Considering the magnitude and triumph of the actual story of the first successful expedition to summit the peak of fabled Mt. Everest, it is surprising that there haven’t been a whole lot of narrative major motion pictures about it. It has all the stuff of blockbuster films based on stirring real life pursuits of glory, and on May 29, 1953 there was a doozy when British climber Edmund Hillary managed to be the first man ever to summit the peak of the infamous Himalayan mountain. There have been some lesser heralded projects like Conquest Of Everest and Beyond The Edge, plus a New Zealand miniseries called Hillary, but as far as I can tell not much else of note, until now that is.
But in the new Apple Original Films movie, Tenzing, the story of that infamous climb is not centered on Hillary or the other Brits including expedition leader John Hunt, but rather the lead Sherpa named Tenzing Norgay, who was the second man to hit the peak only seconds later. Not many filmmakers have thought ,until now at least, to focus their cameras on Tenzing but director Jennifer Peedom knows a good heartfelt tale when she sees one and has been working 20 years or so towards this moment. The filmmaker of such documentaries as Mountain, RIver, and Sherpa has clearly prepared her to take on this challenge shooting on real locations in both New Zealand and Tibet.
There had been many attempts to conquer Everest, notably George Mallory’s ill-fated climb in 1923 (Johnny Flynn briefly plays him in flashbacks), but the ultimate success in 1953 was greeted almost like the first moon landing, maybe even bigger and Peedom’s film tells it through the eyes of the Sherpa who aimed for it against all odds, to finally conquer the mountain known in Tibet as Chomolungma aka Mt. Everest.
Actually Tenzing was not just a “Sherpa”, but also an official member of the climbing team, something he insisted on in agreeing to organize and also lead the organized group of Sherpas who would participate, Even as a very young boy (Samdrum Dorje Lama plays him at that age) Tenzing was fascinated with the allure and mystery of the mountain while herding his family’s yaks in Tibet. He calls Everest “my mountain” and you believe it was. It is also a happy place for him, even against family tragedy that changed his life and home. He will always come back to it, notably later (Tenzin Dalhi plays him then), with his wife Dawa (Thinley Lhamo) who supports his dream of climbing Everest. To that end Tenzing, after awkward but amusing meetings, and fractured english attempts at saying “I am an amazing worker” , manages to charm his way onto a Sherpa team after meeting expedition secretary Jill Henderson (Caitríona Balfe) who succumbs to those charms.
Colonel John Hunt (Willem Dafoe complete with British accent) grants Tenzing the desired title of climbing team member on the British expedition, but really views him as a Sherpa, and the British team makes it clear there is a class divide Tenzing must also conquer in addition to Everest. Fortunately he was able to bond with Hillary, who was a bit of a loner within the team, not getting the opportunities some others did, and so he and Tenzing fit right in together, particularly in going off to prove they could do things no others wanted to try. Eventually together they achieved their impossible dream after Hunt and the others retreated to base camp, the imposing conditions too much for them.
The story is well known, and Peedom’s handsome film (Stefan Duscio provides the lush cinematography) doesn’t rewrite the rules of mountain climbing movies, but beware, this is no Cliffhanger in the excitement department. Peedom, and screenwriter Luke Davies take time in setting the mood with the film resembling old fashioned movie making, leisurely paced until frightening weather, illness, collapsing into a crevasse of course, and other obstacles fuel the thrill factor modern audiences expect. But where this film gets its strength is in the decision to tell Tenzing’s story, employing flashbacks throughout different parts of his life with three actors playing him at separate ages, most notably though Gendon Phuntsok in the key 1953 portions. We root for him, Hillary too, but this is Tenzing’s show, and a particularly moving one in a spiritual moment alone on the mountain where he envisions his late wife who was so integral in fulfilling his dream.
Among the other stars here, Hiddleston is the ideal choice for Hillary, and Dafoe lends fine support as the somewhat demanding expedition leader who softens up when he realizes Hillary and Tenzing are the last great hope for the crown’s hopes. Balfe has some nice, if too brief, moments as does Lhamo. The soaring score from Rebekka Karijord is the perfect complement for this inspirational story.
Apple Original Films is the studio behind the film so most people will be watching on their television sets when it beings streaming October 16, but Apple will have some theatrical engagements the week prior, and I can say it was certainly gorgeous to behold on a big screen in the Colorado mountains of Telluride.
Producers are Liz Watts, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Peedom, Luke Davies, Desray Armstrong.
Release Date: October 9, 2026 (limited theatrical); October 16 (streaming)
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Gendon Phuntsok, Thinley Khamo, Willem Dafoe, Caittriona Balfe, Johnny Flynn.
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