It’s been a hard few months of work sinking into a sofa with too much popcorn. We’ve scrolled through the good, the bad, the outright ridiculous, and more. After all that we’ve found the best mountain climbing documentaries on Netflix, Amazon, and YouTube.
To get it out of the way first – we’re referring to mountain climbing documentaries. For technical rock climbing (like Free Solo) check out the best climbing documentaries. Out of the hundreds of contenders, these are our favorites for many different reasons.
Mountain climbing or mountaineering does contain some technical climbing but it’s mostly just battling against the elements, bitter cold, and freezing wind, avoiding falling rock and ice, and getting back down alive. Simple right?
Coming back from some of these mountains isn’t guaranteed. The activity can be incredibly dangerous even for elite climbers with years of experience. As such, a few of the mountaineering documentaries here do contain some pretty tense and sometimes harrowing scenes. Consider this a warning.
Most of these documentaries are available either for free to stream or available to rent on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, or iTunes. There are also some high-quality free mountain climbing documentaries on YouTube thrown in for good measure.
Out of the different streaming services Amazon Prime Video is the best of the bunch for mountaineering documentaries with not many on Netflix. Try a free month of Prime Video here.
Touching The Void – Classic Mountaineering Documentary
| Released: 2003 | Length: 1hr 46min | Directed By: Kevin Macdonald |
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Touching The Void is a classic mountaineering movie/documentary that left its imprint on both the genre and viewers. The true tale of two climbers, a horrific choice, and an astounding ending.
It’s retold by the climbers themselves – Joe Simpson and Simon Yates – and the scenes are recreations. This doesn’t take away much and the whole of the film and story are pulled together masterfully.
It’s based on the account from the book of the same name that was written by Joe. Definitely watch if you haven’t already. Also the sort of film you’ll watch again just to glance across for someone else’s reaction.
Meru – Best Mountaineering Documentary
| Released: 2015 | Length: 1hr 30min | Directed By: Conrad Anker, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi |
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Jimmy Chin, Renan Ozturk, and Conrad Anker battle against the previously unclimbed Shark’s Fin route on the 6,600-meter Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas. This is an excellent mountaineering documentary on the process, the gear, and the route as well as a great bit of storytelling.
The footage both on the wall and off is high quality and edited together to tell a gripping story. Meru is a mountain that requires the utmost technical climbing skill and the best luck. Their journey is hard to watch but for us, this is the best mountaineering documentary of the last decade.
Co-directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, and featuring Jimmy Chin – who together won the Oscar for Best Documentary for Free Solo as well as seven Emmys.
Torn – Alex Lowe In A New Light
| Released: 2022 | Length: 1hr 32min | Directed By: Max Lowe |
Of every documentary here – this is our favorite. If you don’t know about Alex Lowe, he was widely regarded as the “best” climber of the ’90s. He was a traditional adventurer that loved to find new peaks, forge new routes on exotic walls, and did everything from 8,000ers like Everest to technical ice and rock climbing.
In 1999 he was buried in an avalanche which his climbing partner and close friend Conrad Anker (of the film “Meru” above) barely survived. It was a huge loss to many – especially his wife Jennifer and their three sons. For a long time, we’ve not had much in the way of Alex Lowe footage, but this film changes that.
“Torn” has rare access to footage, pictures, and personal letters about Alex’s trips because it was directed by Max – Alex’s oldest son who was 10 at the time of Alex’s death. It features extremely personal interviews with Max’s brothers and their mother Jennifer, and explores the quite difficult relationships and struggle that Alex’s death caused.
This is the type of film that someone without any connection to climbing could enjoy. However, if you know anything about climbing or big peaks you’ll be shocked at the things Alex did and the stories his friends reveal. The film also has a pretty big twist that this trailer won’t reveal (though others will). Absolutely give this one a go.
Read more – Who Was Alex Lowe? The True Story of Torn
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible – A Record-Breaking Achievement
| Released: 2021 | Length: 1hr 31min | Directed By: Torquil Jones |
In 2019 Nirmal “Nims” Purja set out to do something no one had ever done before: Summit all fourteen of the eight-thousand-meter summits in just one year. Initially many were skeptical and believed it just wasn’t possible.
The logistics and luck with weather alone seemed impossible to overcome, let alone the incredible effort and exhaustion of even a handful of the big peaks in a year.
However, Nims was no tourist. Born in Nepal – home of the Sherpas that make more summits of Everest than any westerner – he joined the Gurkhas at a young age. After 6 years as part of this historic unit of the British Army, he was accepted into the elite Special Boat Service.
Eventually, he was asked to join the SAS – a secretive unit that works behind enemy lines. However, he decided that mountaineering would be his calling.
