Tenzing Review: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Tenzing is a respectful biopic that comes alive when the climbers hit the snow. The Everest scenes are thrilling and beautifully shot, but the early life flashbacks feel slow and hold the film back from greatness.
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Platform: Apple TV
Genre: Biographical Adventure
Director: Jennifer Peedom
Cast: Genden Phuntsok, Tom Hiddleston, Willem Dafoe
Everyone knows the name Edmund Hillary. Far fewer people can tell you much about Tenzing Norgay, even though he was one of the first two people to reach the top of Mount Everest in 1953. It’s a little strange that it took this long for him to get a proper film, but now Tenzing arrives on Apple TV, and it does his story a good deal of justice.
The film moves between two timelines. In one, we see a young Tenzing growing up in the shadow of the mountain he calls Chomolungma, dreaming of becoming a climber while his family struggles. He later builds a life in Darjeeling and works his way into the world of Sherpa guides. Three actors play him at different ages, and Genden Phuntsok takes on the older Tenzing, who joins the British expedition.
In the other timeline, we follow that 1953 expedition itself. Willem Dafoe plays John Hunt, the gruff but kind leader. Tenzing refuses to be treated as just another porter and insists on a place in the official climbing team, which was almost unheard of back then. During the climb, he forms a close bond with Hillary, played by Tom Hiddleston, and the two end up racing toward the summit.
The mountain scenes are the real treat. Director Jennifer Peedom, who has made climbing documentaries before, knows how to show both the beauty and the danger of the Himalayas.
One moment you are taking in huge, glowing peaks, and the next you are watching climbers drop flat as snow swirls around them, wondering if this is where it ends. The oxygen tanks, the gasping breaths, and the whiteouts make every step feel risky.
Cinematographer Stefan Duscio uses New Zealand locations to stand in for Nepal, and it looks stunning. Rebekka Karijord’s score adds to the sense of wonder without feeling over the top.
Genden Phuntsok plays Tenzing with a calm, determined spirit. He wants to conquer Everest, but he also worries about his children and what could happen if he doesn’t return. Even with a mostly quiet performance, you can feel the fear and hope behind his eyes.
He works very well with Hiddleston. Their characters feel like true partners, and Hiddleston gives Hillary a human side, especially when his own fear almost makes him turn back near the top. Dafoe is excellent, as usual, and Caitríona Balfe adds warmth as part of the expedition team. Tenzing Jigmey brings some tension as Pasang, a veteran guide who feels passed over.
The weaker part is the early life story. The childhood scenes and Tenzing’s early years as a Sherpa in Darjeeling look lovely, but they lack real drama and slow the film down. Some may find them touching, but for others, they will feel like a long wait before the real action begins. The film is also very celebratory, which means it rarely digs into harder questions about how Tenzing was treated.
Tenzing may not be a perfect biopic, but its last stretch is truly powerful, and Phuntsok gives the hero a quiet dignity. Watch it for the climb and for a story that deserves to be better known.
If you’re building a weekend watchlist, here are a few other options. For something lighter, our Masterplan review looks at a heist comedy that doesn’t quite work, and our Hollywood Arts review is perfect for nostalgia fans. If you like smart drama, read our take on The Diplomat Season 4. And for another real-life story, our Tyson review explores Netflix’s uncomfortable but fascinating docuseries.