Robinson Crusoe is considered a ‘classic’ and canon within the field of literature, leading to an expansive collection of scholarly articles, journals, dissertations, and film adaptations. The novel has garnered attention from scholars and general audiences alike. This research will analyze the novel Robinson Crusoe (RC) by Daniel Defoe, the castaway motif, and the techniques of verisimilitude. I will provide an example of  the influence of Robinson Crusoe on the motif,  adaptations of the motif in film and how the castaway motif adapts to its audience. To show how the castaway motif adapts to its audience, the movies “The Martian” (science fiction film, 2015) and “Cast Away”(drama film, 2000) have been selected. The castaway motif and verisimilitude play an important role in the popularity of RC as well as the adaptations for the current generations. This research allows for a broader view of the castaway motif and it explores how media can evolve for its audiences.