Films About Climbing
Films about climbing capture the exhilaration, danger, and triumph of scaling mountains and cliffs. These movies often highlight the physical and mental challenges faced by climbers, the breathtaking beauty of natural landscapes, and the intricate dynamics between climbers and their environments. From harrowing documentaries to thrilling dramas, these films offer audiences an intimate look at the world of climbing.
Notable Films About Climbing
“The Dawn Wall”, 2017
Director: Josh Lowell, Peter Mortimer
This documentary chronicles the efforts of climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson to scale the Dawn Wall of El Capitan, a seemingly impossible climb that captivated the world.
Starring: John Branch, Tommy Caldwell, Kevin Jorgeson;
Production year: 2017;
Genre: documentary, biography, sport;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “The Dawn Wall” on the website imdb.com
“Everest”, 2015
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Based on the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, this dramatic film portrays the real-life events faced by two expedition groups caught in a deadly storm while attempting to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain.
Starring: Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sam Worthington, John Hawkes, Michael Kelly, Ingvar Sigurdsson, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, Robin Wright;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: adventure, thriller, drama, biography;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 121 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,1;
More information about the film “Everest” on the website imdb.com
“Meru”, 2015
Director: Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Following the journey of three elite climbers—Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin, and Renan Ozturk—this documentary captures their perilous expedition to climb the Shark's Fin on Mount Meru in the Indian Himalayas.
Starring: Conrad Anker, Grace Chin, Jimmy Chin, Amee Hinkley, Jeremy Jones, Jon Krakauer, Jennifer Lowe-Anker, Renan Ozturk;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: documentary, sport;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 90 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,7;
More information about the film “Meru” on the website imdb.com
“North Face”, 2002
Director: Marc Jobst
Set in 1936, this historical drama follows German climbers Toni Kurz and Andreas Hinterstoisser as they attempt to scale the Eiger's notorious north face in the Swiss Alps.
Starring: Lisa Hammond, Ralf Little, Phillip Mitchell;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: short film, drama;
Duration: 9 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 0;
More information about the film “North Face” on the website imdb.com
“Vertical Limit”, 2000
Director: Martin Campbell
This action-thriller tells the story of a climber who must rescue his sister and her team from a deadly crevasse on K2, the world's second-highest peak, following an avalanche.
Starring: Chris O'Donnell, Bill Paxton, Robin Tunney, Scott Glenn, Izabella Scorupco, Temuera Morrison, Stuart Wilson, Roshan Seth, Ben Mendelsohn, Robert Taylor;
Production year: 2000;
Genre: action, thriller, drama, adventure, sport;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 124 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,9;
“The Eiger Sanction”, 1975
Director: Clint Eastwood
In this action-packed thriller, a former assassin is forced out of retirement to climb the Eiger mountain and avenge the murder of a friend, intertwining espionage with high-altitude adventure.
Starring: Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Vonetta McGee, Jack Cassidy, Heidi Brühl, Thayer David, Reiner Schöne, Michael Grimm, Jean-Pierre Bernard, Brenda Venus;
Production year: 1975;
Genre: action, thriller, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 129 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,4;
More information about the film “The Eiger Sanction” on the website imdb.com
“Cliffhanger”, 1993
Director: Renny Harlin
This action film stars Sylvester Stallone as a mountain climber who becomes entangled in a heist plot and must use his climbing skills to outsmart a group of criminals in the Rocky Mountains.
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, John Lithgow, Michael Rooker, Janine Turner, Rex Linn, Caroline Goodall, Leon, Craig Fairbrass, Gregory Scott Cummins, Denis Forest;
Production year: 1993;
Genre: action, thriller, adventure;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 113 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,5;
“Beyond the Edge”, 2013
Director: Leanne Pooley
This docudrama recreates Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's historic 1953 ascent of Mount Everest, combining archival footage with dramatic reenactments to tell the story of their pioneering climb.
Starring: Chad Moffitt, Sonam Sherpa, John Wraight, Joshua Rutter, Daniel Musgrove, Erroll Shand, Phurenje Sherpa, Jimmy Kunsang, Callum Grant, Matthew Metcalfe;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: documentary, drama, history;
Age: 6+;
Duration: 90 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Beyond the Edge” on the website imdb.com
These films not only showcase the physical and emotional demands of climbing but also celebrate the spirit of adventure and the relentless pursuit of human achievement.
In sum, films about climbing do more than simply depict the physical endeavor of ascending treacherous heights. These films tap into essential human themes of perseverance, resilience, and the eternal confrontation with fear and the unknown. Whether it is a documentary that presents real-life footage of boundary-pushing expeditions or a fictional tale drenched in suspense and metaphor, climbing films invariably encourage a contemplation of our own personal mountains and the internal fortitude required to scale them. As much about the landscape within as the vertiginous peaks, climbing films captivate and inspire, inviting viewers to ponder the limits of human potential and the profound impact of nature on our collective psyche.
