Recently watched a bunch of climbing documentaries, so felt like compiling a list to help you keep your psych up during your rest day.

Most descriptions and all images are borrowed from the movie sources, if you don’t want me to use your text or want to add some documentary, feel free to shoot me an e-mail.

Last updated: 2017-09-11

Cerro Torre (1h 38min, Red Bull)

Watch on Red Bull TV

Set against the breathtaking backdrop of Patagonia, climbing wunderkind David Lama and climbing partner Peter Ortner set out to free climb the infamous southeast face of Cerro Torre, a route once said to be the most difficult in the world.

Roraima - Climbers of the lost world (1h 37min, Red Bull)

Watch on Red Bull TV

Climbing partners Kurt Albert and Holger Heuber don’t know what they’re in for when they join competitive climbing superstar Stefan Glowacz for an expedition to Mt. Roraima, a steep-walled South American peak shrouded in both rainforest and legend.

Valley Uprising (1h 43min, Sender Films)

See availability of Valley Uprising on JustWatch

The 50-year history of rock climbing in Yosemite Valley is chronicled in this documentary charting the birth and rise of a rebellious counterculture.

Meru (1h 29min)

See availability of Meru on JustWatch

Three elite climbers struggle to find their way through obsession and loss as they attempt to climb Mount Meru, one of the most coveted prizes in the high stakes game of Himalayan big wall climbing.

Sherpa (1h 36min)

See availability of Sherpa on JustWatch

A brawl on Everest? Director Jennifer Peedom set out to uncover tension in the 2014 Everest climbing season from the Sherpas’ point of view and instead captured a tragedy when an avalanche struck, killing 16 Sherpas. Sherpa tells the story of how the Sherpas united after the tragedy in the face of fierce opposition, to reclaim the mountain they call Chomolungma.

Reel Rock (29x 21min, Red Bull)

Watch on Red Bull TV

A visually stunning series that follows the world’s top climbers, alpinists, and mountaineers to the wildest places on earth in their pursuit of the next big adventure. Stories of triumph, failure, and redemption unfold on stages of sheer stone.

Some must see’s are: S01E05 Wide Boyz and S03E01 Boys in the bugs

To Climb the World (24min, National Geographic)

Watch on YouTube

Watch on National Geographic

Climbing dream team Alex Honnold, Mark Synnott, and Jimmy Chin face rugged cliffs, knife-wielding thieves, and deadly waters as they traverse the globe searching for the next great rock to climb.

On Sight (52min, Posing Productions)

Watch on Amazon (with Vaporvue)

Watch on Vimeo on Demand

A gripping adventure into the world of cutting edge rock and ice climbing documenting what is possible with a ground up, no pre-practice approach resulting in raw, compelling and often frightening footage. The climbers in this film aren’t necessarily the strongest but they have the biggest kahooners(!); willing to take a 30 foot fall for the ultimate on sight ascent.

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The Real Thing (53min, Steep Edge)

Watch on Steep Edge’s website

The Real Thing is the first feature length bouldering movie ever made. Britain’s top rock climbers Jerry Moffatt and Ben Moon take you on a rollercoaster road trip from the classic gritstone crags of the UK’s Peak District to the mecca of European and World climbing in Fontainebleau, France.

Also starring climbing hero Sean Myles, the late and great Kurt Albert and French climbing legend Marc Le Menestrel.

A must watch for all boulderers, with an unforgettable pumping soundtrack.

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Hard Grit (1h 4min, Steep Edge)

Watch on Steep Edge’s website

Full of crazy characters attempting very dangerous routes it abounds with dark humour and dark fear. Includes one of the most bone-crunching falls ever captured on film. Watch it now!

Winner of ten awards on the world Mountain Film Festival circuit. Including wins at Kendal, G Fest, Graz & Torello.

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El Capitan Remastered (60min, 1978, Fred Padula)

Available to buy from El Capitan, the film

El Capitan is a film by filmmaker Fred Padula that captures one of the earliest ascents of The Nose on El Capitan in Yosemite Valley, California. It has won several awards at film festivals around the world.

Added by /u/CrackJammer

First Ascent - The Complete Series (6x 23min, 2010, Sender Films)

Available to stream on Vimeo on Demand or buy from Sender Films

First Ascent (2010) is Sender Films’ groundbreaking 6-part series that takes you to the cutting edge of adventure. Produced over two years on five continents. First Ascent follows the greatest climbers to majestic locations around the globe on their quests to redefine what is possible in the mountains.

