Top 10 Must-Watch Everest Movies Based on True Stories & Expeditions

Everest (2015)

Everest (2015) is an adventure, biography, and drama film based on the true story of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. The film focuses two expedition teams trying to survive a dangerous storm on the mountain. The principal actors include Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, and Keira Knightley. The film was directed by Baltasar Kormákur, and shows human bravery, perseverance, and the dangers inherent to the clamber after climbing a mountain.

Everest has a 7.1/10 rating on IMDb (Internet Movie Database) and a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the cinematography and intense survival scenes, noting that some of the characters felt flat and could have had deeper character development. Viewers rated it highly; it even has a "A" CinemaScore grade from audiences. Everest grossed a whopping 203 million dollars around the world, on a production budget of 55 million dollars.

Everest realistically displays the struggle climbers take on a massive blizzard close to the summit; it provided a visual representation of loyalty, risk, and human limits. Much of the film was filmed in the Italian Alps and Everest's base camps, however, it conveys a picture of a beautiful yet harsh wilderness environment.

The Climb (L’Ascension) (2017)

The Climb (L’Ascension)(2017) is a French adventure comedy film directed by Ludovic Bernard. The film is based on Everest expeditions and tells the true story of Samy Diakhaté, a man from a suburb in Paris. Without mountain climbing experience, he decides to climb Mount Everest to impress a woman named Nadia. The film shows his determination, struggles, and the support of his community when faced with this huge challenge.

The film has an IMDb rating of 6.9/10. Audience members comment in their reviews on the heartwarming story, charming characters, and scenery (Nepal/Alps). Ahmed Sylla provides a memorable performance. The film is light and comedic at times contrasts well with the realistic drama of climbing Everest. It is a family-friendly adventure about courage, love, and perseverance.

Into Thin Air: Death on Everest (1997)

"Into Thin Air: Death on Everest" (1997) is a dramatized TV film about the 1996 Everest disaster, based on Jon Krakauer's bestseller "Into Thin Air." The film recounts the story of how eight climbers died, and many more were stranded, during the storm of the 1996 disaster.

The film follows two teams of expedition climbers led by guides Rob Hall and Scott Fischer. Climbing Everest is a dangerous pursuit presenting challenges such as elevation sickness, exhaustion, cold weather, and dangerous bottlenecks along the narrow trails. The film illustrates the struggles of man and the cruelties that accompany nature during the expedition.

Highlighted moments are Hall and Fischer pushing past safety turnaround times into deteriorating storms, climbers suffering hallucinations and injuries, and courageous, but tragic, rescue efforts. Hall, Fischer and a number of team members die on the mountain due to severe hypothermia and falls. We see the struggle against the forces of nature to survive and the toll on the emotional wellbeing of those who did survive.

This is one of the most intense films to be inspired by Everest expedition tragedies, both the risks and audacity of high-altitude climbing are on full display.

Beyond the Edge (2013)

"Beyond the Edge" (2013) is a 3D docudrama from New Zealand that tells the story of the first successful climb of Mount Everest in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. The film utilizes dramatic reenactments of the climb, along with archival footage, and photographs from the expedition along with interviews and narration by expedition leaders.

The film conveys the immense challenges faced by Hillary and Tenzing as men of modest beginnings as they contend with bad weather and unsafe conditions in their quest to climb the highest peak on Earth. Their story is one of bravery, fortitude, and determination, set against breathtaking images filmed both in the Himalayas and New Zealand.

Sherpa (2015)

The documentary, "Sherpa" (2015) is an impactful film presented by Jennifer Peedom. The documentary focuses on the Sherpas who are guides for climbers, and help climbers climb Mount Everest. The documentary is based on the 2014 climbing season, in which there was an ice avalanche killing 16 Sherpas (which resulted in the deadliest disaster in Everest’s history).

The story is about Phurba Tashi, a Sherpa that has summited Everest 21 times and leads a team of Sherpas for an expedition company. The documentary explores their culture and their spiritual connection to the mountain. It depicts the dangerous nature of the Sherpa's work, and shows how Sherpas and foreign climbers often clash, including a 2013 brawl that sent shockwaves through the climbing world.

After the ice avalanche, the Sherpas found solidarity in their mourning, and ultimately resolved to not climb for the rest of the season and demand better working conditions and respect. The documentary reveals the Sherpas' trials and their struggle and fight against exploitation, and their determination to fight for their vital role.

The Wildest Dream (2010)

The Wildest Dream, a 2010 feature documentary, tells the story of British climber George Mallory, who disappeared on Mount Everest in 1924 with partner Andrew Irvine. Like a tale with two interwoven narratives, the film recounts Mallory's 1924 expedition and follows modern day climber Conrad Anker's process of investigating Mallory's disappearance, after discovering his frozen body in 1999.

The film uses a variety of archival footage, photographs from the 1920s and letters from Mallory which were read by actors Ralph Fiennes and Natasha Richardson. Anker and British climber Leo Houlding, retraced the original route and attempted to answer the question of whether Mallory could have reached the summit before dying.

Directed by Anthony Geffen and narrated by Liam Neeson, the film has stunning visual cinematography of Everest, while exploring the spirit of exploration represented by Mallory. The achievement of climb to the top of Mount Everest by climbers in the early 1920's was impressive, and the documentary provides insight into the idea of obsession and sacrifice, and the human will to conquer the highest mountains in the world.

