Matt Damon plays an astronaut stranded on Mars in "The Martian." Alone for almost the entire film, he communicates with Earth through email and satellite cameras. Here's a look at other recent movies in which the main character must face challenges alone.
Matt Damon plays an astronaut stranded on Mars in "The Martian." Alone for almost the entire film, he communicates with Earth through email and satellite cameras. Here's a look at other recent movies in which the main character must face challenges alone.
20th century fox
Tom Hanks was stranded on a tropical island after a plane crash in 2000's "Cast Away." He spent most of the movie talking to a volleyball he named Wilson.
Tom Hanks was stranded on a tropical island after a plane crash in 2000's "Cast Away." He spent most of the movie talking to a volleyball he named Wilson.
FRANCOIS DUHAMEL/AFP/Getty Images
Sandra Bullock was marooned in space in 2013's "Gravity" and had to find a way to journey home to Earth.
Sandra Bullock was marooned in space in 2013's "Gravity" and had to find a way to journey home to Earth.
Courtesy of Warner Bros.
James Franco spent five days trapped by a boulder in the remote Utah desert in 2010's "127 Hours." The movie was based on the true story of mountaineer Aron Ralston, who amputated his own right forearm to free himself.
James Franco spent five days trapped by a boulder in the remote Utah desert in 2010's "127 Hours." The movie was based on the true story of mountaineer Aron Ralston, who amputated his own right forearm to free himself.
Fox Searchlight
Robert Redford was an aging sailor adrift alone on the Indian Ocean in 2013's "All is Lost."
Robert Redford was an aging sailor adrift alone on the Indian Ocean in 2013's "All is Lost."
Roadside Attractions
Suraj Sharma played the title character in the 2012 film "Life of Pi," based on Yann Martel's novel about a boy's struggle for survival after his ship, which was carrying zoo animals, sank in a storm. Pi spent many uneasy days at sea in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger.
Suraj Sharma played the title character in the 2012 film "Life of Pi," based on Yann Martel's novel about a boy's struggle for survival after his ship, which was carrying zoo animals, sank in a storm. Pi spent many uneasy days at sea in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger.
Courtesy 20th Century Fox
Reese Witherspoon starred in 2014's "Wild," based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir about her summer hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alone.
Reese Witherspoon starred in 2014's "Wild," based on Cheryl Strayed's memoir about her summer hiking the Pacific Crest Trail alone.
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Tom Hardy starred in "Locke," a 2013 drama. His character spent the entire movie alone in a car, talking on the phone while driving to a fateful rendezvous.
Tom Hardy starred in "Locke," a 2013 drama. His character spent the entire movie alone in a car, talking on the phone while driving to a fateful rendezvous.
A24 Films
Ryan Reynolds was an American civilian in Iraq who spent all of 2010's "Buried" trapped underground by kidnappers in a wooden coffin. Using a cell phone, he tried to negotiate his way out.
Ryan Reynolds was an American civilian in Iraq who spent all of 2010's "Buried" trapped underground by kidnappers in a wooden coffin. Using a cell phone, he tried to negotiate his way out.
Lionsgate
In 2009's thriller "Moon," Sam Rockwell played a commercial astronaut in the year 2035 who worked a solitary stint at a mining facility on the dark side of the moon. He was alone there for three years -- until, suddenly, he wasn't.
In 2009's thriller "Moon," Sam Rockwell played a commercial astronaut in the year 2035 who worked a solitary stint at a mining facility on the dark side of the moon. He was alone there for three years -- until, suddenly, he wasn't.
Sony Pictures Classic
In Pixar's 2008 film "Wall-E," the titular robot was the last resident of an abandoned, environmentally ruined Earth. The first half of the computer-animated movie contained virtually no dialogue.
In Pixar's 2008 film "Wall-E," the titular robot was the last resident of an abandoned, environmentally ruined Earth. The first half of the computer-animated movie contained virtually no dialogue.
Disney/Pixar