Baltasar Kormákur’s new survival thriller “Apex” landed on Netflix on Friday, April 24, and it’s locked down the No. 1 spot in Netflix’s streaming charts ever since, and frankly, I can see why. There’s almost always at least one major action movie or gripping thriller in Netflix’s top 10 movies list. It’s a simple, effective cat-and-mouse thriller, and it features two big stars (Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton). All things considered, “Apex” was all but guaranteed to be a hit for the streaming service.
Given “Apex” has been grabbing attention all weekend, I figured it was a perfect time to put together a quick round-up of survival movies with a similar vibe. So, if you’re looking for even more excitement, here are five more movies like “Apex” and where you can stream them right now.
Best survival movies to stream after ‘Apex’
‘Beast’ (2022)
If you enjoyed “Apex,” I figure you’ll probably enjoy another of Baltasar Kormákur’s thrillers, and seeing as his 2022 survival thriller “Beast” came to Netflix earlier in April, it seems like the perfect follow-up. If you’re yet to encounter “Beast,” all you need to know is this is a fast-paced thriller which finds an American doctor (played by “Luther” star, Idris Elba) and his two daughters in grave danger.
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Recently-widowed Nate (Elba) takes his two daughters on a long-planned trip to the South African game reserve where he first met his wife, but the dream trip soon turns into a deadly nightmare when Nate, his two kids and the reserve manager, Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley), cross paths with a bloodthirsty lion. That rogue lion survived a poacher attack, and now sees all humans as the enemy…
Stream “Beast” on Netflix now
‘Don’t Move’ (2024)
Like “Apex,” “Don’t Move” is another Netflix original about a woman trying to dodge a killer, but with an extra twist that means our protagonist has an even tougher time evading her pursuer.
The film follows a grieving mother, Iris (Kelsey Asbille), who retreats to a remote forest where she crosses paths with a stranger called Richard (Finn Wittrock). He seems trustworthy at first, but that’s when the horror begins. Richard reveals himself to be a killer and injects her with a paralytic substance. With 20 minutes on the clock until the drug fully kicks in, Iris faces a terrifying fight to escape with her life, before her entire nervous system fully shuts down.
Stream “Don’t Move” on Netflix now
‘Prey’ (2022)
Okay, yes, I know Sasha isn’t being pursued by a Predator in “Apex,” but when I think of modern thrillers, Dan Trachtenberg’s fantastic sci-fi action thriller leapt into my mind, and, alien aside, I think it should fit the bill for anyone looking for another adrenaline-pumping watch this week.
“Prey” takes us 300 years into the past and introduces us to Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young Comanche woman who wants to become a great hunter. While roaming the Great Plains, she gets her chance when she encounters one of the Yautja (a Predator), fearsome aliens equipped with futuristic weaponry that hunt dangerous prey for sport.
Stream “Prey” on Hulu and Disney+ now
‘Send Help’ (2026)
If you want a darkly comic (but still intense!) survival story, then I’d definitely recommend checking out “Send Help,” the latest effort from “Spider-Man” and “Evil Dead” director, Sam Raimi. It’s a wild, unpredictable, and thoroughly entertaining ride that is definitely worth taking.
This survival horror/thriller revolves around two colleagues: Linda Liddle (Rachel McAdams) and her new boss, Bradley Preston (Dylan O’Brien). En route to a business event, their plane goes down over the ocean, and they wake up on a deserted island as the only two survivors of the crash. The pair may have been complete opposites in the workplace, but on their new island home, they’re plunged into a battle of wits that will force them to overcome their grievances and work together to try and survive.
Buy/rent “Send Help” on Prime Video now (streaming on Disney+/Hulu on May 7)
‘The Grey’ (2011)
I’m rounding out my round-up with another film that pits a human being against a terrifying force of nature that isn’t human: the 2011 thriller, “The Grey,” which is due to leave Prime Video in just a few days (at the time of publication).
The movie revolves around John Ottway (Liam Neeson) and several other oilmen who work at a remote oil facility. En route to Anchorage, their plane malfunctions and crashes in the Alaskan wilderness, leaving them stranded in the middle of nowhere and at the mercy of the elements. Ottway takes charge and tries to lead the group to civilization, but soon, the survivors find themselves facing another threat altogether, as they start being tracked by a vicious pack of wolves…
Stream “The Grey” on Prime Video now
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