These documentaries about Mount Everest show the towering giant of the Himalayas, which has captivated the human imagination for centuries, beckoning adventurers and explorers to its formidable slopes.
As the world’s highest peak, Everest stands at an elevation of 29,032 feet (8,848 meters), challenging those who dare to ascend its icy ridges and perilous crevasses.
The pursuit of the Everest summit has given rise to a series of gripping documentaries about Mount Everest that delve into the triumphs, tragedies, and the indomitable spirit of those who undertake the perilous journey.
Documentaries About Mount Everest
From historical expeditions to modern-day challenges, the documentaries about Mount Everest provide a window into the world of high-altitude mountaineering, offering you a glimpse of the physical and emotional toll exacted by the quest for the world’s ultimate summit.
The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest (2010)
The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest is a combination of documentary footage and dramatized reenactments. It tells the story of two climbers, George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, and their attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1924.
The central mystery surrounding Mallory and Irvine’s expedition is whether they reached the summit before disappearing during their descent. Mallory’s body was discovered on Everest in 1999, but the question of whether they successfully summited Everest before their disappearance remains unanswered.
The documentary features archival footage, interviews with mountaineers, and dramatic re-creations of Mallory and Irvine’s journey. It also follows renowned mountaineer Conrad Anker as he attempts to recreate the 1924 expedition and solve the mystery of whether Mallory and Irvine reached the summit.
The film not only explores the historical context of the 1924 expedition but also delves into the personal lives of Mallory and Irvine. Through interviews with family members and historians, the documentary provides insight into the motivations and challenges faced by these early Everest climbers.
Out of all these documentaries about Mount Everest, this is one of the best ones to watch for the history of the mountain.
Sherpa (2015)
Sherpa focuses on the role of Sherpas in guiding climbers on Mount Everest and the 2014 Everest ice avalanche that resulted in the deaths of 16 Sherpas. It provides a close look at the lives, culture, and challenges faced by Sherpas, who play a crucial role in supporting climbers attempting to reach the summit of Everest.
The documentary begins by examining the growing commercialization of Everest expeditions and the increasing number of climbers attempting to summit the mountain. It explores the relationship between Western climbers and Sherpas, shedding light on the Sherpas’ contributions, risks, and disparities in pay and recognition.
One of the central events in the film is the tragic ice avalanche that occurred on April 18, 2014, at the Khumbu Icefall on Mount Everest. The avalanche resulted in the deaths of 16 Sherpas, highlighting the dangers and risks faced by these mountain workers.
The incident led to discussions and debates about the treatment of Sherpas in the Everest climbing industry, including issues related to compensation, working conditions, and the broader ethical considerations of commercial expeditions.
“Sherpa” provides a balanced and thought-provoking portrayal of the dynamics between Western climbers and Sherpas, as well as the broader impact of commercialized mountaineering on the Everest region. It offers you a nuanced perspective on the challenges faced by those who make Everest climbs possible.
Into Thin Air: Death On Everest (1997)
Into Thin Air: Death on Everest is a made-for-television film based on the best-selling non-fiction book “Into Thin Air” by Jon Krakauer, which recounts the events of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster.
The 1996 Everest disaster was one of the deadliest tragedies in the history of Everest climbing. It involved multiple expedition teams facing severe weather conditions, resulting in the deaths of eight climbers, including experienced guides. Jon Krakauer, a journalist and climber, was part of the ill-fated expedition and later wrote about his experience in the book “Into Thin Air.”
The film adaptation attempts to capture the harrowing events and personal struggles faced by the climbers during the ill-fated expedition. The movie provides a dramatized account of the challenges, decisions, and tragedies that unfolded on Everest.
The events of 1996 sparked considerable debate and scrutiny within the mountaineering community, leading to discussions about the commercialization of Everest, safety protocols, and the responsibilities of climbers and expedition leaders in high-risk environments.
The Man Who Skied Down Everest (1975)
The Man Who Skied Down Everest chronicles the remarkable journey of Japanese alpinist and skier Yuichiro Miura as he attempts to ski down the slopes of Mount Everest.
Yuichiro Miura, an accomplished skier and alpinist, had a daring and ambitious goal: to ski down the treacherous slopes of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. The film follows Miura and his team as they undertake the challenging expedition to Everest, capturing the breathtaking scenery, the physical and mental challenges faced by the climbers, and the technical aspects of attempting such a feat.
One of the most iconic scenes in the documentary is Miura’s actual ski descent from the summit of Mount Everest. The cinematography captures the danger and excitement of the descent down the steep and icy slopes of the mountain.
“The Man Who Skied Down Everest” received critical acclaim and won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1976. The film not only showcases the incredible skiing feat but also explores the broader themes of human determination, the spirit of adventure, and the allure of conquering the world’s highest peaks.
Miura’s accomplishment remains a significant milestone in the history of mountaineering and skiing, and out of all these documentaries about Mount Everest, it continues to be celebrated for portraying this extraordinary adventure on the roof of the world.
Beyond The Edge (2013)
Beyond the Edge chronicles the historic ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953. The film combines original footage and dramatic re-enactments to recreate the journey of the first successful summit of the world’s highest peak.
