Cast Away chronicles the unusual adventures of Chuck Noland, a FedEx executive who survives a deadly plane crash only to find himself in a deserted island without a single soul in sight. 

He spends four years on the island, during which time he tries to sustain himself by creating a calendar to forecast the weather with. He also develops an extraordinary interest in DIY dental hygiene methods. To get food, he goes fishing. 

He also learns to appreciate the small things he never had time for in his old, ever-so-busy life. 

By occasionally looking at the heirloom pocket watch — with his girlfriend, Kelly's photo in it — he tries to remind himself of the happiness he felt in the company of others. 

Eventually, he even succumbs to opening the valuable FedEx packages, where he finds the iconic volleyball he paints a face on before naming him Wilson. 

Cast Away charts Chuck's mental and physical transformation, capturing every moment of his excruciatingly slow-paced downfall. 

The movie raises philosophical questions about the limits of one's humanity. However, it isn't based on a true story. 

Chuck Noland might seem like a person who could have existed at some point in history, but there is no written record of a FedEx executive who got stranded on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.