Best movies like Ordeal in the Arctic
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Everybody expected military flight Boxtop 22 from Thule into the vast frozen wilderness of Canada's North Western territories to be boring routine, but in a matter of minutes a crash reduces Gulf War veteran pilot Captain John Couch's crew and passengers to ever-growing despair. First they consider themselves relatively lucky as 14 out of 18 aboard are alive, including Captain Wilma De Groot, a medical doctor, but as time progresses the merciless cold makes it seem hopeless to check on Bob and Sue, who cannot be moved near the only campfire, while rescue attempts on land from Alert ('only' about 10 miles) and by air from Edmonton (8 hours flying) take no less then 32 hours to reach the plane wreck.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 276
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful
Best tv shows and movies like Ordeal in the Arctic (1993):
Similar in 85%
Crash Point: Berlin (2009)
Plot Summary:
After a mid-air collision, an uncontrollable passenger plane with 90 souls on board speeds through the skies over Germany. The impact point for the inevitable plane crash is easily calculated: the center of Berlin. Now the race is on to prevent the catastrophe. Will the plane have to be shot down by fighter pilots?.
IMDB Rating: 5.3
IMDB Votes: 473
Genere: Drama
Country: Germany
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: tense, psychological, serious, captivating, disaster movie
Similar in 84%
Christmas Miracle in Caufield, U.S.A. (1977)
Plot Summary:
Television drama in which miners spend their Christmas Eve in a collapsed mine.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 173
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: bleak, serious, realistic
Similar in 89%
Miracle Landing (1990)
Plot Summary:
Cracks are noticed in the ceiling of an aircraft. They widen & a large portion of the fuselage tears off & an emergency landing attempted. Based on actual events.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 635
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: disaster movie
Similar in 77%
Inferno (2002)
Plot Summary:
A fire chief (Gunn) is investigating the cause of a string of blazes that threaten to destroy her small town, while at the same time dealing with her teen daughter's rebelliousness.
IMDB Rating: 3.5
IMDB Votes: 300
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, realistic, suspenseful, exciting, sentimental, disaster movie
Similar in 89%
The Rainbow Warrior (1993)
Plot Summary:
Peter Wilcox (Voight), as skipper of the 'Rainbow Warrior', a Greenpeace ship, docks in Auckland, July 1985, preparing for a protest against French nuclear testing in the south pacific. When a bomb rips open the vessel, killing a crew member, he must convince the police superintendent (Neill) that this is an act of terrorism. Determined not to allow outside forces to threaten their harbor, the police embark on a pursuit of the persons responsible. The events that follow nearly bring down an allied nation's government.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 303
Genere: Drama
Country: New Zealand, USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: independent film, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 83%
Sub Down (1997)
Plot Summary:
When a nuclear attack submarine crashes on the floor of the Artic ocean, it's up to a pair of research scientists to save the entire crew before time and oxygen run out.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 752
Genere: Drama
Country: Luxembourg, USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: independent film, serious, suspenseful
Similar in 86%
Tornado! (1996)
Plot Summary:
An accountant sent to produce an evaluation of a tornado research project, and the scientist running the project pursue tornadoes and each other.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, experimental, disaster movie
Similar in 89%
Hurricane (1974)
Plot Summary:
Two hurricane hunters track a huge, violent hurricane that is bearing down on a Gulf Coast town.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 213
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 74 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, suspenseful, psychotronic, disaster movie
Similar in 77%
Killer Flood: The Day the Dam Broke (2003)
Plot Summary:
When the dam in the town of Rutland starts to show signs of wear. David Powell, the architect who originally worked on the dam but was removed and who left town after he was black balled by Walker, the man who only cares about making a profit; returns. He insists that the dam be drained and inspected but Walker claims it would take too long and would be too costly. David goes to the dam and notices a few anomalies. He then tries to warn the deputy mayor who happens to be his estranged wife but out of anger she refuses to listen. Also David tries to reconnect with his son who resents his desertion.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 627
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: serious, suspenseful, psychological, tense, suspense, disaster movie
Similar in 85%
Landslide (2005)
Plot Summary:
Manhattan fireman Mark Decker visits, for the first time, his Steven in his ex Emma's new apartment in one of her dad Donald Richardson's development estates, at the foot of Diamand-back Mountain. But Don's ambitious executive Stewart Hancock, who dreams of his own firm, has been cutting too many corners, at the expense of safety, causing a landslide. Mark gets trapped with Steven and the new concierge Harold, who knows everything about an additional danger: rattlesnakes awoken early from hibernation. Now Mark discovers artistic, nerdy Steven only did 'manly' stuff in the city because dad-son time is so rare. While they soldier on, landscape architect Emma discovers the truth and counters Stewart's plan B to literally cover it up.
