Everest (2015 film)

Everest (film)

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	2015 (2015)
Founder	Baltasar Kormákur (director and producer)
Products	Biographical survival drama film
Parent	Universal Pictures, Walden Media, Cross Creek Pictures, Working Title Films

Everest is a 2015 biographical survival drama directed and produced by Baltasar Kormákur, with a screenplay by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy. The film features a star-studded cast including Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Martin Henderson, and Emily Watson. It portrays the tragic 1996 Mount Everest disaster, centering on the survival struggles of two climbing teams led by Rob Hall (Clarke) and Scott Fischer (Gyllenhaal). The production was a collaboration between Kormákur, Universal Pictures, Walden Media, Cross Creek Pictures, and Working Title Films, and is dedicated to the memory of British actress Natasha Richardson.

The film had its premiere at the 72nd Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2015, before opening in theaters on September 18, 2015. It was first released in IMAX 3D format in the United Kingdom on September 11, followed by international releases in IMAX 3D, RealD 3D, and standard 2D formats. In North America, it saw a limited IMAX 3D release on September 19, expanding to a wide release across 36 countries on September 25. Commercially, Everest performed well, earning $203 million globally against its $55 million production budget, and was met with favorable reviews from critics.

Plot

In May of 1996, climbers gather at the base camp of Mount Everest preparing for summit attempts led by commercial expeditions. Rob Hall, who pioneered guided climbs on Everest, commands the Adventure Consultants team; Scott Fischer leads their competitor, Mountain Madness. Among Rob’s clients are climbers Beck Weathers, Doug Hansen, experienced mountaineer Yasuko Namba, and journalist Jon Krakauer. Helen Wilton oversees operations at Rob’s base camp.

Several weeks earlier in New Zealand, Rob bids farewell to his pregnant wife Jan, promising to be home for their child’s birth. At Everest base camp, Rob receives a fax revealing the gender of their unborn daughter; he wishes to name her Sarah, but Jan disagrees.

Worried about congestion on the mountain, Rob convinces Scott to synchronize their summit schedules. On summit day, Rob’s team departs Camp IV before dawn with plans to descend by 2:00 PM—the latest safe turnaround time.

Their ascent is delayed by over an hour due to missing guide ropes near the upper sections. Beck halts because of impaired vision; Rob instructs him to turn back if his condition does not improve. Scott descends temporarily to assist another climber but intends to return upward; Rob cautions him against pushing beyond his limits.

Rob reaches the summit punctually along with others including Yasuko, who proudly plants the Japanese flag. During descent, Rob encounters Doug struggling just above the Hillary Step and orders him down. Doug insists on continuing despite exhaustion and altitude sickness. They reach the summit two hours past the safe turnaround deadline. Doug is severely fatigued with altitude sickness; Scott suffers from high-altitude pulmonary edema.

As a blizzard strikes, Rob helps Doug descend; however, Doug’s oxygen supply is depleted causing hypoxia. Despite Rob’s requests, no additional oxygen bottles have been cached along the route. Rob radios Helen to send more oxygen supplies. Tragically, Doug slips from the rope and falls to his death.

Scott’s health worsens; he advises others to continue descending without him before dying on the mountain. Descending climbers find Beck suffering from impaired vision but become disoriented amid the storm. Three climbers set out seeking help, leaving Beck and Yasuko behind. Guide Andy 'Harold' Harris reaches Rob carrying spare oxygen tanks that are frozen shut. They take shelter together during the storm.

While Rob sleeps nearby, Andy experiences hallucinations; he removes his clothing and dies sliding downhill. The following morning Rob contacts Helen reporting that Doug and Andy have perished and that his extremities are frostbitten. Helen calls Jan urging Rob to move; before passing away, he requests she name their daughter Sarah.

Returning climbers report Beck and Yasuko stranded with rescue efforts thwarted by severe weather conditions. Helen informs Beck’s wife Peach about the dire situation.

Beck regains consciousness alone, discovers Yasuko deceased nearby, and descends despite severe frostbite injuries. Peach contacts the American Embassy to arrange an emergency helicopter evacuation. Nepal Army pilot Lt. Col. Madan Khatri Chhetri conducts a high-altitude rescue mission.

Meanwhile, guide Anatoli Boukreev locates Scott’s body and moves it off the climbing path. Back home Helen reunites emotionally with Jan who later gives birth to their daughter Sarah as requested by Rob. Beck returns heavily bandaged; closing text reveals he lost both hands and his nose due to frostbite while Rob’s body remains on Everest.