The film documents his training from day one, forming his team, and attempting peaks like Everest and K2. For his K2 ascent to fit in, he’d need to climb it in Winter – something that had previously only been attempted but never accomplished.
Well worth a watch! Nims also wrote a book about the whole adventure, from planning to executing, detailing the rescues and troubles along the way.
Read more – Who Is Nims Purja?
The Alpinist – Stunning Solos On Ice & Rock
| Released: 2021 | Length: 1hr 32min | Directed By: Peter Mortimer, Nick Rosen |
A rare film that makes it into both our Mountaineering and Climbing Documentary lists. Marc-André Leclerc is truly one of a kind. Climbing rock, ice, and big alpine mountains are all part of a normal day for this almost unknown.
The Alpinist is a must-watch for both Marc-André and his climbing. Featuring stunning scenes of him free solo climbing (alone with no rope) while switching between rock and ice, from using ice axes to his hands and back. A real chair-gripper with a beautiful story and cinematography to match.
Mountain – Beautiful Mountain Climbing Film
| Released: 2017 | Length: 1hr 14min | Directed By: Jennifer Peedom |
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Mountain isn’t strictly a mountaineering documentary but it’s a stunning film to let yourself be drawn into. The film takes us on a cinematic journey through a range of climbing, mountaineering, skiing, and other big walls or falls.
Featuring a wide cast of climbers and “extreme” sportspersons. Instead of being an in-depth explanation of the suffer-fests of mountaineering, this film has more of an artistic bent. It’s a real joy to take in and the music adds another level to the already-great cinematography.
Willem Dafoe narrates and the score is masterfully done by the Australian Chamber Orchestra. One of the best mountain climbing shows on Netflix.
The Summit
| Released: 2012 | Length: 1hr 35min | Directed By: Jennifer Peedom |
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In August 2008 on K2 there were multiple teams attempting the summit or ready to climb from the base camp. Over the course of 48 fatal hours, eleven climbers died on the mountain.
The Summit pieces together real footage, interviews with people who were there, and re-enactments to try and find out what went so wrong. If you’ve been following the recent K2 Winter summit attempts this film clearly shows how hard it is to try even in summer.
Sherpa
| Released: 2015 | Length: 1hr 36min | Directed By: Jennifer Peedom |
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For the first time in a long history of mountain climbing documentaries, we get the perspective of a Sherpa. The Sherpa are an ethnic group found along the higher mountainous areas of the Andean Himalayas. They are also the go-to porters and guides for Everest and other famous peaks.
Tensing Norgay is probably the most famous Sherpa as he was the first person to summit Everest, along with Edmund Hillary. This film looks into the lives – and deaths – of the people who have made more summits than any other. Featuring the climbers and their families talking honestly about their thoughts on what they do and why.
There is also an incident involving a fight between a climber and a Sherpa on Everest that led to huge friction in the community. The film covers the fallout from this event and gives us an insight into some of the questionable morality that goes into climbing Everest.
Every single one of the other documentaries here features Sherpas or porters who are crucial to summits. It begs the question of why the mainly western climbers get the money, fame, and films made and not the locals who arguably do way more to get them there.
The film is beautifully shot and really insightful. For people who are interested in the fatality of Everest and other mountains, it’s an eye-opener and a must-watch. Directed by Jennifer Peedom who also directed The Summit.
Porter: The Untold Story At Everest
Best Free Mountaineering Documentary On YouTube
| Released: 2020 | Length: 55min | Directed By: Nathanial J Menninger |
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If you liked Sherpa and want to see more of the conditions and work they do, look no further.
A young American goes out to become a mountain porter for Everest – no luxuries, no special treatment, no taking the light pack. Free to watch on YouTube, this is a great little feature that’s worth a watch at just under an hour’s viewing time.
Nathaniel set out to see for himself just how hard these porters work by doing the job himself. Sleeping literally in the same bed, carrying the same packs, and without excuses. It shows the insane workload that Everest and Himalayan porters have as well as the poor conditions and pay they endure.
Breathtaking: K2
Excellent Free Mountain Climbing Documentary On YouTube
| Released: 2020 | Length: 46min | Directed By: Adrian Ballinger |
This short documentary is an excellent look at what it takes to climb K2. Adrian Ballinger, Carla Perez, along with their guides take on what is known as the world’s deadliest mountain.
It’s a great doc that covers the people, logistics, hazards, and the sheer tenacity of trying to climb K2. The quality of the footage along with Adrian’s commentary gives great insight in a genuinely entertaining way. It was only a few months back that K2 was climbed in winter for the first time.
Mountain Of Storms
Best Free Mountain Climbing / Skiing Film On YouTube
| Released: 2018 | Length: 52min |
A wonderful film that captures a legendary road trip from California to Patagonia back in the 60’s. Five friends ski, climb, and surf their way down the American continent. It ends with a triumphant summit of the iconic Fitz Roy massif that makes up the famous Patagonia brand logo.
