With Mount Everest trending on social media, many people are captivated by its somewhat dark history and lore. The lore of a mountain, you ask? Well, besides Mount Everest being the Earth’s highest mountain above sea level, sitting at approximately 29,030 ft (around 8,800 m), it’s a mountain that people have attempted to conquer thousands of times over the years. Some have failed, while others have succeeded more than once.

The story of Mount Everest and its allure has always been recounted. The first documented person to climb this mountain was the renowned mountaineer George Mallory and his team. Mallory’s story is also one of the most well-known and mysterious aspects of Mount Everest lore. If you follow trends and feel like you need more information on this mountain, here are the eight best Mount Everest documentaries.

8

‘Everest’ (1998)

Everest from 1998 is one of the most famous documentaries about this mountain, filmed specifically for IMAX theaters. This means that its visual appeal and stunning shots depict Everest for what it truly is—a force of nature. It’s narrated by Liam Neeson, but it runs for around 45 minutes, which doesn’t make it a long movie, yet it is still essential for anyone curious about the world. Greg MacGillivray and David Breashears are noted as directors, while Breashears himself was at the mountain during the filming of the expedition.

Everest follows a group of climbers composed of director David Breashears, team lead Ed Viesturs, the Spanish mountaineer Araceli Segarra, and the son of the first Sherpa mountaineer on Everest, Tenzing Norgay, Jamling Tenzing Norgay. Neeson’s narration follows the events from preparation and training to ascent, complete with footage from the 1996 Mount Everest disaster. The production team was present when the disaster occurred and has footage of it all, including their own team helping out survivors. Everest encompasses the full experience of being there during the disaster, and it’s a visually incredible feat that you should absolutely see in IMAX if you get the chance.

7

‘Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest’ (2022)

Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest is one of the highest-rated documentaries about Everest, focusing on Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Everest. She achieved this feat in April 1993 and became an influential figure among Nepalese women and aspiring climbers, despite losing her life in the process. The film utilizes archival footage, interviews with those who knew her, and motion graphic segments depicting her preparation, ascent, and struggles.

The story of Pasang Lhamu Sherpa also highlights gender inequality and her fight within society and the Sherpa community; she overcame significant odds to inspire many. Pasang’s journey to navigate a male-dominated mountaineering field is not just a story for women and girls. Her motivation serves as a universal message for anyone striving to achieve their dreams. Set against stunning visuals of Mount Everest, Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest is an inspiring film that emphasizes her journey rather than just focusing on the mountain itself, but it revolves around reaching that summit in a life-changing manner. This movie serves as a wonderful tribute to Pasang and her legacy.

6

‘Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa’ (2024)

Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa is another documentary about a female climber, but Lhakpa Sherpa is notable as she is the only woman in the world who has climbed and descended Everest an impressive ten times. The nature-focused Netflix documentary chronicles her tenth summit achieved in 2022 while also reflecting on her life over time. She first summited Mount Everest in 2000 and was notably the first woman to reach that summit and survive—considering Pasang died during her descent—and managed to replicate this success another nine times.

The Netflix documentary received acclaim for its beautiful portrayal of Everest alongside Lhakpa’s personal story and life experiences; it offers viewers insight into a climber’s mindset—the way they confront life challenges and revisit trauma during particularly tough climbs—and how their experiences shape them over time. Mount Everest serves as both a metaphorical and literal challenge in Lhakpa Sherpa’s life, with director Lucy Walker succeeding in capturing her mentality and spirit while ensuring that Everest’s story is told from an intimate perspective.

5

‘Dying for Everest’ (2007)