IMDB Rating: 3.8
IMDB Votes: 338
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, suspenseful, tense, disaster movie
Similar in 90%
Heart of Darkness (1993)
Plot Summary:
A trading company manager travels up an African river to find a missing outpost head and discovers the depth of evil in humanity's soul.
IMDB Rating: 5.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: cult classic, serious, suspenseful
Similar in 90%
Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure (1989)
Plot Summary:
Based on the true story of baby Jessica McClure who fell into a drain pipe in her back yard while playing. She was stuck in the pipe about 20 to 30 feet down and it took rescuers 58 hours to get her out. There was fear that if they shook the earth too much with machinery they could cause Jessica to fall further down and die.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 862
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: emotional, tense, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 90%
Survive! (1976)
Plot Summary:
Sixteen plane crash survivors stranded in the Andes turn to cannibalism to stay alive. Based on a true story.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 578
Genere: Drama, Thriller
Country: Mexico
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: disturbing, controversial, grindhouse, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, psychotronic
Similar in 87%
Miracle on Interstate 880 (1993)
Plot Summary:
A man attempts to rescue people trapped on the I-880 bridge after the top half collapses during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 278
Genere: Drama
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: serious, emotional, realistic, suspenseful, disaster movie
Similar in 82%
Arctic Air (2012)
Plot Summary:
Arctic Air is about a Yellowknife-based maverick airline and the unconventional family who runs it. The owners are Mel Ivarson, an old school bush pilot; Krista Ivarson, Mel's daughter; and Bobby Martin, the son of Ivarson's deceased partner. Episodes focus on interpersonal conflicts between the characters as well as dramatic flying missions with their aging fleet of Douglas DC-3s, de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otters and other aircraft. Each episode has one or more flying missions. The series was canceled on March 17, 2014, due to government budgetary cuts.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 90%
Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story (1994)
Plot Summary:
Two thousand miles from home, Jim and Jennifer Stolpa (with baby Clayton) lose their way and are stranded in an endless wilderness of deep snow, battling for survival against the elements. Using only meager supplies and resourcefulness, the young couple struggles to keep themselves and their infant son alive in a frozen shelter while awaiting rescue. Realizing they won't be found, Jim ultimately strikes out on a courageous 50-mile mission, determined to reach help and return to save his loved ones in this exciting and moving true story. Written by Anonymous.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 717
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 89%
The Aviator (1985)
Plot Summary:
A 1920s mail pilot and a rich man's daughter crash-land on a mountain full of hungry wolves.
IMDB Rating: 5.5
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: melancholic, inspirational, serious, realistic, clever, feel good, unusual plot structure, humorous, visually appealing, weird
Similar in 75%
The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story (1988)
Plot Summary:
This made-for-television film documents the takeover of the TWA airliner in flight from Athens to Rome in 1985. The focus is on the flight attendant, Uli Derickson, whose courage and hope helped save all but one of the passengers on the plane. The movie chronicles the first 2 days and the aftermath.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 374
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, bleak, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing
Similar in 81%
Freefall: Flight 174 (1995)
Plot Summary:
True story of a brand-new Canadian airliner running out of fuel in-flight and forced to glide to the nearest airfield.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 960
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, disaster movie
Similar in 89%
Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232 (1992)
Plot Summary:
Authentic drama of United Airlines flight 232 from Denver to Chicago. The DC-10 crashed during an emergency landing at Sioux City Gateway Airport on July 19, 1989. 184 people survived, partly thanks to the ground rescue workers who had 40 minutes to prepare for the event.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 759
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, disaster movie
Similar in 90%
Deadliest Sea (2009)
Plot Summary:
Based on the book Working on the Edge by Spike Walker, Deadliest Sea tells the story of a young man who joins the crew of a King Crab trawler in Alaska seeking to make some real money. The captain of the vessel plays a hunch about where to set traps in the Bering Sea, but the boat and crew are soon victims of a powerful and relentless storm.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 259
Genere: Adventure, Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, realistic, suspenseful, serious
Similar in 85%
Erebus: Into the Unknown (2014)
Plot Summary:
On 28 November 1979, an Air New Zealand jet with 257 passengers went missing during a sightseeing tour over Antarctica. Within hours 11 ordinary police officers were called to duty to face the formidable Mount Erebus. As the police recovered the victims, an investigation team tried to uncover the mystery of how a jet could fly into a mountain in broad daylight. Did the airline have a secret it wanted to bury? This film tells the story of four New Zealand police officers who went to Antarctica as part of the police operation to recover the victims of the crash. Set in the beautiful yet hostile environment of Antarctica, this is the emotional and compelling true story of an extraordinary police operation.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 165
Genere: Drama
Country: New Zealand
Duration: 70 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic
Similar in 76%
Challenger (1990)
Plot Summary:
A profile of the astronauts, crew, and civilians who were involved in the January 28, 1986 flight of the spaceship, Challenger, that resulted in its explosion upon takeoff. The center point of the film is the safety inspections and arguments surrounding the use of the o-rings that ultimately were blamed for the explosion.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 401
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 160 min
Plot tags: sad, sincere, bleak, serious, emotional, realistic
Similar in 79%
Airplane vs Volcano (2014)
Plot Summary:
When a commercial airliner is trapped within a ring of erupting volcanoes, the passengers and crew must find a way to survive - without landing.
