List of the Best Climbing Movies: From Documentaries to Horrors with Trailers

It’s probably hard to find an area of life that cinema hasn’t touched. To our great delight, climbing has not gone unnoticed by filmmakers. It’s encouraging that the number of such films is steadily growing, although at times we wish for higher quality.

We hope that these films about climbers inspire new adventurers to take up climbing. They also offer a great selection for a Sunday movie night, spotlighting human endurance in extreme (usually!) situations and the majestic beauty of mountains.

Let’s start with the most famous film on the subject.

“Cliffhanger”

Cliffhanger Movie 1993 Country: USA.

Release Year: 1993.

Genre: Action.

Duration: 113 minutes.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone.

He plays a mountain rescue climber burdened with guilt over a friend’s girlfriend’s death.

Trickery leads both him and his friend into the mountains, supposedly to rescue stranded climbers, but they soon face a group of thieves.

Numerous stunts make this movie truly gripping. Professional climbers may notice many staged scenes, but the plot keeps the audience on edge until the end.

Watch the trailer for the action movie “Cliffhanger”:

What’s included in a climber’s gear set? ->

Next comes a lesser-known film that even many climbers might not have heard of.

It has fewer stunts, but it’s worth watching, especially for those who are overly confident or careless. You could say it’s a lesson in what not to do in extreme sports.

“127 Hours”

Movie about a trapped climber Country: USA, UK.

Release Year: 2010.

Genre: Drama/Adventure Mix.

Duration: 93 minutes.

The film is based on true events.

The story is taken from the autobiography of young climber Aron Ralston.

Having found himself trapped in a canyon, Aron kept a video diary. Actor James Franco, who played the leading role, listened to this diary in preparation.

Interestingly, filming took place not only in studios but also at the actual location of the events – Blue John Canyon. The trapped climber spent 127 hours in a rocky trap, hence the movie’s title.

Here’s the trailer for this film about a climber:

Perhaps he didn’t know how to build his home rock climbing wall ->

Another film about young climbers serves as a cautionary tale with some horror elements.

“High Lane” (Vertige)

Horror movie about climbers Country: France.

Release Year: 2009.

Genre: Adventure/Horror Mix.

Duration: 84 minutes.

A somewhat atypical film for France.

Young people go into the mountains without proper gear or preparation. There’s a series of adventures, foolish decisions, screaming, and irrational behavior.

On top of that, there’s also a maniac out to get them.

Amidst all the chaos, the mountain landscapes stand out, captured with stunning professional cinematography. One viewing should suffice.

You won’t need to know the language to appreciate this horror movie trailer:

What is the name of the rope used in climbing? ->

“Scream of Stone” (Cerro Torre: Schrei aus Stein)

Movie about climbing Country: Germany, France, Canada, Italy, Argentina.

Release Year: 1991.

Genre: Drama.

Duration: 102 minutes.

This film is worth watching for its extraordinary high-altitude scenery. The breathtaking views are unforgettable.

The plot is simple: two men challenge each other.

Youth clashes with experience, and the towering peak of Cerro Torre in Patagonia (Argentina) serves as the judge. Of course, there’s also a woman involved…

It’s worth noting that the screenplay was written by the legendary climber Reinhold Messner, the first man to conquer all fourteen eight-thousanders in the world.

Surely, he had mastered climbing techniques on a climbing wall ->

“The Ascent” (The Ascent)

Scene from The Ascent Country: USA.

Release Year: 2009.

Genre: Thriller.

Duration: 85 minutes.

A tale of female revenge, set in the mountains, with a climbing instructor at the center – a volatile mix!

Even when there are many men and you stand alone.

The story is fairly straightforward: climber Emily Wilks fights for her life while seeking revenge for her deceased fiancé.

She found herself in the mountains, one-on-one with villains searching for a chest of gold, the very treasure that cost her fiancé his life.

Trailer for the climbing action movie:

Watch the video rock climbing exercises ->

This was, so to speak, just the prelude. There are also documentary films about climbers. These are truly breathtaking, not because of a director’s special effects but because of the athletes’ incredible skill.