Everestis one of the most intense and atmospheric survival movies of the past few decades, following a group of expeditioners on their journey to reach the summit of the tallest mountain on planet Earth. It’s an extremely high-octane movie with plenty of powerful set pieces, but it’s also rooted in human drama that allows the audience to really connect deeply with these characters. There have been severalmovies about climbing Everest, but this certainly feels like one of the most authentic and impactful.
The discovery and subsequent summits of Mount Everest are some of the greatest physical accomplishments of all time, andEverestdoes a great job of spotlighting those brave explorers who managed to reach the top. The movie includes severalreal-life figures who climbed Everest, brought to life by an excellent ensemble cast featuring Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, and Jason Clarke. The movie asks several important questions about what drives humanity to conquer nature’s greatest challenges, ultimately leaving it up to the audience to decide for themselves. Thankfully, those who enjoyedEverestwon’t have to look far for more gripping survival thrillers.
Against the Ice
Cast
Against the Ice is a historical drama directed by Peter Flinth. Set in 1909, the film follows the harrowing expedition of Denmark’s Alabama Expedition led by Captain Ejnar Mikkelsen, portrayed by Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. The mission aims to disprove the United States' claim to Northeast Greenland, requiring the team to endure extreme Arctic conditions. Based on true events, the story highlights themes of survival, camaraderie, and determination.
Peter Flinth’sAgainst The Iceis another hugely powerful movie that brings to life the true story of two explorers who journeyed through Greenland in the early 20th Century in search of a lost map. WhileEverestexplores the dangers that await us thousands of meters in the sky,Against The Iceis a more grounded thrillerabout those lurking just around the corner of the Arctic Ocean.
The Sad Truth Of What Happened To Anatoli After The Events Of Everest
A group brave a harsh storm while making their way to Mount Everest’s summit. However, one character’s real-life fate is much worse than the movie’s.
Fueled by fierce lead performances fromGame of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau andPeaky Blinders’ Joe Cole, the film does an excellent job of portraying just how far humanity can be pushed.
Directed By Ludovic Bernard
The Climb
The Climb, released in 2017, chronicles the daring, unauthorized ascent of Europe’s tallest building by six women. Set against the backdrop of a meticulously planned climb in the early hours of July 09, 2025, this film explores themes of determination and adventure amid a backdrop of urban architecture and personal ambition.
WhileThe Climbadopts a much more lighthearted and comedic approach to storytelling thanEverest, the two films have a surprising amount in common. The former chroniclesone man’s journey to conquer Mount Everest in order to impress the woman he loves, documenting the whole thing on video and amassing a huge internet following in the process. It’s a very different kind of story fromEverest’s real-life disaster, but it’s endlessly watchable thanks to the charming performance from Ahmed Sylla and Bernard’s quirky, snappy directorial choices.
True Spirit
True Spirit is a 2023 film directed by Sarah Spillane, chronicling the journey of Jessica Watson, a determined young sailor aiming to become the youngest person to sail solo, nonstop, and unassisted around the world. With support from her mentor and parents, she navigates challenging oceans in a 210-day voyage.
True Spiritmay not take place in the same location asEverest, but its commentary on the indomitable human spirit is very similar. This powerful sports movie follows a young girl who sets out on a record-breaking adventure to become the youngest person ever to sail the entire globe by herself. It’s a story about facing your fears and not being intimidated by the world around you, but ratherembracing the beauty of nature and everything it brings. It replaces the dark, ominous spirit ofEverestwith a more uplifting, optimistic outlook on exploration.
4Race To The Summit (2023)
Directed By Kibaoh Klashers
Race To The Summitis one of several great documentaries that highlight the true conditions of climbing Mount Everest, which is much less glamorous than most films like to depict.Everestdisplays the true horror of the mountaineffectively, but that’s exactly what makes it stand out from the others in the subgenre.Race to the Summitalso does this, highlighting how much of a physical toll such an intense journey can take on the human body. The film detailstwo skilled climbers who race across the Swiss Alpsin a strenuous competition to prove themselves.
314 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021)
Directed By Torquil Jones
Another powerful documentary about pushing our bodies to their maximum limit,14 Peakstells the story of a fearless Nepalese mountaineer who undertakes the seemingly impossible task of summiting all fourteen of Earth’s mountains above 8,000 meters in just seven months.It’s one of the hardest and most intense challengesthat’s ever been set in the world of mountaineering, and14 Peaksdoes a brilliant job of showing audiences why it’s so difficult while immediately investing them in the journey. It’s the kind of electric documentary whose tangible spirit will have audiences feeling like they’ve just climbed a mountain themselves.
Society of the Snow
2023 survival movie Society of the Snow tells a stunning story of adversity and human endurance. Directed by J. A. Bayona and based on Pablo Vierci’s 2009 book of the same name, it tells the true story of a plane crash in 1972, which stranded a Uruguayan rugby team high in the Andes mountains. Faced with the grave reality of their situation and on the verge of death, the youngsters turn to cannibalism to survive.
WhileSociety of the Snowisn’t strictly a movie about mountaineering or journeying through the world’s tallest peaks, it’s a gripping thriller that shares many storytelling traits with films likeEverest.The movie follows a group of plane crash survivorswho attempt to stay alive while stranded in the Andes with no way of communicating with the rest of the world. It’s a very distressing film that immediately gets audiences questioning what they would do in this scenario, and the fact that it’s based on a true story is even more shocking.
Sixteen of these men survived, dealing with extreme weather and crippling dehydration for over two months.
Thetrue events ofSociety of the Snowhappened in 1972, when a commercial Uruguayan flight crash-landed in the Andes mountain range and killed the majority of the passengers. Sixteen of these men survived, dealing with extreme weather and crippling dehydration for over two months.
The Summit of the Gods
The Summit of the Gods follows a photojournalist’s relentless pursuit of the truth surrounding the first expedition to Mount Everest. His investigation leads him to seek out a revered climber who vanished during the journey, uncovering mysteries within the perilous world of high-altitude mountaineering.
When it comes to movies about mountaineering,The Summit of the Godsis the gold standard. The film tells the immensely powerful story of a Japanese photo reporter named Fukamachi who stumbles across an old camera that he believes once belonged to the famous explorer George Mallory, who disappeared several decades prior. When the camera is stolen, Fukamachi undertakes a dangerous journey to retrieve the item and figure out what really happened to such an enigmatic figure.
What Happened To Beck Weathers After The Everest Disaster
Everest features those involved in the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, including Beck Weathers – what happened to him after the film’s events?
What’s so impressive aboutThe Summit of the Godsis how effortlessly it blends fact with fiction, using this real-life story of George Mallory’s disappearance to forge another narrative about ambition, legacy, and uncovering hidden truths. The film also employs a beautiful animation style that really helps bring these landscapes to life, capturing the rawness of the mountains in a way that’s not always possible without being physically there.The Summit of the Godscurrently has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, rightfully establishing it as one of the most critically acclaimed entries in this specific subgenre.
Everest
Released in 2015, Everest is a biographical survival movie boasting a star-studded ensemble cast. It tells the story of two expedition groups who find themselves in the midst of a violent storm while attempting to reach the peak of the titular mountain. Though they’re able to endure the initial onslaught, the harsh weather conditions force the climbers to dig deep in order to survive the descent.
