The Top Five Outdoor Films — Ever!

It's hard to define what qualifies a motion picture as an "outdoor" film. To make this list the film must center on hunting and/or the outdoors. One of these two elements must be central to the plot, theme, tone and overall narrative of the flick. Feel free to add your top five or even 20 and your candid opinions on the choices below.

1. Jeremiah Johnson (1972) — Director Sydney Pollack's take on jaded army vet Jeremiah Johnson's battle with an unforgiving Colorado Territory in the 1840's is the ultimate expression of a man's thirst to test his limits against the wild.

2. Dances with Wolves (1990) — With a plot quite similar to our top outdoor film, “Dances with Wolves” has become possibly the greatest outdoor film of what can be labeled the "modern era."

3. The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) — If Jeremiah Johnson met his ultimate challenge against a mountain, the hunters in this film met their challenge against a pair of bloodthirsty lions.

4. Deliverance (1972) — This film, as many others on this list do, centers on man's ability to survive against primitive challenges while alone in the wilderness.

5. A River Runs Through It (1992) - As Mr. Olmsted stated above, this film has no match when it comes to depicting what we love about the outdoors.

Honorable Mention: The Deer Hunter (1978), Open Range (2003), Legends of the Fall (1994), Where the Red Fern Grows (1974), Into the Wild (2007)

Worst Hunting Movie — Ever!

1. Bambi (1942) — Need I say more?

Note: But, wait. There’s more! This story, excerpted from American Hunter, will be continued.