Drama
History
Adventure
The ascent that made history.
Tenzing (2026)
Runtime
126 min
Release date
09/10/2026
Country
Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America
Production
Cross City Films
See-Saw Films
Apple Studios
Overview
A determined man embarks on a high-stakes quest—and defies seemingly impossible odds—to fulfill his dream of being the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Directors & Screenwriters
Jennifer Peedom
Director
Luke Davies
Screenwriter
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Cast
Genden Phuntsok
as
Tenzing Norgay
Tom Hiddleston
as
Ed Hillary
Willem Dafoe
as
John Hunt
Samdrup Dorje Lama
as
Boy Tenzing (9 Yrs)
Bhuchung Kata
as
Sherpa
Johnny Flynn
as
George Mallory
Lhakpa Tsamchoe
as
Kinzom
Jampa Kalsang Tamang
as
Mingma
Elizabeth Blackmore
as
Mrs Ingram
Brandon McClelland
as
Mr Ingram
Caitríona Balfe
as
Jill Henderson
Thinley Lhamo
as
Young Dawa (19–25 Yrs)
Tenzing Dalha
as
Young Tenzing (19–25 Yrs)
Tsering Choden
as
Ang Lhamu
Kyipu Bhuti
as
Pem Pem (13 Yrs)
Pasang Bhuti Lama
as
Nima (11 Yrs)
Palgen Gurung
as
Landlord
Tsering Dorjee Bawa
as
Rinpoche
Dhondup Tsering
as
Thondup
Niam Namgyal Sherpa
as
Balu
Pasang Arya Sherpa
as
Ang Nyima
Tenzin Jigmey
as
Pasang
Basu Dev Khanal
as
Badan
Thomas M. Wright
as
Tom Bourdillon
Harry Greenwood
as
Charles Evans
Tom Dawson
as
Michael Ward
Byron Coll
as
Alfred Gregory
Benjamin Hoetjes
as
George Lowe
Benjamin Rigby
as
Tom Stobart
Christopher Stollery
as
Ambassador Summerhayes
Dawa Sonam
as
Dhondup
Choeden Sherpa
as
Girl Dawa (9 Yrs)
Lobsang Tenzin Meindrukbhuk
as
Sepa (40 Yrs)
Umesh Tamang
as
Indian Official
Michael Sheasby
as
Eric Shipton
Phurba Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Da Namgyal
Fura Tshering Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Da Namgyal
Lhakpa Tenji Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Pemba
Lhakpa Tenzing Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Pemba
Sonam Tsering
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Annullu
Ang Dorje Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Da Tenzing
Nima Gyalzen Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Gyalzen
Phurba Tashi Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Dawa Thondup
Ang Pemba Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Dawa Thondup
Phurba Tsering Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Gombu
Rajesh Lama
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Gombu
Pemba Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Ang Norbu
Ngawang Tenjing Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Ang Namgal
Sanjay Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Ang Tempa
Phurenje Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Ang Tempa
Finjo Zangbu Sherpa
as
Sherpa Climbing Team - Topkie
David Potter
as
Expedition Member - Mike Westmacott
Ash Walton
as
Expedition Member - Mike Westmacott
Alexander Fenn
as
Expedition Member - Griffith Pugh
Ronan Thompson
as
Expedition Member - Griffith Pugh
Danny Duffy
as
Expedition Member - George Band
Liam Morrish
as
Expedition Member - George Band
Andrew Alcock
as
Expedition Member - Wilfred Noyce
William Jones
as
Expedition Member - Wilfred Noyce
Hagen Christopher Rainbow
as
Additional Expedition Member
Jack Turner
as
Additional Expedition Member
Sam Handy
as
Additional Expedition Member
Andrew MacFarlane
as
Additional Expedition Member
William Naughton
as
Additional Expedition Member
Hisee Lhamo Gurung
as
Pem Pem (2 Yrs)
Tsering Palmo
as
Pem Pem (6 Yrs)
Mingmar Lhamo
as
Nima (4 Yrs)
Topchen Gurung
as
Tenzing's Brother (15 Yrs)
Kunga Tsering Gurung
as
Tenzing's Brother (14 Yrs)
Smita Thakali
as
Tenzing's Sister (13 Yrs)
Tenzing Thakuri
as
Sepa's Friend
Sangtok Thakuri
as
Sepa's Friend
Namdu Gurung
as
Sepa's Friend
Tenzing Norgay
as
Self (archive footage)
Edmund Hillary
as
Self (archive footage)
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All trailers
Drama
History
Adventure
Tenzing
Official Trailer
Video: YouTube
Duration: 02:19
Duration: 02:19
Did You Know?
