Life Below Zero (2013)

A gripping documentary series following real Alaskans who survive extreme cold, dangerous wildlife, and total isolation in the remote wilderness.

Life Below Zero - Series Information

  • First Air Year: 2013
  • Last Air Year: 2025
  • Type: TV Series
  • Genres: Reality, Documentary
  • Content Rating (US): TV-14
  • Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 60 minutes
  • Number of Seasons: 23
  • Number of Episodes: 240
  • Status: Ended
  • Original Language: English
  • Spoken Languages: English
  • First Air Date: May 19, 2013 (United States - NR), May 19, 2013 (Canada - G), May 19, 2013 (India - U), May 19, 2013 (Australia - MA 15+), May 19, 2013 (Brazil - L), May 19, 2013 (Mexico - AA), May 19, 2013 (South Korea - 15)
  • Networks: National Geographic
  • Alternative Titles: 알래스카를 선택한 사람들 (KR), livet under nul (DK), Livet under noll (SE), Elämää pakkasen puolella (FI)
  • Production Companies: BBC Worldwide, Adjacent Productions, BBC Studios, Morag Loves Company
  • Production Countries: United States of America, Canada

Life Below Zero - Plot

Viewers go deep into an Alaskan winter to meet six tough and resilient residents as they try to stay one step ahead of storms and man-eating beasts to make it through to spring. The closest neighbor to Sue Aikens is more than 300 miles away. Eric Salitan subsists solely on what he hunts and forages. Chip and Agnes Hailstone catch fish for currency in bartering for supplies, and Andy and Kate Bassich use their pack of sled dogs for transportation.

Life Below Zero - Trailer

Watch the official trailer and get a taste of Alaska's most unforgiving wilderness:

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Life Below Zero - Cast & Crew

Main Cast

  • Sue Aikens
  • Erik Salitan
  • Andy Bassich
  • Kate Rorke-Bassich
  • Chip Hailstone
  • Agnes Hailstone

Writers

  • Claire Allesse

Life Below Zero - FAQs

Where can you stream Life Below Zero?

Life Below Zero is available to stream on Disney Plus and Hulu, as well as fuboTV. You can also purchase or rent episodes on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. Free ad-supported viewing is available on The Roku Channel and National Geographic.

What happened to Sue Aikens on Life Below Zero?

Sue Aikens is one of the show's most iconic figures, living completely alone at Kavik River Camp, over 300 miles from her nearest neighbor. She has survived a bear attack, serious injuries, and brutal Arctic winters entirely on her own — making her story one of the most compelling in the series.

How many seasons does Life Below Zero have?

Life Below Zero ran for 23 seasons, accumulating 240 episodes in total. The series also includes a Season 0 with 5 special episodes. It aired on National Geographic from May 2013 through 2025, making it one of the network's longest-running unscripted series.

Is Life Below Zero based on real people?

Absolutely — every person featured is real. The series follows actual Alaskan residents including Sue Aikens, Erik Salitan, Andy and Kate Bassich, and Chip and Agnes Hailstone, all of whom genuinely live off the land in remote Alaska. Their daily survival challenges are documented as they happen.

What is Life Below Zero about?

The series plunges viewers into the Alaskan wilderness to follow six resilient residents navigating brutal winters, predatory wildlife, and extreme isolation. From a woman living 300 miles from her nearest neighbor to a family that barters fish for supplies, each story captures raw, unfiltered survival at the edge of the world.

Did Andy and Kate Bassich split up on the show?

Andy and Kate Bassich did separate during the course of the series. Kate eventually departed from Life Below Zero, while Andy continued appearing on the show. Their split played out in part on screen, adding a deeply personal dimension to the already demanding survival narrative the series follows.

What is the content rating for Life Below Zero?

Life Below Zero carries a TV-14 rating in the United States, meaning it may contain content unsuitable for children under 14. This reflects the show's depictions of hunting, animal slaughter, dangerous weather conditions, and the physical and emotional hardships of remote Alaskan survival.

What shows are similar to Life Below Zero?

If Life Below Zero resonates with you, Alaska: The Last Frontier and Edge of Alaska offer a similar remote wilderness feel. Alone pushes survival to even more extreme solo limits, while Alaskan Bush People and Deadliest Catch capture the rugged, unscripted spirit of life in America's most unforgiving landscapes.

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