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The factual inaccuracies about wolf behavior aside, this is one of the most beautifully shot outdoor movies around. Filmed on location in Canada, none of the weather patterns had to have CGI because they really did shoot this movie in the freezing cold blizzards.

Though a survival movie, it’s ironic that none of the human characters survive the film. It reminds us that no matter how well-prepared we are, or how much experience we have in the wilderness, nature is always in control. This movie is extremely visceral, as it digs right into the psychology of survival and faith. Plus the scene where the alpha wolf howls in the dark - and all you can see is the wisp of his breath in the air - is downright chilling.

You can get The Grey from Amazon here.

Another survival film set in a cold climate. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Oscar-winning performance as one of the first American frontiersman is nothing short of spectacular. This is another beautifully-shot film, using nothing but natural light, and filmed in the cold wastes of Canada and Argentina.

Though this film has a more favorable outcome than The Grey, it’s still a reminder of how brutal nature is. The bear attack scene is visceral, and the stories of what the cast and crew went through to get through this film are nothing short of legendary. Though its pacing is a little off, this is definitely one of those films that are worth seeing.

You can get The Revenant from Amazon here.

The first comedy film on our list, Without A Paddle is one of those films that will make you want to throw some gear in a canoe and float down a river for a few days. A humorous plot centered around three friends trying to get back some of their youth by searching for a lost treasure, this film certainly has its share of hijinks and shenanigans.

It’s also not the most realistic outdoor film in the world, but it’s not necessarily meant to be. Nature is used to exacerbate the humor. One of the better scenes in the film is when one of the three friends is stolen by a mother bear, thinking he’s one of the cubs. This is a film that will be a hit at parties, and is shot in an authentic outdoor setting.

You can get Without A Paddle from Amazon here.

The first post-apocalyptic movie on our list, Fury Road may not be the first thing someone thinks about when asked about outdoor movies, but it certainly illustrates what could happen if we don’t defend our world. Set in the bleak Australian outback – and beautifully shot on location in Namibia – Fury Road places the blame for environmental disasters squarely on us. Most of the characters are suffering from mutations caused by nuclear explosions, and water is a scarce commodity that is warred over. One of the most chilling lines in the movie is “Who killed the world?”

Outdoor settings and implications aside, this film also tackles the hard questions of why people treat other people so badly, and how women are just as capable as men. Stunningly shot with mostly practical effects, get ready for a wild ride.

You can get Mad Max: Fury Road from Amazon here.

Based on the true story of the 1996 Everest disaster, this film is another reminder of the viciousness of nature. Based on renowned outdoor writer Jon Krakauer’s famed memoir, Into Thin Air, this film depicts the events of those two days with chilling effect. It is a further reminder that no matter how well we prepare, we still cannot control Mother Nature’s terrifying force.

Like Fury Road, several moral questions are asked, such as the idea of no-rescue wilderness. One of the characters is left to die in the blizzard, but miraculously forces himself off the mountain to survive. It also brings into question why humans put themselves in such dangerous situations, and what happens when everything goes wrong.

You can get Everest from Amazon here.

Another comedy on the list, this time from South Africa. This film tells the story of an African bushman who finds a Coke bottle in the wilderness. After his tribe is made miserable by its appearance as they begin to be selfish, he attempts to send it back to the gods who gave it to them. He ends up in civilization in the first time, to hilarious effect.

Though cheesy, outdated, and low production quality, this is definitely a film that brings the laughs out of anyone who watches it. It also asks us some moral questions on the way, such as what possessions can do to us as families and people, and also where we lost ourselves in the big city. Filmed on location in the amazing African bush, the wanderlust is real when you see this film.

You can get The Gods Must Be Crazy from Amazon here.

This trilogy can only be considered an outdoor film because of the spectacular way it was filmed. Most of the sets were physically built on location in spectacular New Zealand, and the stories of the techniques used are legendary. One story tells of when the team filmed the set of Edoras. The chosen site was in a national park, but the New Zealand government gave them permission to film if everything remained as it was. The team built a whole city, and painstakingly documented where everything was before they went in. Once filming was done, they put every little flower back where it was, and you wouldn’t even be able to tell they were there.

One theory abounding with the series is that the One Ring is allegorical of the atomic bomb and how it destroys all life. This is evident during the Mordor scenes, which is a lifeless wasteland. It calls into question what we are doing to the environment, and if we are causing our own destruction.

You can get The Lord of the Rings from Amazon here.

Though the film itself has not aged well – and the science is hokey at best – this film is probably no more relevant now than it ever has been. It shows how global warming will actually lead to a massive global freeze, wiping out most of humanity. We recently learned that we only have 12 years left to correct the environmental damage we have caused, or we will have gone past the point of no return. And watching the natural disasters in this film is a stark reminder of what we could experience.

Again, the scientific timeline of the film is extreme, and wouldn’t happen even in the absolute worst circumstances. But the reality of the situation is that we can change our trajectory, but we need to start acting now. The film illustrates how governments are only reactive in nature to change, and don’t necessarily plan ahead. It illustrates the dangers of that mentality, and how we all need to do our part now to fix it.

You can get The Day After Tomorrow from Amazon here.

The first animated film on the list, this film’s contributions to the outdoors is apparent, even in its premise. It’s nature doing what nature does. Not a single human being appears in the film, and the animals portrayed do what they are meant to do: survive and fight for territory. Even the lion-hyena conflict is well-documented in nature.

While still an animated film, the landscapes are breathtakingly gorgeous, far ahead of its time in terms of animation. The Lion King is a timeless classic that is getting a remake later this year. It still holds up after almost three decades.

You can get The Lion King from Amazon here.

To be continued.