Apple TV’s Everest Drama ‘Tenzing’ Hits Certified Fresh, and Critics Are Cheering Genden Phuntsok
Mountaineering movies usually put the spotlight on the famous faces at the top of the mountain. Apple TV’s new Everest drama flips that script, and critics have noticed.
The film is built around the 1953 British expedition that made history when Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary reached the summit on May 29. Its twist is that the story is told through Tenzing’s eyes rather than the more familiar Hillary-centered version.
Now the early reviews are in, and they’re remarkable. ‘Tenzing’ is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes at 98% from critics, based on 61 reviews, with a 92% score from audiences across more than 250 ratings.
The numbers carry extra weight for the cast. The 98% score makes the film Tom Hiddleston’s highest-rated project on Rotten Tomatoes, topping ‘Archipelago’ at 96%, ‘Midnight in Paris’ and ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ at 93%.
The audience score has also set records. One report noted it as the highest-rated Hiddleston movie with viewers, a milestone previously held by ‘Avengers: Infinity War’.
Genden Phuntsok, a newcomer, plays Tenzing Norgay, with Hiddleston as Hillary and Willem Dafoe as expedition leader Colonel John Hunt. Caitríona Balfe plays Jill Henderson and Thinley Lhamo plays Dawa, Tenzing’s wife.
Much of the praise is aimed at Phuntsok. Reviewers have called out his quiet, expressive work, and Roger Ebert’s site singled out how his eyes convey contentment alongside the sadness that comes after finally reaching a long-held goal.
The film doesn’t set out to diminish Hillary, either. Screen Daily noted that it deliberately makes him a supporting character with about as much screen time as Hunt, so Tenzing’s personal odyssey becomes the central focus, and other reviews describe the two men as equals.
A reviewer for The New York Times praised the movie for quietly making sure audiences know who the real heroes were. She also noted that Phuntsok’s modest, joyful performance makes it hard to mind any touch of sentimentality.
The response isn’t uniformly rapturous. Screen Daily called the film too restrained to be truly stirring after it opened the Zurich festival, and other write-ups described the reviews as positive but measured, praising the visuals and lead performance while finding the tone cautious.
Even so, the consensus is warm. The film’s slow backstory and gentle approach are the most common complaints, while the final climb is frequently cited as thrilling.
Jennifer Peedom, the Australian filmmaker behind the documentary ‘Sherpa’, directed from a script by Luke Davies. The film is produced by See-Saw Films and was shot in Nepal and New Zealand, with cinematography by Stefan Duscio and a score by Rebekka Karijord.
Executive producers include Norbu Tenzing, Tenzing Norgay’s eldest son. The Everest backdrop is a major selling point, with several reviewers saying the film would look great on the biggest screens.
The new trailer for ‘TENZING’ has arrived. ⛰️ In select theaters October 9 📺 On Apple TV October 16 #Tenzing #TomHiddleston #WillemDafoe #CaitrionaBalfe #AppleTV #MountEverest #MovieNews #FilmNews https://t.co/DXtVrcjaQE
— FilmFrontline (@FilmFrontline) September 16, 2026
‘Tenzing’ had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 4, then opened the Zurich Film Festival. It won the overall audience award at the Mill Valley Film Festival on October 12.
A limited theatrical release in the United States and Australia followed on October 9, and the film reached Apple TV worldwide on October 16. Its theatrical run was brief, which several outlets described as a shame given its epic sweep.
On streaming, it quickly became one of the platform’s biggest hits, topping the chart on Apple TV according to FlixPatrol. Today it slipped to the No. 2 spot behind the Halloween special ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’.
Some commentators have floated an awards push. SlashFilm called Phuntsok and Hiddleston massive long-shots for Oscar nominations but suggested the film’s popularity and acclaim could give Apple TV a case to make.
Does Tenzing Deserve All the Praise It's Getting?
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