Climbing documentaries are a great way to experience the thrill of climbing without leaving your living room.
They offer a unique perspective into the world of climbing and mountaineering, showcasing some of the most breathtaking climbs and climbers in history.
From solo ascents to epic expeditions, there is something for everyone in the world of climbing documentaries.
In this blog post, we will take a look at the top 20 climbing documentaries that you need to watch with links so that you can stream them today.
Free Solo
Free Solo is one of the most talked-about climbing documentaries of all time.
It follows Alex Honnold, one of the world’s greatest free solo climbers, as he attempts to climb El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite wall in Yosemite National Park, without ropes or safety equipment.
This documentary is a must-watch for anyone interested in the world of free solo climbing.
👉 Watch Free Solo on Disney+ (Subscription Required)
The Dawn Wall
The Dawn Wall is another great climbing documentary that follows Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson as they attempt to free climb the Dawn Wall of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
The Dawn Wall is known as one of the hardest climbs in the world, and this documentary showcases the incredible skill and determination of these two climbers.
👉 Watch The Dawn Wall on YouTube (Purchase Required)
Meru
Meru is a documentary that follows three climbers as they attempt to climb Mount Meru in the Himalayas.
Mount Meru is known as one of the most challenging climbs in the world, and this documentary showcases the incredible determination and perseverance of these climbers as they attempt to reach the summit.
👉 Watch Meru on Amazon Prime (Purchase Required).
Valley Uprising
Valley Uprising is a climbing documentary that explores the history of rock climbing in Yosemite National Park.
Valley Uprising is the revered feature documentary from Sender Films about the epic history of climbing in Yosemite National Park and the counterculture roots of outdoor sports.
Narrated by Peter Sarsgaard, the film features digitally-animated archival photography, spectacular climbing footage and interviews with Yosemite greats — from pioneers like Yvon Chouinard, Royal Robbins, Lynn Hill and John Long to cutting edge modern athletes like Dean Potter and Alex Honnold.
Valley Uprising tells the story of the bold men and women who broke with convention and redefined the limits of human possibility in America’s legendary national park.
The Wildest Dream
The Wildest Dream is a documentary that tells the story of George Mallory, who attempted to climb Mount Everest in 1924, and his partner Andrew Irvine.
In 1999, renowned American mountaineer Conrad Anker made a discovery that reverberated around the globe.
High in Mount Everests death zone, he found the body of George Mallory 75 years after the British explorer mysteriously vanished during his attempt to become the first man to summit the worlds tallest peak.
Mallory had risked everything as he set out, dressed in gabardine and hobnailed boots, in pursuit of his dream of reaching the top of Everest, which in 1924 was the last great adventure left to man.
He was last spotted alive just 800 feet below the summit. Then the clouds rolled in and Mallory vanished into legend.
👉 Watch The Wildest Dream here (Free).
Sherpa
Sherpa is a climbing documentary that explores the role of the Sherpa people in the world of mountaineering.
In 2013, the world’s media reported on a shocking mountain-high brawl as European climbers fled a mob of angry Sherpas.
Director Jennifer Peedom and her team set out to uncover the cause of this altercation, intending to film the 2014 climbing season from the Sherpas’ point of view.
Instead, they captured Everest’s greatest tragedy, when a huge block of ice crashed down onto the climbing route, killing 16 Sherpas.
For the Himalayan workers repeatedly traversing the mountain carrying supplies, the risk of this hazardous endeavor is multiplied.
This stunning documentary, shot by high-altitude cinematographer Renan Ozturk, explores the unequal relationship between cashed-up foreign expeditions and their guides.
It is also a story of family and tradition, as exemplified by Phurba Tashi Sherpa, an experienced climber at the heart of this commanding film.
👉 Watch Sherpa on Netflix (Subscription Required)
The Summit
In August of 2008, 22 climbers from several international expeditions converged on High Camp of K2, the last stop before the summit of the most dangerous mountain on Earth. 48 hours later, eleven had been killed or simply vanished into thin air.
Like a horror movie come-to-life, it was as if the mountain began stealing lives, one climber at a time.