Everest: IMAX (1998)

"Everest: IMAX" (1998) is an American documentary directed by Greg MacGillivray and David Breashears. Shot in IMAX 70mm, it presents breathtaking views of Mount Everest, the tallest peak in the world, along with immersive views of the mountain. The duration of 45-minutes, narrated by Liam Neeson, it was the highest-grossing IMAX documentary at the time.

The documentary is about Ed Viesturs, climber and David Breashears, filmmaker, as they record an expedition to Everest in 1996, preparing to summit and the dangers of climbing Everest. Serious challenges mount through avalanches and blizzards whilst dealing with incredibly low amounts of oxygen whilst absorbing the majestic view of the mountain.

The documentary also features the tragic events of the 1996 Everest disaster, when climbers were trapped in their ascent due to an unexpected storm that killed even the experts. The IMAX filming crew helped with search and rescue efforts during this event with unseen footage from that tragic season, and brought viewers uncomfortably close to the actual events and dangers of climbing at those altitudes.

Storm Over Everest (2008)

"Storm Over Everest" (2008) is a documentary made by David Breashears, which takes a look back at the events during the mounting tragedy, which was the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. The film examines the story of the powerful storm that trapped three climbing teams on the mountain and resulted in the death of eight climbers during their descent.

David Breashears is a climber and film maker who assisted in the rescue in 1996, at the time of the disaster, and returned to Everest to give a detailed recount of the event and process that the climbers encountered. Interviews are provided by climbers and Sherpas, many for the first time discussing the tragic events. The film provides insights into the difficult decisions; yet heroic actions that took place during the attempted rescues.

The film documents the extreme conditions the climbers were faced with, namely exhaustion, frostbite and disorientation, and the desperate attempts to navigate and find safety in freezing conditions, as the storm enveloped not only climbers, but Sherpas as well. I think it also detailed the impact of the team work, challenges, and reality of climbing the highest mountain in the world.

14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021)

"14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible" (2021) is a fantastic documentary made by Torquil Jones. It follows Nepali mountain climber Nirmal "Nimsdai" Purja as he attempts to climb all the world's highest 14 mountains, above 8,000m, in seven months (a feat that usually takes years).

The documentary details Purja's "Project Possible" and shows how he and his crew managed to complete the project in just six months and six days, from April to October 2019. The film highlights the extreme physical and mental challenges, treacherous weather, and rescues that evolve during the project. The film articulates Purja's determination to succeed, which was motivated by personal ambitions, family support, and his military training.

The film showcases breath-taking cinematography, first-person Mountaineer video footage from Purja and the crew. The film beautifully illustrates the majesty of the mountains and the spirit of Nepalese mountaineering. The documentary also includes interviews with notable climbers, including Reinhold Messner, who describes Purja's challenge as a historic amazing achievement.

Everest: The South Col (1969)

Everest: The South Col" (1969) is a documentary that outlines the realities climbers face on the South Col route of Mount Everest. The South Col is a high-altitude mountain pass located approximately 7,906 meters (25,938 feet) above sea level and is a significant location for climbers returning from the summit.

The documentary offers a close-up view of the climbing route and introduces the harsh environment climbers experience while establishing camps, carrying loads, climbing icefalls and ridges, and climbing steep climbing pitches. It illustrates the commitment and teamwork it takes to navigate the deadly path.

The South Col route is historically significant because it was the route used by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on the first successful summiting of the mountain in 1953. The documentary frequently references this climb as well as the technical aspects of climbing near the South Col, specifically the Hillary Step, a steep rock face just below the summit.

FAQs

What is the best Everest movie based on a true story?

Everest (2015) is one of the best true story films about the 1996 disaster on Mount Everest.

Which Everest documentaries are worth watching?

Sherpa (2015), Beyond the Edge (2013), and The Wildest Dream (2010) are excellent recommendations for the best Everest documentaries.

Is the movie Everest (2015) based on real events?

Yes, the movie Everest is based on the real Mount Everest disaster in 1996 and the climbers' real experiences.

What is the difference between Everest (2015) and Into Thin Air: Death on Everest?

Everest (2015) is a feature film where Into Thin Air: Death on Everest (1997) is a TV movie based on Jon Krakauer's book about the 1996 tragedy.

Are there any Everest movies from the Sherpas’ perspective?

Yes, Sherpa (2015) focuses mainly on the Sherpas' experiences accompanying climbers on their expeditions on Everest.

What is the most accurate film about Mount Everest expeditions?

Many say that Beyond the Edge (2013) and Everest (2015) accurately fictionalized the actual climbing events and struggles.

Where can I watch Everest movies and documentaries online?

Most documentaries and movies about Everest are streaming now on services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and YouTube.

Conclusion

Some of the most exciting and inspiring Everest movies in mountaineering history have been made about Mount Everest. From major feature films such as Everest (2015) and The Climb (2017), to inspiring documentaries such as Sherpa (2015), Beyond the Edge (2013), and 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021), movies made about Mount Everest highlight the courage, dedication, and dangers of climbing the world’s highest peak. Regardless of where you look, they tell real-life stories of survival, extreme weather adversity, and the human spirit being tested.

These movies give insight into climbers, Sherpa, and historic expeditions, they also provide breathtaking video sequences, emotional scenes, and a glimpse into life on the mountain. To learn more about these movies, other suggestions, or ideas for your own adventure in the Himalayas, contact Himalayan Recreation to get details of their favorite trekking and expedition ideas to create an adventure story all your own in the Himalayas.