10 Castaway Movies for When You Want to Escape the Real World
Movies about castaways tend to resonate with viewers, and are often very popular at the box office. The Tom Hanks "Cast Away" film, released in 2000, raked in more than $429.5 million worldwide.
Why are these castaway films so popular?
One reason may be technology. According to The Economist, technology has made it harder and harder for people to escape from the real world. These films depict a world where the characters are untethered by smartphones and tablets, and where they don't have to worry about technology and the problems that it brings — identity theft, credit fraud and the ringing and beeping and buzzing of constant connectivity, just to name a few.
This movie is virtually a one-man show for Tom Hanks, who stars as a FedEx executive marooned on a small island after a plane crash. The film is also famous for Hanks' main co-star and only companion on the island, a volleyball that he names Wilson.
In this movie, an Indian boy named Pi is stranded on a boat with a hungry tiger and several other creatures. Pi and the tiger eventually end up on a strange flesh-eating island, from which they must then escape.
This 1980 film featured Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins as two young children who are castaways on an island. Eventually, the two grow into impossibly beautiful teens that are — not surprisingly — drawn to each other as their hormones take over.
Robinson Crusoe
There have been two movies made based on this classic novel, including one in 1954 and 1997. The most recent version stars Pierce Brosnan as a man stranded on an island with a tribesman he names Friday.
If you like your castaway movies on the edgy side, then you'll enjoy “The Beach,” which stars Leonardo DiCaprio as an American college student who goes in search of an unspoiled island paradise, but instead discovers a secret community as well as a lot of danger. This movie, which was released in 2000, was filmed in Thailand.
Swiss Family Robinson
If you prefer your castaway movies to be more idealized, than watch Disney's "Swiss Family Robinson." This 1960 film depicts the story of the Robinson family who are shipwrecked on a deserted island.
Lord of the Flies
In this film, a group of young boys is are stranded on an island after their airliner is shot down. Though some in the group strive to remain civilized, others soon resort to savagery.
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Based on a favorite children's novel, this film depicts the struggles of a young Native American girl who is left on an island for 18 years. This tale is based on a true story.
Six Days and Seven Nights
A gruff pilot, played by Harrison Ford, must try to get along with a New York businesswoman, played by Anne Heche, after they are stranded on a deserted island in the South Seas.
Rescue from Gilligan’s Island
A silly made-for-TV film that brought most of the cast of the popular 1960s television back together for what was basically a reunion show. Actress Tina Louise was the only star from the television show who refused to participate in this movie, which focused on the rescue of the most infamous castaways.