Tom Hiddleston’s Everest epic tops Apple TV charts and rewrites history
Apple TV’s new biographical drama Tenzing has become a streaming sensation, claiming the No. 1 spot worldwide on FlixPatrol and dominating the U.S. and dozens of other markets. The film debuted on the platform on October 16 after a limited theatrical run, and its star‑studded lineup—Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary, and Willem Dafoe as expedition leader John Hunt—has helped it capture audiences hungry for high‑stakes adventure.
Tenzing chronicles the 1953 ascent of Mount Everest, focusing on the often‑overlooked Sherpa who helped secure the summit alongside Hillary. Director Jennifer Peedom, known for her mountaineering documentaries, and screenwriter Luke Davies weave a personal narrative that delves into Norgay’s relationship with his wife Dawa, his struggle to join the British expedition, and the teamwork that made history possible.
Critics have lauded the film’s empathetic storytelling, giving it a near‑perfect 98% Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 96% audience score. Reviewers from the New York Times and the San Jose Mercury News praise Tenzing for finally giving its titular hero the headline treatment he deserves, turning a classic mountaineering tale into a character‑driven drama that resonates far beyond the summit.
Tom Hiddleston and Genden Phuntsok bring a fresh, side‑by‑side take on the Everest triumph in Apple TV’s new biopic Tenzing.
Apple TV’s latest biopic, Tenzing, has already become a streaming hit after a brief theatrical run, and it does so by shifting the spotlight onto the often‑overlooked Sherpa who helped plant the first human flag on Everest. Genden Phuntsok leads the film as Tenzing Norgay, while Tom Hiddleston steps into Sir Edmund Hillary’s boots, delivering a story that leans heavily on first‑hand accounts to stay true to the historic climb.
One of the film’s most striking choices is the decision to show Hillary and Tenzing reaching the summit together, walking side‑by‑side rather than debating who stepped onto the peak first. The visual reinforces the movie’s core theme: the ascent was a joint achievement, a partnership that transcended the race for glory.
The filmmakers also trim some of the darker introspection that Hillary expressed in his own writings. In the real account, he paused to wonder whether the lost climbers Mallory and Irvine had ever stood on the summit. Tenzing replaces that moment with a more celebratory exchange between the two men, aligning with the film’s optimistic tone and its focus on Tenzing’s perspective.
Even with its dedication to accuracy, the movie takes liberties with certain characters. Colonel John Hunt, portrayed by Willem Dafoe, is shown at times dismissing Tenzing’s climbing expertise, relegating him to load‑carrying duties—a portrayal that diverges from historical records of Hunt’s respect for the Sherpa’s skill. These nuanced adjustments keep the narrative tight while still honoring the spirit of the 1953 expedition.
Tom Hiddleston’s Everest biopic shatters records and puts Sherpa stories front‑and‑center
Apple TV+’s Tenzing has vaulted to the top of the platform’s global movie charts within a day of its debut, buoyed by a near‑perfect 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. The biopic, which dramatizes the historic 1953 summit, stars Tom Hiddleston as Sir Edmund Hillary, Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, and Willem Dafoe in a supporting role, and marks director Jennifer Peedom’s first foray into narrative filmmaking after acclaimed mountain documentaries like Sherpa and Mountain.
The film’s reception isn’t just critical—it’s breaking personal milestones. Hiddleston’s 98% rating eclipses his previous best, surpassing even Avengers: Infinity War’s 92% audience score, while Dafoe’s performance lands the movie as his fifth‑highest‑rated project. Audiences are echoing the critics, giving Tenzing a 95% audience rating, positioning it among Apple TV’s most beloved feature‑length releases of the year.