The documentary not only focuses on the historic climb but also provides insights into the climbers’ personalities, the challenges they faced, and the broader historical context of the time. The film includes interviews with Hillary and Norgay’s children and grandchildren, as well as archival footage and photographs.
Beyond the Edge utilizes 3D technology to enhance the viewing experience, giving a sense of the scale and difficulty of the climb. The filmmakers worked with mountaineers to recreate the conditions faced by Hillary and Norgay during their ascent.
The title “Beyond the Edge” suggests the exploration of both physical and metaphorical frontiers, emphasizing the significance of the Everest ascent in pushing the boundaries of human achievement.
Everest: IMAX (1998)
Everest captures the journey of a group of climbers attempting to reach the summit of Mount Everest. It offers a stunning visual experience, especially on the large screens of IMAX theatres.
The documentary primarily follows the 1996 Mount Everest climbing season, which was marked by several tragedies, including the infamous Everest disaster that resulted in the deaths of eight climbers that other documentaries about Mount Everest have also shown on this list.
The film features breathtaking footage of the Himalayan landscape, the challenges faced by climbers, and the dramatic events that unfolded during that season.
The climbers and guides featured in the film include Ed Viesturs, Araceli Segarra, Jamling Tenzing Norgay (the son of Tenzing Norgay), and others. The film provides a glimpse into the physical and mental demands of climbing Everest and the risks and dangers associated with high-altitude mountaineering.
While the 1996 Everest disaster is a significant part of the film, it also showcases the broader allure of Everest and the determination of individuals to conquer the mountain.
Everest Beyond The Limit (2006-2009)
Everest: Beyond the Limit is a television documentary series that provides a detailed and dramatic look at the experiences of climbers attempting to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The series focuses on the challenges faced by climbers, the teamwork required, and the physical and mental toll of high-altitude mountaineering.
It follows a reality TV format, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the journeys of various climbers and expedition teams as they attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The series features interviews with climbers, guides, and Sherpas, along with footage from the expeditions.
The series covers multiple climbing seasons on Everest, showcasing different climbers and teams each season. It gives viewers a sense of the challenges posed by the unpredictable weather, high altitudes, and the physical demands of the climb.
The series is known for its immersive storytelling and the insights it provides into the world of high-altitude mountaineering. It’s worth noting that each season covers a new group of climbers, so there is a progression of stories and challenges throughout the multiple seasons of the show.
High And Hallowed: Everest 1963 (2013)
High and Hallowed: Everest 1963 is a documentary film that recounts the historic American Mount Everest Expedition of 1963. The expedition was significant because it marked the first successful American ascent of Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak.
The climbers who reached the summit were Jim Whittaker and Sherpa Nawang Gombu.
The film, directed by David Morton and Jake Norton, combines original 16mm footage captured during the 1963 expedition with interviews, showcasing the challenges faced by the climbers and the triumphs they achieved.
It provides a historical perspective on the early days of Himalayan mountaineering and the determination and courage required to conquer such a formidable peak.
Death Zone: Cleaning Mount Everest (2016)
Mount Everest is a sacred mountain for Nepalis and Death Zone: Cleaning Mount Everest follows 20 Nepali climbers as they enter Everest’s “death zone” to clean the mountain of the 100,000 pounds of rubbish that remain on Everest.
This is a great documentary about Everest from the perspective of the local Nepali climbers who want to keep their sacred mountain clean and retrieve the bodies of some 150 climbers who have been left on the high slopes of the mountain.
Watch on Amazon.
The Porter: The Untold Story at Everest (2020)
This is an interesting documentary about Mount Everest to watch in that it follows a privileged American man, Nathaniel J. Menninger, who comes to work as a porter at Mount Everest.
He works and lives in the same conditions as the other sherpa porters on Mount Everest. It is an enlightening film in that it shows how hard and tough the life of a Himalayan porter is. This is actually one of the best documentaries about Mount Everest to watch for an insider’s view of the life of the sherpas.
One extra…
Everest (2015)
Ok, this one is kind of cheating as it’s not a documentary but a great movie about Everest.
Everest is a biographical adventure film directed by Baltasar Kormákur. The film is based on the real events of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, where multiple climbers faced severe challenges during their attempt to reach the summit, resulting in fatalities.
Everest follows two expedition groups, led by Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, as they attempt to reach the summit of Mount Everest. The climbers face a series of challenges, including unpredictable weather conditions and the thin air of high altitudes.
The film dramatizes the events leading up to the disaster and the subsequent struggle for survival. The movie is known for its breathtaking cinematography, capturing the awe-inspiring yet perilous beauty of the Himalayan landscape. The film was shot on location in Nepal and the Italian Alps.
Everest aims to depict the dangers and complexities of high-altitude mountaineering, emphasizing the human spirit’s resilience in the face of extreme conditions. Although it is not one of these documentaries about Mount Everest, it is highly recommended to watch.
Watch on Amazon.
Mount Everest
These documentaries about Mount Everest offer diverse perspectives on the challenges, risks, and rewards associated with climbing the mountain, as well as the impact of these expeditions on the local communities and environment.
They not only showcase the breathtaking beauty of the Everest region but also unravel the complex narratives of human ambition, resilience, and the delicate balance between nature and the indomitable human spirit.
For more on the Himalayas have a look at hiking to Rakaposhi Base Camp in Pakistan.
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