10 Movies & Shows Like Cliffhanger (1993)

Description: Combines espionage with extreme mountaineering, featuring treacherous climbs and life-or-death stakes in a visually stunning alpine setting.

Fact: Clint Eastwood performed many of his own climbing stunts, including scenes on the actual Eiger North Face. The production faced numerous delays due to dangerous weather conditions.

Description: Focuses on the physical and psychological toll of an expedition to one of the world's most dangerous peaks, with intense survival scenarios.

Fact: The film's climbing sequences were praised for their realism, achieved through a combination of location shooting and meticulous set design. It was one of the first Hollywood productions to tackle the subject of high-altitude mountaineering.

Description: Chronicles a group's struggle to survive in the frozen wilderness after a plane crash, highlighting human endurance and moral dilemmas in extreme conditions.

Fact: Based on the true story of the 1972 Andes flight disaster, the film was shot in the Canadian Rockies to simulate the Andes. The production endured harsh winter conditions similar to those faced by the survivors.

Description: Features high-stakes action sequences in extreme environments, with a focus on survival and physical endurance against overwhelming odds.

Fact: The film was shot on location at Alcatraz, adding authenticity to its tense prison-break scenario. It was one of the first movies to popularize the 'ticking clock' thriller format in the 90s.

Description: A tale of survival in the Alaskan wilderness, pitting man against nature and his own psychological limits, with breathtaking but deadly landscapes.

Fact: The film's bear attack scenes were achieved through a combination of animatronics and trained animals, creating some of the most realistic wildlife encounters in cinema at the time. Much of it was shot in remote areas of British Columbia.

Description: Centers around a perilous mountain rescue mission, emphasizing teamwork, survival, and the brutal challenges posed by nature.

Fact: The movie employed real climbers and used practical effects for many of its stunts, including explosions on actual mountain faces. It was one of the first major films to depict the dangers of high-altitude climbing in such detail.

Description: A harrowing true story of survival against impossible odds in the Andes, blending documentary realism with dramatic reenactments of extreme mountaineering.

Fact: The film uses interviews with the actual survivors alongside reconstructions of their ordeal. It was shot on location in the Peruvian Andes and the Alps, with climbers facing genuine risks during production.

Description: An intense, claustrophobic survival story about a lone adventurer forced to make an unthinkable choice to escape a life-threatening predicament.

Fact: The real-life incident it's based on occurred in Utah's Blue John Canyon. The film's director used innovative camera techniques to maintain tension despite the protagonist's limited mobility.

Description: A survival romance set in the harsh, snowy wilderness, where two strangers must rely on each other to endure the elements and find rescue.

Fact: The production faced extreme weather challenges while filming in the Canadian Rockies, with temperatures often dropping below freezing. The aerial crash sequence was achieved through a combination of practical effects and CGI.

Description: A gripping survival story set in the unforgiving Himalayas, showcasing human resilience and the deadly consequences of nature's unpredictability.

Fact: Based on the real-life 1996 Mount Everest disaster, the film used a mix of studio sets and location shooting in Nepal and the Italian Alps. Some scenes were filmed at an altitude of 16,000 feet to capture authenticity.