Cast

• Jason Clarke portrays Rob Hall, the expedition leader from New Zealand.
• Josh Brolin appears as Beck Weathers, an American climber and physician.
• John Hawkes takes on the role of Doug Hansen, a mail carrier and mountaineer.
• Robin Wright plays Peach Weathers, the spouse of Beck.
• Emily Watson features as Helen Wilton, who manages the base camp.
• Michael Kelly embodies Jon Krakauer, a journalist and climber.
• Sam Worthington acts as Guy Cotter, a seasoned guide.
• Keira Knightley portrays Jan Arnold, the pregnant wife of Hall.
• Martin Henderson plays Andy "Harold" Harris, a professional mountain guide.
• Elizabeth Debicki appears as Dr. Caroline Mackenzie, the physician stationed at base camp.
• Ingvar Sigurdsson assumes the role of Anatoli Boukreev, a guide affiliated with Scott’s team.
• Jake Gyllenhaal portrays Scott Fischer, leader of the American expedition.
• Thomas M. Wright is cast as Michael Groom, an Australian mountaineer.
• Mark Derwin plays Lou Kasischke, a climber on Hall’s team.
• Justin Salinger appears as Ian Woodall, a British climber on Everest.
• Naoko Mori represents Yasuko Namba, an experienced amateur climber.
• Clive Standen portrays Ed Viesturs.
• Amy Shindler acts as Charlotte Fox.
• Vanessa Kirby features as Sandy Hill.
• Tom Goodman-Hill takes on the role of Neal Beidleman, a guide within Fischer’s team.
• Charlotte Bøving appears as Lene Gammelgaard, a Danish climber in Fischer’s group.
• Micah Hauptman portrays David Breashears, both documentary filmmaker and mountaineer.
• Chris Reilly plays Klev Schoening, part of Fischer’s climbing team.
• Chike Chan is cast as Makalu Gau, leader of the Taiwanese expedition.
• Vijaya Lama embodies Lt. Col. Madan Khatri Chhetri, a helicopter pilot for the Nepalese Army.
• Mia Goth appears as Meg Weathers, daughter of Beck Weathers.
• Pemba Sherpa plays Lopsang, Sherpa guide for Fischer’s group.
• Ang Phula Sherpa acts as Ang Dorje, Sherpa guide accompanying Hall’s team.

Development

The film was directed by Baltasar Kormákur, with a screenplay written by Simon Beaufoy and Mark Medoff. Early versions of the script were developed by Justin Isbell and William Nicholson. Production was handled by Working Title Films, with distribution in the United States managed by Universal Pictures. Executive producers included Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner. Filming commenced in November 2013. Initially, Emmett/Furla/Oasis Films was attached to co-finance but withdrew in October 2013.

Following the start of production, Cross Creek Pictures and Walden Media joined in November 2013, investing $65 million into financing. The shoot began in January 2014 in Italy’s Ötztal Alps before relocating to Nepal and Iceland. The South Tyrol regional film board contributed $1 million toward the budget.

In early 2013, Christian Bale was considered for the role of Rob Hall but exited by July 2013. Subsequently, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, Jason Clarke, and John Hawkes were cast: Gyllenhaal portrayed Scott Fischer; Brolin took on Beck Weathers; Clarke played Rob Hall; and Hawkes was Doug Hansen.

During filming in February 2014, Clive Standen joined the cast. Shortly afterward, Martin Henderson, Emily Watson, Thomas M. Wright, and Michael Kelly were added. Watson portrayed a nurturing figure at base camp while Kelly played author Jon Krakauer. Also in February 2014, Micah Hauptman was cast as filmmaker David Breashears. In March 2014, Sam Worthington and Robin Wright were brought on board; Worthington took on Guy Cotter’s role and Wright portrayed Peach Weathers.

Filming

Production was scheduled to commence in Italy on 13 January 2014, following plans made in November 2013. According to co-financier Brian Oliver, the shooting timeline included six weeks in the Ötztal Alps (Italy), followed by one month each in Iceland and Nepal. In early January 2014, actors Gyllenhaal and Brolin prepared for their climbing roles by training in the Santa Monica Mountains.

A team of 44 arrived in Nepal on 12 January 2014, with filming taking place between 9 and 23 January across Kathmandu and nearby areas. Principal photography officially started on 13 January, capturing scenes at locations such as Tribhuvan International Airport, Lukla Airport, Namche Bazaar, and Everest Base Camp. After completing work in Nepal, the production shifted to Italy, specifically Schnalstal and Rome, before moving to Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom by early March.