The Last Mountain
| Released: 2022 | Length: 1hr 47min | Directed By: Christopher Terrill |
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Alison Hargreaves was the first woman to climbing Mount Everest alone and without oxygen. As a woman, she faced harsh criticism where men wouldn’t, simply because she had children. In 1995 she died while descending from the summit of K2.
Her son Tom Ballard would go on to climb and adventure in her stead. This is his story, and the mountains he conquered. He was at the top level of British mountaineers, and in 2019 he went to climb Nanga Parbat – this is the tale of what happened.
The Wildest Dream – Unique Mountaineering Documentary
| Released: 2010 | Length: 1hr 34min | Directed By: Anthony Geffen |
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The first people to summit Everest and come back down were not the first to try. One of the first attempts was the 1924 British expedition in which George Mallory and Andrew Irvine disappeared near the peak. Over the years there has been much discussion over whether they had made the first summit.
This film charts the 1999 Mallory and Irvine Research Expedition, which set out to try and find evidence of the summit. This included looking for the bodies and camps that had not been found. Finding dead bodies on Everest is much more common than you might think.
Conrad Anker did actually come upon a body from the expedition – a grim find which found many clues to the original attempt. We’ll leave it to you to watch and find.
The Wildest Dream is up there as one of the best mountaineering documentary films we’ve seen. It manages to capture much of the original story with archival footage and photos, as well as the new team’s struggles. Another must-watch.
Beyond The Edge
| Released: 2013 | Length: 1hr 30min | Directed By: Leanne Pooley |
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As mountain climbing documentaries go this is an interesting one. Beyond the Edge takes us back to the first summit of Mount Everest in 1953. It uses a mix of original audio interviews, photos, and very well-done recreations using period-accurate gear to illustrate the harsh conditions and tough attitudes of the day.
It dramatizes real events to give us a glimpse into the meticulously planned attempt to be the first to climb Everest. Tracking a historic mountain climbing feat is a hard feat done well here. Originally screened in 3D.
High and Hallowed: Everest 1963
| Released: 20 | Length: 48min | Directed By: Jake Norton, Dave Moron, Jim Aikman |
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If Everest first being summited by a Nepali and a Brit – and not an American – is an appalling tragedy to you we’d suggest this. High and Hallowed follows the 1963 attempt of the west ridge by a crack team of all-American climbers. It also contrasts this with another team of Americans doing the same route in 2012.
It ends up being a really interesting watch because of the mixed stories. The footage from both attempts is great and the story weaves both timelines together well. If you’re interested in mountain climbing documentaries this will be one of your favorites though it’s less so for a casual viewer.
Narrated by Jon Krakauer who is himself a legend in mountaineering. Jon was present at the 1996 Everest disaster where eight people died and more lost fingers and toes due to a terrible storm. He wrote the bestseller Into Thin Air about it.
Cerro Torre: A Snowball’s Chance In Hell
| Released: 2013 | Length: 1hr 38min | Directed By: Thomas Dirnhofer |
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Cerro Torre has a long and very tumultuous history in the world of mountain climbing. The “first ascent” in 1959 has since been thoroughly disproven, and the ethics of the original climb and the next attempt are heavily criticized.
David Lama and Pete Ortner take on the peak in their own style. If you are at all interested in the controversy and the “best” way to climb peaks, this will be right up your alley.
More Climbing Films
– Best Rock Climbing Documentaries
– Best “Bad Good” Climbing Films
The Fatal Game – An Everest documentary like no other
| Released: 1997 | Length: 52min | Directed By: Richard Dennison |
An unflinchingly harsh look at a life or death situation on Everest. Mike Reinberger and Mark Whetu attempt to summit Everest and find the way back down harder. A hard choice and tough questions follow, using real-life footage and interviews.
Kilian Jornet: Path To Everest – One of the best mountaineering documentaries on Amazon
| Released: 2018 | Length: 1hr 20min | Directed By: Sèbastien Montaz-Rosset |
Kilian Jornet is a world-class athlete who skis, climbs, and runs to a world-class level as long as it involves a mountain. This film covers his stunning summit of Everest and is one of the most intense mountain climbing movies on the list.
This is one film of a series called Summits Of My Life made to chronicle Kilian’s milestone challenges. You can see the rest of the films here or read his book about the series.
K2: Siren Of The Himalayas – A very real K2 documentary
| Released: 2012 | Length: 1hr 15min | Directed By: Dave Ohlson |
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Another great K2 mountain climbing documentary that follows a team of professional mountaineers. If you’re into finding out the nitty-gritty, the team dynamics, and learning about the mountain you’ll be into this.