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Dosage (5x 1h 20min, 2001 - 2008, Big UP Productions)

Dosage I - Available to buy from Sender Films

Dosage II - Available to buy from Sender Films

Dosage III - Available to buy from Sender Films

Dosage IV - Available to buy from Sender Films

Dosage V - Available to buy from Sender Films

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E11 (41min, 2006, Hot Aches Production)

See availability at Hot Aches Production

E11 tells the story behind the first ascent of Rhapsody, a route considered to be the hardest traditional rock climb in the world. Told in an offbeat dramadoc style the film attempts to understand what it takes to climb a route of this standard. E11 strives to get inside the head of its first ascentionist, the understated yet quite remarkable Dave MacLeod. Oh yeah, it’s also packed full of ankle smashing, gear ripping, monster falls!

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King Lines (60min, 2007, Big UP Productions)

Available to stream on Vimeo on Demand or buy from Sender Films

Short 40 min version available on Red Bull TV, Reel Rock

The best-selling climbing film of all time. Follow Chris Sharma on his ultimate global quest to redefine the possible in the vertical world. Includes his first ascent of Es Pontas, the still-unrepeated Mediterranean deep-sea arch. Co-produced by Sender Films and Big UP Productions.

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Masters of Stone (6x 1h, 1991 - 2009, Steep Edge)

Masters of Stone 1 - Available to buy and rent from Steep Edge

Masters of Stone 2 - Available to buy and rent from Steep Edge

Masters of Stone 3 - Available to buy and rent from Steep Edge

Masters of Stone 4 - Available to buy and rent from Steep Edge

Masters of Stone 5 - Available to buy and rent from Steep Edge

Masters of Stone 6 - Available to buy and rent from Steep Edge

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The Sharp End (1h 3m, 2008, Sender Films)

See availability at Sender Films

Enter the danger zone with the world’s best climbers, including Alex Honnold, Dean Potter, Steph Davis, Lisa Rands, Chris McNamara, Ammon McNeely, Renan Ozturk, Cedar Wright and others, as they push the barriers of free soloing, high-ball bouldering, hard trad climbing, extreme big-wall aid, wingsuit BASE flying, high lining and tower jumping in the wildest spots on earth.

Added by /u/CrackJammer

Wide Boyz 1 & 2 (2x 50min, Hot Aches)

Available to stream on Vimeo on Demand or buy from Hot Aches Production

Watch short 20 min version of Wide Boyz is available on Red Bull TV, Reel Rocks

The world of offwidth crack climbing is a strange sub-culture rumoured to be dominated by knuckle-dragging, bar-brawling dirt-bags! The climbing is tough,painful and bloody. Two climbers from England, Pete Whittaker and Tom Randall, set out to explore this world and climb the world’s hardest offwidths. They complete a brutal two-year training regime, mostly spent hanging upside down in a suburban Sheffield basement, before embarking on a tour of the USA. The tour culminates in the first ascent of the ultimate offwidth test piece, Century Crack, the world’s hardest offwidth.

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Monkey See Monkey Do (1h 4min, 2009, Hot Aches)

Available to stream on Vimeo on Demand or buy from Hot Aches Production

This collection of four films features world class climbing from the UK, Canada and Madagascar.

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Committed Vol I & II (1h 17min & 1h 46min, 2007 & 2008, Hot Aches)

Committed Vol I - Available to stream on Vimeo on Demand or buy from Hot Aches Production

Committed Vol II - Available to stream on Vimeo on Demand or buy from Hot Aches Production

The multi award winning Hot Aches team present – a year at the cutting edge of hardcore trad climbing.Featuring Britain’s best rock climbers, plus top overseas visitors, Committed packs in over 200 ‘E’ points of action: the hardest and most dangerous ascents that have been grabbing the climbing headlines across the world.

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Stick It (53min, 2001, Slackjaw)

Rent or buy on Steep Edge’s website

If you have, or are ever going to, boulder in the UK then this is the film to see. It takes you to all the best places using all the best climbers as you tour guide. Energetic and at times hilarious, this joyful romp is accompanied by a quirky, exciting soundtrack. Infectious, fun stuff that will unfortunately leave you wanting to pack in work and take a road trip all of your own.

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The Hills Have Allies - An Irish Bouldering Film (28min, 2016, David Fitzgerald)

Watch on Vimeo

Quote from the movie author:

This video aims to highlight the passion in the Irish bouldering scene. Over time, I began to obsess over personal progress. It was with this that I discovered the beauty in projecting lines at my limit. The Wicklow mountains have always held such intrigue in my mind.

I soon began to explore the rural landscape, throwing myself at the established test pieces. When I began climbing over three years ago, I dreamed of the effort required to succeed on such lines. Over the course of my discovery, with the help of others and a portion of self-taught practice, I began to adapt to the climbing style and embraced the projecting mentality.

Spanning two years worth of effort, culminating last Spring, this is the product of that dream.

Added by /u/CrackJammer