One such climber was the fun-loving, friendly Ger McDonnell, the first Irishman to summit K2. Faced with a moral dilemma after finding three climbers tangled and struggling in K2’s perilous “death zone”, Ger defied the climber’s code and attempted to help his fellow climbers descend.
This is as much Ger’s story as it is an homage to the fearsome power of nature.
👉 Watch The Summit on Amazon Prime (Purchase Required).
Touching the Void
Touching the Void is a documentary that tells the story of Joe Simpson and Simon Yates, who attempted to climb Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985.
The climb ended in disaster when Simpson fell and broke his leg, leaving Yates to make the difficult decision to cut the rope and save his own life.
The documentary follows Simpson’s incredible journey to survive and make it back to base camp.
👉 Watch Touching the Void on Amazon Prime (Purchase Required).
The Alpinist
The Alpinist is a documentary that tells the story of Marc-André Leclerc, a young Canadian alpinist who pushed the boundaries of climbing to new heights.
Marc-André Leclerc climbs alone, far from the limelight. On remote alpine faces, the free-spirited 23-year-old Canadian makes some of the boldest solo ascents in history. Yet, he draws scant attention.
With no cameras, no rope, and no margin for error, Leclerc’s approach is the essence of solo adventure.
Nomadic and publicity shy, he doesn’t own a phone or car, and is reluctant to let a film crew in on his pure vision of climbing.
Veteran filmmaker Peter Mortimer (THE DAWN WALL) sets out to make a film about Leclerc but struggles to keep up with his elusive subject.
Then, Leclerc embarks on a historic adventure in Patagonia that will redefine what is possible in solo climbing.
👉 Watch The Alpinist on Amazon Prime (Purchase Required).
High and Hallowed: Everest 1963
High and Hallowed: Everest 1963 is a documentary that tells the story of the first American expedition to Mount Everest in 1963.
The documentary showcases the incredible bravery and determination of the climbers who risked their lives to make history.
👉 Watch High and Hallowed:Everest 1963 on Amazon Prime (Purchase Required).
K2: Siren of the Himalayas
K2: Siren of the Himalayas is a documentary that follows a team of climbers as they attempt to climb K2, the second-highest mountain in the world.
The documentary explores the challenges and dangers of climbing this peak, as well as the incredible beauty of the Himalayas.
👉 Watch K2: Siren of the Himalayas on Amazon Prime (Purchase Required).
The Sharp End
The Sharp End is a documentary that explores the world of extreme climbing, from big-wall free climbing to ice climbing to speed climbing.
The documentary showcases some of the most skilled and daring climbers in the world as they push the limits of what is possible.
👉 Watch The Sharpe End on YouTube (Free).
Climbing Blind
Climbing Blind is a documentary that follows blind climber Jesse Dufton as he attempts to climb the Old Man of Hoy, a 449-foot sea stack in Scotland.
The documentary showcases Dufton’s incredible skill and determination, as well as the challenges he faces as a blind climber.
👉 Watch Climbing Blind on BBC iPlayer (Free)
Honnold 3.0
Honnold 3.0 is a documentary that follows Alex Honnold as he attempts to climb three of the hardest big walls in Yosemite National Park in a single day.
The documentary showcases Honnold’s incredible skill and endurance, as well as the risks he takes in pursuit of his passion.
👉 Watch Honnold 3.0 on Amazon Prime here (Purchase Required).
The Swiss Machine
The Swiss Machine is a documentary that follows Swiss climber Ueli Steck as he attempts to climb some of the most challenging peaks in the world, including the Eiger and the Matterhorn.
The documentary showcases Steck’s incredible speed and skill, as well as the risks he takes to achieve his goals.
👉 Watch The Swiss Machine here (Free).
The Great Alone
The Great Alone is a documentary that tells the story of Iditarod champion Lance Mackey and his family, who are also a family of champion dog mushers.
The documentary explores Mackey’s struggle with addiction and his determination to overcome it, as well as the incredible bond between man and dog in the world of dog mushing.
👉 Watch The Great Alone on Amazon Prime (Payment Required)
180 Degrees South
180 Degrees South is a documentary that follows surfer and climber Jeff Johnson as he travels from California to Patagonia in search of adventure.
Along the way, he meets some of the most iconic adventurers of our time, including Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins.
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