The best mountaineering films to see (or watch again)

Have you always been a fan of the great outdoors? Have you always wanted to climb the highest peaks or even dreamt of climbing Everest, K2 or Kangchenjunga? Then this selection of the best mountaineering films will inspire you, make you cry or, better still, inspire you to plan your first or next mountaineering outing! You'll realise that meticulous preparation is the key to a successful ascent and descent, but also that bad luck can sometimes strike even the most experienced climbers...

Kaizen: 1 year to climb Everest

"Kaizen: 1 year to climb Everest" is a documentary that was a great success when it was released. In fact, it's the first documentary to have been released both for sale in cinemas and free on YouTube, and to have been a huge success in both respects. In just 6 days, the YouTube video reached 26 million views.

The documentary tells the story of Youtubeur Inoxtag, a 22-year-old boy who decides to climb Everest in a year without any previous mountaineering experience. He changes his everyday life and does everything he can to make his dream come true. "Kaizen" evokes many inspiring themes about surpassing oneself, commitment, fighting one's fears and self-doubt.

14 x 8000: To the summits of the impossible (2021)

"14 X 8000: To the Summits of the Impossible is a gripping documentary about the extraordinary feat of Nepalese mountaineer Nirmal Purja. Airing on 29 November 2021 on Netflix, the film is directed by Torquil Jones and produced by Noah Media Group and Little Monster Films.

The film presents Purja's ambitious and record-breaking mission, known as "Project Possible", to climb the world's 14 8,000-metre peaks in just seven months. Throughout the film, you'll admire the myriad challenges faced by Purja and her team. These include not only the physical and mental ordeal of climbing some of the world's most dangerous mountains, but also the logistical obstacles, extreme weather conditions and financial burden of such an expedition.

Despite these obstacles, Purja's unshakeable spirit and the expertise of his team shine through. It's an inspiring tale of setting seemingly impossible goals and achieving them through determination, skill and teamwork. A must-see for anyone interested in adventure, human endurance and the spirit of exploration.

The Mountaineer (2021)

"L'Alpiniste is a documentary film that explores the life and exploits of Marc-André Leclerc, a Canadian mountaineer known for his remarkable solo climbing achievements. The film takes an intimate look at Leclerc's unique approach to climbing, his philosophy and the major ascents he has made. "L'Alpiniste" not only highlights Leclerc's remarkable skills and achievements, but also serves as a meditation on the nature of adventure, risk and the human spirit.

This documentary has played an essential role in promoting and appreciating the sport of climbing, particularly solo mountaineering, and has consolidated Marc-André Leclerc's image as one of the most remarkable mountaineers of his generation. If you're passionate about extreme sports, you'll love this mountaineering film with its captivating human story! "The Alpinist is one of the best mountaineering films not to be missed.

Everest (2015)

Inspired by the tragic events of 10 and 11 May 1996 (eight deaths), this critically acclaimed mountaineering film deals with those terrible days with accuracy and realism. Everest" is particularly interesting as a mountaineering film because it deals with the personal reasons why each climber justifies his or her decision to set out to climb Everest. It is a narrative, tragic though it is, that does not descend into exaggerated pathos.

The film also shows realistically how tragedy can result from a succession of small mistakes and setbacks, but also from a lack of preparation on the part of amateur mountaineers. It also has all the elements of a mountaineering expedition: petty rivalries, doubts, solidarity and, of course, breathtaking panoramas and views (part of the film was shot in Nepal). This is a very fine mountaineering film, well worth the diversions, not only for its magnificent cinematographic shots, but also for its emphasis on the intimate and human dimensions of each high-altitude expedition.

Meru (2015)

"Meru" (2015) is an exhilarating documentary that follows the harrowing and inspiring odyssey of three elite mountaineers - Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk - as they attempt to conquer the perilous ascent of Shark's Fin on Mount Meru, one of the most challenging peaks in the Indian Himalayas. Directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, the film combines stunning cinematography with a compelling narrative, demonstrating the physical and mental stamina required for high-intensity mountaineering.

In addition, the story examines the personal lives of the climbers, shedding light on their motivations, their struggles and the deep bonds that bind them. With stunning footage of the dangerous climb and intimate interviews, the documentary highlights the climbers' unwavering determination and resilience. "Meru" offers a moving testament to human perseverance and unwavering persistence in the pursuit of seemingly impossible goals, capturing the essence of adventure.

