Alpha

After a miscalculated bison hunt leaves him stranded far from his tribe, a young hunter named Keda must navigate a harsh, unknown landscape to return home. The world is cold and unforgiving, filled with sheer cliffs, hidden crevasses, sudden storms, and predators that hunt as hunger does. Each step tests his survival skills and forces him to improvise with the skills his elders taught him. When hope seems thin, he forms an unlikely alliance with a lone wolf who has learned to survive by caution and trust. The two creatures learn to rely on each other, trading danger for opportunities to move forward. Together they face the elements, track signs of civilization, and endure setbacks that demand adaptation and resolve.

Directed by Albert Hughes with Dan Wiedenhaupt as writer, Alpha hit screens in 2018. It's built from an original screenplay rather than a preexisting book or comic, showcasing practical effects, authentic landscapes, and a straightforward, character focused survival story arc.

Alpha earned about 99.6 million worldwide on a 51 million budget, turning a solid profit. The box office performance underscored its appeal to families and adventure seekers, and helped establish Kodi Smit-McPhee as a rising lead in genre cinema today.

Alpha stands out for its emphasis on the bond between a human and a wolf, a rare on screen partnership that attracted viewers and sparked conversation about animal companionship in survival stories. Its practical effects, restrained color palette, and naturalistic visuals earned attention from genre fans and film critics alike.

Critics generally praised its raw survival atmosphere and the unusual partnership as the film's core strength, while noting a straightforward plot. It explores resilience, trust, and the pressure of returning home, set against a stark prehistoric landscape that emphasizes climate, food scarcity, and the pace of early human life today.