10 Best Non-Reality Shows Like Survivor

Survivor has spawned not only a successful multiple-season run but also spinoffs and global versions that are equally popular. Even though the show pioneered the survival subgenre of reality television, there are many other survival reality TV shows that air currently. Naked and Afraid, Fear Factor, and World’s Toughest Race are some of the examples.

However, when it comes to fictional series, there are several multi-genre options with survival as the core theme. This can include parody series like Total Drama, drama classics like Lost, and even shows featuring the Survivor cast members such as Mike White. Ultimately, fans of Survivor have a wide variety of content to browse through.

Total Drama (2007–present)

Stream On Netflix

Survivor‘s over-the-top contestants and the entire behind-the-scenes drama makes for perfect parody material with Total Drama being a case in point. With every season taking place in diverse settings ranging from a jungle to a desert, Total Drama is one of the funniest reality parodies, especially in the survival genre.

Doubling for Survivor host Jeff Probst is the sadistic yet sweet-talking Chris McLean, a character who is heavily entertained when his contestants endanger their lives in the show.

Lost (2004–10)

Stream On Hulu

A cult favorite from the 2000s, Lost is set on an island where the survivors of a plane crash join forces to face all odds in their way. Apart from natural challenges, these survivors also endure a larger conspiracy that they eventually unearth.

Created by JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof, it is a perfect fictional alternative for fans of Survivor. Just like every character in the latter has their own quirks, the main characters of Lost also get significant backstories humanizing them further. The presence of supernatural and sci-fi elements makes it a good diversion from real-life survival shows like Survivor.

Crusoe (2008)

Stream On Vix

The pantheon of survival fiction was arguably kicked off by a classic book such as Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. Documenting the adventures of its titular survivor and his friend Friday, most of the novel’s action takes place on an island. Crusoe builds upon this story and adds some new elements to provide more context behind Crusoe’s life before he got shipwrecked.

It is interesting to watch Crusoe to just observe how far the survival genre has come. From reality shows franchises to a reworking of the original Robinson Crusoe, the idea of being trapped on a deserted island and surviving without any means is a theme that continues to generate interest.

The White Lotus (2021–present)

Stream On HBO Max

Mike White is one of the most popular Survivor contestants for his appearances in other movies and TV shows. But the Survivor: David Vs Goliath runner-up is also an accomplished screenwriter and director, creating HBO originals like Enlightened and the more recent series The White Lotus.

White’s comedy-drama revolves around the intersecting lives of guests in a tropical resort in Hawaii. Maybe, this is the lavish life that Survivor contestants get after a long day on the island! The series has drawn rave reviews from all over and will pique the interest of fans who are looking for other shows with Survivor alumni.

Dead Set (2008)

Stream On Netflix

Contrary to the notion of reality, several popular reality series include some ludicrous drama that might not always be categorized as “reality”. Survivor is no exception. However, if there is a show that serves as the opposite of Survivor, that might be Big Brother. In the latter too, contestants are trapped together and tasked with various challenges. The only difference is that unlike the outdoor locations of Survivor, Big Brother is set in the ominous Big Brother house.

Dead Set parodies this premise for a satire on such reality TV shows along with nods to the survival horror genre. The plot involves the filming of a Big Brother episode in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. With this unique concept, this British series created by Black Mirror‘s Charlie Brooker is also a quick watch with just five episodes.

Burning Love (2012–13)

Stream On Pluto TV

The Bachelor, along with its spinoff The Bachelorette, has emerged as one of the most popular reality shows along with the likes of Big Brother and Survivor. Hence, it is not surprising to find fans of Survivor tuning in to watch the romantic drama that undergoes in The Bachelor.

Burning Love is another perfect watch in this context as it parodies the core concepts of The Bachelor franchise. It revolves around the same concept of a bachelor choosing one romantic interest from a group of many. Using a mockumentary-like approach, Burning Love is the perfect comedy to show how out of touch reality shows can be from the real world.

Arrow (2012–20)

Stream On Netflix

Even though Arrow‘s episodes marked the debut of the CW’s superhero-driven Arrowverse, the backstory sequences in the first two seasons are heavily inspired by the survival genre. Before the billionaire Oliver McQueen became the archer vigilante Green Arrow, he is introduced as a spoilt, young brat who emerges as the only survivor of a boat accident.

Stranded on an island with no communication, he is used as a pawn for a secret government experiment. At the same time, Queen must resort to his newfound survival skills while uncovering a conspiracy involving his family. The island backstories in Arrow have enough material that can excite aficionados of the whole “surviving on an island” premise.

Squid Game (2021–present)

Stream On Netflix

Since its release on Netflix last year, the Korean series Squid Game has turned into a global phenomenon. Its unique challenges set within a dystopian premise caught the fancy of many viewers who are interested in the “battle royale” genre of survival stories.

Be it the Reward Challenge or Do-It-Yourself Challenge, Survivor‘s many challenges offer comforts or safety from elimination as a prize. However, apart from the physical strain, these challenges also take a mental toll on Survivor contestants. Squid Game‘s fatal competition is interesting in this regard as its extreme challenges (Red Light/ Green Light, Dalgona, etc.) similarly reflect the mental pressures the players go through in such times.

Z Nation (2014–18)

Stream On Netflix

Z Nation is a satirical look at the zombie survival genre. Following the legacy shows like The Walking Dead, the genre is now riddled with overused tropes but Z Nation attempts to introduce some self-aware humor to freshen up the narrative. All in all, it incorporates the best elements of the scariest zombie movies as well as the funniest ones.

Focusing on the survivors of a zombie virus outbreak, the series follows their travels as they pick up new survival skills. Even though the contestants of Survivor often face challenges in natural environments, it will be interesting to see how such “survivors” would do in hypothetical scenarios like a zombie apocalypse. Z Nation is a light and binge-able watch in this regard.

Gilligan’s Island (1964–67)

Purchase On Apple TV

Gilligan’s Island pits seven castaways stranded on an island with no way out. The comedic episodes focus on the silly ideas these survivors come up with to escape along with their interpersonal conflicts.

Even before the craze of survival shows, Gilligan’s Island served as a great parody of the genre. The clash of interests between the seven characters is reflective of the drama that ensues in Survivor. In both cases, surviving in an unfamiliar setting takes its toll on the head, leading to dramatic if not hilarious rivalries.

About The Author

Shaurya Thapa
(727 Articles Published)

Shaurya Thapa is an Indian freelance journalist who mostly dabbles in writings on cinema, music, and human interest features. When it comes to Screen Rant, he writes lists on a wide array of subjects ranging from international films to mainstream Netflix series and comic book trivia. He also hosts a podcast called ‘BhindiWire’, an Indian parody of IndieWire.

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