Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- harrowing
- downbeat
- thrilling
- survival movie marathon
- historical drama night
What critics said
Critics generally found the film engrossing and tactful, praising its cast and cinematography while faulting its simplified characterization and occasional lack of realism.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The stranded rugby players face months of freezing conditions, starvation, frostbite, and the absence of rescue in the Andes.
The survivors debate and ultimately confront the moral implications of consuming the bodies of deceased comrades.
Sixteen survivors cooperate, organize shelter and food, and sustain one another through the prolonged crisis.
The film dramatizes the 1972 Uruguayan Air Force flight disaster and its aftermath for the survivors.
Films like Alive, and why
Society of the Snow
shared survival drama, true events, extreme wilderness, and moral pressure
The Grey
shared disaster survival narrative, ensemble endurance, and harsh environmental peril
Everest
shared true-story survival drama, stranded protagonists, and escalating physical hardship
The Revenant
shared historical survival crisis, human resilience, and ethical dilemmas under deprivation
Movie Details
- Director
- Frank Marshall
- Release Date
- 1993-01-15
- Runtime
- 127 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1643)
Cast
- Josh Hamilton
- Bruce Ramsay
- Ethan Hawke
- Vincent Spano
- John Newton
- David Kriegel
- Kevin Breznahan
- Sam Behrens
- Illeana Douglas
- Jack Noseworthy
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Alive about?
- After a 1972 plane crash strands a Uruguayan rugby team in the Andes, survivors must unite against cold, starvation, and the limits of human endurance.
- What is Alive like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Alive as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Alive violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Alive as moderate.
- What did critics think of Alive?
- Critics generally found the film engrossing and tactful, praising its cast and cinematography while faulting its simplified characterization and occasional lack of realism.
- Which films are like Alive?
- Films with a similar feel include Society of the Snow, The Grey, Everest, and The Revenant.
- How long is Alive?
- Alive runs 127 minutes.
- Where can I watch Alive?
- In United States, Alive is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
