Survival: Awakening

Survival: Awakening is a 2022 American thriller film directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett from a screenplay by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick. It is the sequel to Survival: Vendetta (2019) and the sixth installment in the film series. The film stars Sean William Scott, Shannon Elizabeth, Eric Knudsen, Jack Quaid and Mikey Madison. The plot tells about a new adventure of friends from the last part, where they learn more about everyone.
The sixth film was announced just weeks after the successful debut of Vendetta (2019). Most of the cast agreed to reprise their roles. Brian Tyler, who composed the score for the fifth film, returned to compose and conduct the score, with Sven Faulconer joining Tyler as co-writer.
Survival: Awakening premiered at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater in Manhattan on December 6, 2021, and was released theatrically in the United States on January 15, 2022 by Paramount Pictures. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and grossed $159 million worldwide against a budget of $45 million, becoming the franchise's most expensive title. It won Best Picture at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards. The sequel, Survival: Afterlife, was filmed at the same time as Awakening and released in late 2022.
== Plot ==
After the rescue, the friends decided that they needed to spend more time together to take a break from all the ordeals they had to go through. They decided to go on a short trip together to relax and enjoy nature.
Throughout the trip, they encounter new adventures and mysteries that bring previously hidden conflicts and secrets between them to the surface. During the trip, they learn a lot more about each other, their friendship is strengthened, but their relationship begins to become more complicated due to the differences they reveal. Because of the trip, they awaken an ancient creature from legends, Stalk, who will destroy everything in his path.
However, in the end, the friends realize that they are stronger together and that no difficulties can stop them. They turn to Scott and Nora for help, who help destroy the enemy. However, they are all left without contact and forced to survive for 2 weeks in the forest at the foot of the volcano. As the story progresses, the entire group accepts each other for who they are, with their strengths and weaknesses, and realize that their experiences together in nature and while traveling have made them closer and stronger.
At the end of the trip, the group returns home with new perspectives on life and each other. Their friendship becomes stronger than ever and they are ready to overcome all obstacles together. The film ends with Scott and Nora's wedding.
== Cast ==
* Sean William Scott as Scott
* Shannon Elizabeth as Nora
* Eric Knudsen as Hal
* Jack Quaid as Stein
* Mikey Madison as Gale
* Matt Keeslar as Eddie
* Dylan Minnette as Sisel
* Mason Gooding as Chuck
* Kyle Gallner as Tobey
* Joel Harris as Richard
* Robert Inglund as Marty
* Heather Matarazzo as Todd
* Nick Stahl as Rob
== Release ==
Awakening had its world premiere on December 6, 2021 at the AMC Lincoln Square Theatre. The film was released in the United States on January 15, 2022 by Paramount Pictures. It was originally scheduled for release on January 1, 2022. The film was released in RealD 3D, 4DX and Dolby Cinema formats.
=== Home media ===
Survival: Awakening was released digitally on April 25, 2022 in the United States, where it also began streaming on Paramount+ and other regions. It was released on VOD on May 9, 2022 in other regions such as the UK and Ireland. The DVD, Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray were released in the United States and select regions on July 11, 2022. Upon release, the film debuted at number 1 on the UK's official Top 40 film chart. The film grossed $6.2 million from home media sales.
== Reception ==
=== Box office ===
Survival: Awakening grossed $84 million in the US and Canada and totaled $159 million worldwide. Deadline Hollywood estimated that the film's net profit would be $34 million when all expenses and revenues were added up.
It became the highest-grossing film in the franchise based on box office receipts in the United States and Canada in unadjusted dollars.
=== Critical response ===
On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 68% of 308 critic reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.4/10. The website's consensus reads: "Some aspects of the franchise may be getting old, but a change of scenery and some inventive set pieces help keep the sixth film reasonably tense." Metacriti, which uses a weighted average, gave the film a score of 59 out of 100 based on 53 critics, indicating "mixed" reviews. Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of B+ on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak viewers gave it an overall positive score of 80%, with 68% saying they would definitely recommend it.
Richard Roeper of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three out of four stars. Owen Gleiberman, writing for Variety, gave the film a positive review.
== Other Media ==
=== Sequel ===
The seventh film was originally planned as the final one and was filmed simultaneously with the sixth. Survival: Afterlife was released on December 25, 2022.
=== Game ===
Based on the sixth film, the game Survival Unity was released. Released on October 4, 2022 on PC, PS4 and received mixed reviews.