Everest (2015)
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Two competing expedition groups face a deadly struggle for survival during a 1996 climb of Mount Everest.
The story
In May 1996, several commercial expeditions at the base camp of Mount Everest prepare to climb to the summit. Rob Hall, who popularized commercial Everest missions, leads Adventure Consultants; Scott Fischer is the chief guide for its rival, Mountain Madness. The film follows the two groups as they navigate the treacherous terrain and the physical demands of the high-altitude climb. As the climbers push toward the peak, they must contend with extreme weather conditions and the logistical challenges of managing multiple teams in a high-stakes environment. The narrative focuses on the survival attempts of the climbers as they face the ultimate challenges of the world's highest peak.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In May 1996, two rival expedition groups, led by Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, attempt to summit Mount Everest. Rob's group includes a variety of climbers, including a journalist and a man with vision problems, while Scott's team faces its own challenges. As the climb progresses, the groups are delayed by equipment issues and the grueling nature of the ascent. Rob's group reaches the summit, but the descent becomes perilous as a blizzard strikes. Several climbers, including Doug Hansen and Andy 'Harold' Harris, perish due to exhaustion, hypoxia, and extreme cold. Amidst the chaos, some climbers become lost or stranded in the storm. In a final desperate act, Rob Hall dies while trying to reach his wife, who is pregnant. Meanwhile, Beck Weathers survives the storm but suffers severe frostbite. The film concludes with the aftermath of the disaster, showing the survivors' recovery and the tragic fate of those who remained on the mountain.
- First release year
- 2015
- Runtime (minutes)
- 121
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Baltasar Kormákur
- Writers
- William Nicholson · writer; Simon Beaufoy · writer
- Cast and characters
- Jason Clarke · Rob Hall; Jake Gyllenhaal · Scott Fischer; Josh Brolin · Beck Weathers; John Hawkes · Doug Hansen; Robin Wright · Peach Weathers; Emily Watson · Helen Wilton; Michael Kelly · Jon Krakauer; Sam Worthington · Guy Cotter; Keira Knightley · Jan Arnold; Martin Henderson · Andy "Harold" Harris
- Genres
- biographical; survival; adventure; drama
- Themes
- survival; human endurance; risk; nature's power
- Tone and mood
- tense; dramatic
- Setting
- Mount Everest, 1996
- Premise and plot tags
- based on actual events; mountaineering; disaster
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1996 Mount Everest disaster
- Content notes
- survival
- Reception
- The film was a commercial success and received positive reviews from critics.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 64 · scale: 100 · review count: 39
- Production trivia
- The production was near a real avalanche that killed 16 Sherpa guides.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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