10 Movies & Shows Like Bad River (2024)

Description: A modern western about a rancher who fulfills a promise to bury his friend in Mexico, exploring themes of friendship, justice, and the harsh realities of border life.

Fact: Tommy Lee Jones directed and starred in the film, which won awards at Cannes. The story was inspired by real events along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Description: A tense drama about two women from different backgrounds who form an unlikely partnership smuggling immigrants across the frozen border between the U.S. and Canada, exploring themes of desperation and survival.

Fact: Melissa Leo received her first Oscar nomination for her role. The film was shot in just 24 days on a budget of under $1 million.

Description: A gritty, atmospheric thriller about a young woman's desperate search for her missing father in the Ozarks, highlighting themes of poverty, family loyalty, and resilience in a harsh rural environment.

Fact: Jennifer Lawrence's breakout role earned her first Oscar nomination. The film was shot on location in the Missouri Ozarks with a largely local cast.

Description: A brutal survival epic set in the 1820s American wilderness, featuring stunning natural landscapes and themes of revenge, endurance, and man's relationship with nature.

Fact: Leonardo DiCaprio won his first Oscar for this role. The film used only natural light and was shot in chronological order in extreme conditions.

Description: A magical realist drama set in a Louisiana bayou community facing environmental destruction, told through the eyes of a resilient young girl, with themes of community and survival.

Fact: The film was shot on location in Louisiana with a mostly non-professional cast. It won the Caméra d'Or at Cannes and was nominated for four Oscars.

Description: A modern western about two brothers robbing banks to save their family ranch, set against the backdrop of economic hardship in rural Texas, with themes of brotherhood and desperation.

Fact: The film was nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture. Many scenes were shot in real Texas towns affected by the 2008 financial crisis.

Description: A poignant coming-of-age story set on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, depicting the lives of Lakota Sioux siblings as they navigate poverty, family bonds, and cultural identity.

Fact: This was Chloé Zhao's debut feature film, and she later went on to direct 'Nomadland.' Many of the actors were non-professionals from the reservation.

Description: A quiet, powerful drama about a father and daughter living off the grid in Pacific Northwest forests, exploring themes of trauma, freedom, and the conflict between wilderness and society.

Fact: The film is based on the novel 'My Abandonment' by Peter Rock, which was inspired by a true story. Much of the dialogue was improvised by the actors.

Description: A brutal period revenge thriller set in 1820s Tasmania, following a young Irish convict woman seeking justice, with themes of colonialism, violence, and resilience.

Fact: The film sparked controversy for its graphic violence but was praised for its historical accuracy. It was the first Australian film shot entirely in Tasmania.

Description: A gripping crime drama set in a harsh, snowy landscape, focusing on the investigation of a murder on a Native American reservation. The film explores themes of justice, survival, and the struggles of marginalized communities.

Fact: The film was inspired by real-life cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the U.S. It was written and directed by Taylor Sheridan, who also wrote 'Sicario' and 'Hell or High Water.'