IMDB Rating: 2.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, tense, serious, realistic, mockbuster, exciting, disaster movie
Similar in 86%
The Skin of the Wolf (2017)
Plot Summary:
Martinón is the last inhabitant of Auzal, a village in the mountains where he lives in communion with nature. He only goes down to the valleys twice a year to trade and to buy provisions. But one day he’s convinced to take a wife, a decision intended to soften his calloused soul—but in some ways his real struggle is only just beginning.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Drama
Country: Spain
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: touching, bleak, suspense, realistic, serious, suspenseful, intense
Similar in 81%
Tsunami: The Aftermath (2006)
Plot Summary:
Inspired by true accounts, this HBO miniseries focuses on a group of fictional characters caught up in the harrowing aftermath of the tsunami that devastated the coast of Thailand two years ago.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: UK, USA
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: touching, serious, emotional, realistic, disaster movie
Similar in 80%
Zero Kelvin (1995)
Plot Summary:
Larsen, an aspiring poet in '20s Oslo, leaves his girlfriend to spend a year as a trapper in East Greenland. There he is teamed with a seemingly rough old sailor/trapper, Randbæk, and a scientist, Holm. Trapped in a tiny hut together as the Arctic winter sets in, a complex and intense love/hate relationship develops between Randbæk and Larsen, who are more similar than either would like to admit. A powerful psychological and physical drama set against stunningly bleak Arctic scenery.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: Norway, Sweden
Duration: 118 min
Plot tags: psychological, philosophical, atmospheric, neurotic, tense, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, erotic
Similar in 84%
The Donner Party (2009)
Plot Summary:
Based on the real events of The Donner Party tragedy. The Donner Party was a group of California-bound American settlers caught up in the western expansion of the 1840s. After becoming snowbound in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1846-1847, a number of the trapped settlers joined together in a final effort to reach California and organize a rescue party.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: psychological, disturbing, serious, realistic, mysterious, suspenseful, bleak, wild
Similar in 78%
Courage (2009)
Plot Summary:
Jason Priestley (TV's "Beverly Hills, 90210") and Andrea Roth star in this inspirational adventure story about courage, love and the power of family. Aspiring author Robert (Priestly) organizes a quick getaway with his wife and daughter designed to rebuild their estranged relationship with his daughter, but when a powerful storm hits they are forced to make a crash landing on the ominously named Bear Island. With Robert seriously injured and no way to reach the mainland, the three castaways find that they must rely on their faith -- and each other -- to survive the ordeal.
IMDB Rating: 4.7
IMDB Votes: 284
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 96 min
Plot tags: serious, psychological, realistic, captivating, suspenseful
Similar in 77%
The Snow Walker (2003)
Plot Summary:
A bush pilot in nothern Canada who with the aid of modernity thinks he can handle it all & knows it all. After reluctantly agreeing to transport a local indian girl to a medical facility his light plane crashes & they have to survive whilst finding their way back to civilization. Along the journey the man finds a new respect for the native ways as they battle to survive the elements.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Drama
Country: Canada
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: emotional, serious, sentimental, breathtaking, realistic, compassionate, touching, heartbreaking, sad, scenic