The Summit (2012)

This mountaineering documentary refers to the events that took place during the K2 disaster in August 2008. Less well known than Everest, K2 (8611m) is the second highest mountain in the world after Everest, and is located on the Sino-Pakistani border in the Karakoram massif. The Summit" presents the two days during which 11 experienced international mountaineers died there.

This cinematographic production mixes real documentary footage with survivor testimonies, and also adds dramatised elements. If this film remains as intense and gripping as it is, it is partly due to the unfolding of certain events that have still not been fully elucidated. There are still grey areas surrounding the 11 deaths that occurred during those tragic 48 hours, and several plausible scenarios are evoked here.

"The Summit" explains why K2, the deadliest of the world's five highest mountains, is often considered the most difficult to climb by mountaineers. Bad weather, falling seracs, avalanches, delays in the planned route... This breathtaking work is well worth the diversions if you want to find out more about the August 2008 expedition and K2 in general.

Cold (2011)

"Cold" is a short film that lives up to its name. The film depicts the exploits of three mountaineers who were the first to climb one of Pakistan's 14 eight-thousand-metre mountains, Gasherbum II, in the middle of winter. Gasherbrum II, also known as K4, is the 13th highest mountain in the world, culminating at 8035 m and located between Pakistan and China. From first shots of frozen sleeping bags to shots of windy glaciers, this film will send shivers down your spine.

This short film was made by one of the three climbers involved in the ascent, the American Cory Richards, and gives a unique insight into a mountaineering ascent in the Death Zone (above 8000m) in the middle of winter, making progress in an environment where temperatures sometimes drop below -50 degrees. The film is peppered with fascinating but heartbreakingly frank narrative passages in which the mountaineer-director himself, at the end of the effort, expresses his doubts about his presence on this mountain. "Cold", this unique documentary film, earned Cory Richards the title of National Geographic Explorer of the Year in 2012.

North Face (2008)

"North Face" is a gripping German historical drama that tells the gripping story of the 1936 attempt by mountaineers Toni Kurz and Andreas Hinterstoisser to climb the Eiger North Face in the Swiss Alps. Directed by Philipp Stölzl, the film masterfully combines intense action sequences with a moving narrative, capturing the unyielding spirit of the climbers and the brutal challenges they face. The plot is fuelled by the ambition of the climbers and the political context of the time, adding depth to their perilous ascent.

The spectacular cinematography immerses viewers in the climbers' battle against nature's fury. The film also tackles subjects such as friendship, courage and the tragic price of human achievement. North Face" stands out as a powerful depiction of one of mountaineering's most legendary and tragic endeavours, offering a profound and emotional experience that appeals to a wide audience.

Death suspended (2003)

In "Touching the Void", Kevin Macdonald, who won an Oscar for Best Documentary Director, presents us with a mountaineering drama that will have you hooked from the start. It's a subtle blend of gripping eyewitness accounts and dramatisations of the real events experienced by two English mountaineers, Joe Simpson and Simon Yates in 1985 in the middle of the Peruvian Andes, on the Siula Grande. This documentary film is based directly on the book of the same name written by Joe Simpson.

The film follows a disastrous mountaineering expedition in 1988. The story is a powerful symbol of survival and friendship, involving broken bones, presumed death and snowstorms. "Touching the Void is a critical favourite and a classic mountaineering documentary. A memorable story that is as poignant today as it was in 2003, when it won Best British Film at the 57th British Academy Film Awards.

With a score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, this is not only a great mountaineering film, it's also an excellent film in general to watch even if mountaineering or climbing aren't your cup of tea. And it'll probably make you want to read the bestseller from which the film is based.

Vertical Limit (2000)

"Vertical Limit" is a mountaineering film not based on real events. It's a survival thriller packed with action scenes and breathtaking stunts. The story begins when a brother and sister meet up more or less by chance at the K2 base camp, several years after losing their father in a climbing accident. One of the two heroes decides to join a team setting off to climb the summit, which of course goes horribly wrong...

If you're looking for action and adventure, you've come to the right place! With countless treacherous ridges, vertiginous apics, daring jumps from cliff to cliff (perhaps a little unrealistic, it's true...) and lots of shouting between radio exchanges, this is big-screen cinema. In short, a classic mountaineering/action film of the 2000s, Vertical Limit keeps you gripped to your seat the whole way through...

Discover other adventures...

Want to keep watching films about adventure sports? For a change from the cold and wind, check out the best climbing films or the list of the best freediving films!