It’s Friday night, you wanna kick back, put your feet up and watch the best climbing movie there is.
But wait, which one is that? So many choices and so little time! Which platform to turn to?
In this post we give you our list of the top 5 best climbing movies ever, with the platform you can watch it on.
So, sit back, relax and get ready to be entertained.
5) Meru – Amazon Prime
This film chronicles the story of the first ascent of the Shark’s Fin route on Meru Peak in the Indian Himalayas.
Follow Conrad Anchor, Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk on the first unsuccessful attempt in 2008 and subsequent successful one in 2011.
This is filmed by the team on their way up, so gives a great inside story of the predicament’s high altitude and big wall climbers can find themselves in, especially during unsuccessful ascents.
Why is this potentially the best climbing movie? Amazing scenery, awesome first person shots of climbing and a few extra twists and turns will keep you entertained, all filmed and produced by an Oscar winning team.
4) Touching the Void – Amazon Prime
Whilst a fair bit older than the rest of the newbies on our list, this one definitely packs a punch and is a contender for the best climbing movie our there.
This pretty much defines survival instinct and shows the incredible battle of man vs mountain when a climber in a team of two falls and breaks his leg during a descent.
Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, set out to be the first team to reach the summit of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. After a successful summit, a thunderous storm threatens both their lives on the way down and Yates must make the ultimate choice: to cut, or not, his climbers rope.
The story then follows Simpson’s battle to survive and return to base camp.
An absolute classic and must see, based on an incredible book.
3) Valley Uprising – Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime seems to have snatched up all the best climbing movies out there.
Valley Uprising is a throwback to the dirtbag and historical days of Yosemite valley, dumpster-diving, wild parties and escaping the police.
This film chronicles the origin of Yosemite’s climbing culture and how generation after generation has pushed the limits of climbing in this epicenter of (big wall) climbing.
The characters will make you smile, their antics make you laugh and accomplishments make you humble for what was able to be achieved. A sure contender for the best climbing movie online.
2) The Dawn Wall – Amazon Prime
Annnd it’s on Amazon Prime yet again.
The first of the next two films needs little introduction given the immense media coverage at the time.
It’s the first time we’ve seen a climbing article on the front page of the New York Times.
This film follows the pure dedication and obsession of Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson as they make the first ascent of the Dawn Wall, in Yosemite Valley.
The pair lived on the wall for a crazy 19 days in order to complete the send, stirring the media into an absolute frenzy.
This is the hardest big wall free climb in the world and also one of the most iconic ascents in history, having been repeated only once since.
Debatably the best climbing movie ever!
1) Free Solo – Disney +
Numero uno and thankfully Amazon Prime can’t have them all!
For sure the best climbing movie ever and it’s difficult to imagine a more nail-biting film or experience.
The filming and shots are absolutely breathtaking, the mental challenges and questions enough to give you a migraine, and climbing feats completely unimaginable even for some of the other best climbers in the world.
This follows Alex Honnold’s generation-defining free solo ascent of El Cap in Yosemite. It looks at his training for the ascent, the mental and physical difficulties the team encountered plus the human impact for loved ones of undertaking such perilous ascents.
This is really a deep dive and window into Alex’s life, psyche and utter dedication to the sport.
Even if you know how the story ends, it’s completely impossible not to be on the edge of your seat during the ascent.
An unmissable experience that lead to an Oscar win for directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Vasarhelyi.
Are there any climbing movies you love?
Let us know what we missed!