What sets Tenzing apart is its focus on the Sherpa perspective, highlighting the socio‑political hurdles and spiritual bond Tenzing Norgay had with Everest. Phuntsok’s emotionally charged portrayal, paired with Hiddleston’s restrained turn, brings a fresh, humanizing lens to a story often told from the climbers’ side. The film’s stunning visuals and visceral mountain sequences, praised by reviewers, further immerse viewers in the perilous beauty of the world’s highest peak.
Following a strong premiere at Telluride and word‑of‑mouth buzz, Tenzing surged to No. 4 in the U.S. and claimed the No. 1 spot worldwide on Apple TV+. With executive production by Norgay’s son Norbu Tenzing and a screenplay by Luke Davies, the biopic not only celebrates a historic ascent but also cements its place as a streaming sensation poised to attract even more viewers ahead of Hiddleston’s return as Loki.
A Sherpa’s Dream Climbs to the Summit—and the Screen—like Never Before
Jennifer Peedom’s new adventure documentary Tenzing, now streaming on Apple TV, transforms the legendary 1953 Everest ascent into a deeply personal saga. By tracing Tenzing Norgay’s life from a curious boy in the shadow of Chomolungma to the historic moment he stood atop the world with Sir Edmund Hillary, the film blends breathtaking mountaineering footage with a heartfelt portrait of perseverance.
The narrative does more than celebrate a first‑ever summit; it spotlights the decades‑long fight for Sherpa recognition. While foreign expeditions relied on Sherpas for supplies and routes, Tenzing insists on being seen as an equal climber, not just a porter. This clash of cultural perspectives fuels the film’s emotional core, underscoring how his achievement reshaped the mountain’s legacy.
Genden Phuntsok delivers a quietly powerful performance as Tenzing, conveying the climber’s resolve through subtle looks and weary smiles. Tom Hiddleston matches that sincerity as Edmund Hillary, forging a friendship that feels both authentic and essential to the climb’s success. Willem Dafoe commands the screen as Colonel John Hunt, while Caitríona Balfe appears as expedition secretary Jill Henderson, though her role could have been expanded.
Visually, Stefan Duscio’s cinematography captures the Himalayas’ awe‑inspiring beauty and lethal danger, filmed on location in New Zealand’s rugged terrain. The sound design immerses viewers in the thin, freezing air, and Rebekka Karijord’s score adds an emotional thread that ties Tenzing’s personal journey to the grandeur of the mountain.
Inside the breathtaking making of ‘Tenzing’—the true Everest saga that leapt from real peaks to the screen.
Apple TV has dropped a ten‑minute behind‑the‑scenes featurette that pulls back the curtain on Jennifer Peedom’s new mountain epic, Tenzing. The filmmaker and crew braved the actual elements, shooting almost every scene on location in Nepal’s Himalayas and on New Zealand’s rugged peaks, a commitment to realism that the featurette showcases in vivid detail.
The film shines a light on the little‑known story of Tibetan Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, portrayed by Genden Phuntsok, and his partnership with New Zealand climber Edmund Hillary, played by Tom Hiddleston. Alongside Willem Dafoe as expedition leader John Hunt, Caitríona Balfe as secretary Jill Henderson, and Thinley Lhamo as Dawa Norgay, the cast navigates a narrative where Western ambition clashes with the sacred reverence of “Chomolungma,” the mother‑goddess of the mountain. Their journey is framed as much by cultural and class tensions as by the sheer peril of the ascent.
Tenzing marks Peedom’s first narrative feature after a string of acclaimed documentaries such as Solo and Sherpa, with a screenplay by Luke Davies and production by a team that includes Iain Canning and Emile Sherman. After premiering at the 2026 Telluride and Toronto Film Festivals, the film opened in select theaters on October 9, 2026, and began streaming on Apple TV a week later. Fans can now revisit the official trailer and five final promo spots on Apple TV’s YouTube channel, immersing themselves in a story of greatness, love, and spiritual calling.