Outlast is an American survival reality competition television series that takes place in Alaska. All eight episodes of the first season premiered on March 10, 2023, on Netflix.[1] It is produced by Aggregate Films and Nomad Entertainment, with Mike Odair serving as the showrunner, and Jason Bateman, Grant Kahler, Michael Costigan, Emma Ho, and Odair serving as executive producers.[2] In May 2023, the series was renewed for a second season.[3]
The series places 16 players, initially split into four teams, in the Alaskan wilderness, where they must survive off the land with meager supplies. In season one, the players were described as "lone wolf" survivalists,[1][4] who were challenged to work in teams and not allowed to compete alone. Season two included a variety of occupations and personalities. Players can only leave the game by firing a flare gun, which is automatically triggered by emergency rescue or medical evacuation. The last remaining team of two or more people wins one million dollars. After a specific number of days have passed with only two teams, a navigation and endurance race is initiated to obtain the prize money.[5]
16 players are dropped into the Alaskan wilderness and split into four teams. In order to earn a $1 million prize, they will attempt to outlast each other.
Rule #1) Must be on a team of at least two people
Rule #2) Teams can vote someone off and that someone must accept the vote
Rule #3) Cannot physically harm each other
Rule #4) Cannot lay traps to protect your camp which may harm each other
Rule #5) There cannot be more than four total teams
Rule #6) If you are without a team, you have 24 hours to be accepted into another team or you are eliminated
Rule #7) You may ask for a medical evaluation, but if you determined unable to remain or accept help, you are eliminated
Rule #8) When down to two teams the producers initiate a race to determine the final team
Production
Season 1 filmed in the Autumn of 2021 in Alaska, near the Neka River, on the Chichagof Island, west of Juneau.[8][9] On May 15, 2023, Netflix renewed the series for a second season which, was filmed at Little Duncan Bay south of Petersburg, Alaska.[3]
The Guardian's Lucy Mangan found the first season "completely addictive, ridiculous and great".[10]The Age's Karl Quinn also noted the addictive nature of the series, but bemoaned the lack of clear rules in the competition, which in turn enabled players to cheat and potentially endanger other players.[4]Andy Dehnart of Reality Blurred says "With no rules Netflix's Outlast spawns brilliant, odious, predictable play... (it's) an average survival show that has shocking but predictable behavior to get its $1 million prize."[11]