Actor Clive Standen described working under freezing temperatures as challenging yet enjoyable. Exterior shots of base camp were filmed on the backlot at Cinecitta Studios in Rome, utilizing intense lighting techniques designed to replicate Everest’s natural illumination.

On 18 April 2014, during second unit filming, an avalanche struck Camp II on Everest, resulting in the deaths of 16 Sherpa guides who were transporting gear for the climbing season. The film crew was not present at the site and remained unharmed.

Iconic Everest landmarks including Hillary Step, Camp 4, the icefall, and the summit were meticulously recreated on Pinewood’s 007 stage with the aid of greenscreen technology. Cinematographer Totino noted the difficulty of imitating Everest’s harsh sunlight, which required large SoftSun lights mounted on cranes. To authentically portray a storm sequence involving guide Rob Hall (played by Jason Clarke), a section of the stage was chilled to approximately -3°C and covered with real snow. The production employed Arri Alexa XT cameras shooting in Arriraw format for capturing footage.

Music

The film’s score was composed by Dario Marianelli. The soundtrack features "Yeh ladka hai Allah" from the Bollywood movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), played as the climbing team arrives in Nepal. Additionally, songs such as "All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow and "Weather with You" by Crowded House are included to evoke the mid-1990s setting. The soundtrack was officially released on 18 September 2015 through Varèse Sarabande.

Release

Universal Pictures originally planned to release the movie in the United States and Canada on 27 February 2015. It had its premiere on 18 September 2015 exclusively in IMAX 3D, followed by a broad theatrical release on 25 September 2015. This release marked Universal’s inaugural film presented in the Dolby Vision format at Dolby Cinema. The film was also showcased at the 2015 CineEurope event, featuring full 3D Dolby Atmos sound. Its global debut took place on 2 September 2015 during the 72nd Venice International Film Festival at Venice’s Palazzo del Cinema. Home media versions—including DVD, Blu-ray, and Blu-ray 3D—were made available on 19 January 2016, with a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray edition released later on 27 September 2016 via Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Box office

Everest earned $43.4 million domestically in North America and $159.9 million internationally, accumulating a worldwide total of $203.4 million against a production budget of $55 million. It achieved the highest global IMAX opening for a September release, generating $7.2 million and surpassing Resident Evil: Retribution which had previously earned $6 million.

Ahead of its wide release across North America on 25 September, the film had a limited launch on 18 September in IMAX 3D and premium large formats across 545 theaters to build momentum through word of mouth. Late-night showings brought in $325,000 from 481 IMAX and premium screens, while opening day revenue was estimated at $2.3 million. The opening weekend gross totaled $7.6 million from a combination of 368 IMAX and 177 premium large-format venues, with IMAX accounting for 78% ($5.8 million) and premium formats making up the remaining 22% ($1.7 million). This performance set a new benchmark for the largest IMAX debut in September, overtaking The Equalizer which had earned $3.1 million in 2014. Notably, Everest was the first major motion picture since Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011) to have an exclusive IMAX run lasting more than two days.

When it expanded to a wide release across 3,006 theaters on Friday, it grossed $4 million that day and accumulated $13.09 million over the weekend, including $3.7 million from 366 IMAX locations. This brought its total North American IMAX earnings to $11.5 million—the first IMAX title released in September to exceed the $10 million mark. The core audience consisted predominantly of males (51%) and viewers under the age of 35 (45%).

On the international front, Everest opened in 65 countries and collected $28.8 million from 5,154 screens spanning 36 markets during its initial weekend, topping box office charts in twelve countries with $3 million coming from IMAX theaters alone. In its second week, it expanded further to 62 markets, generating $33.9 million while maintaining the number one box office position globally. Significant openings included Russia and CIS with $5.2 million; UK/Ireland/Malta at $4.9 million; Mexico with $4.4 million; Germany earning $2.9 million; and Australia contributing $2.4 million. The UK ($16 million) and Germany ($9.3 million) stood out as the film’s largest overall markets, with Everest becoming Universal Pictures’ eighth film in 2015 to surpass £10 million in UK box office receipts—a distinction only matched by 20th Century Fox in 2014 and Paramount Pictures in 2011.

The movie debuted in China on 3 November and Japan on 6 November, ranking fourth at their respective box offices with earnings of $11.3 million and $1.4 million. Despite securing exclusive access to all IMAX screens in China, it faced stiff competition from other Hollywood titles such as Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, The Peanuts Movie, along with four domestic films released simultaneously. Ultimately, it amassed a total gross of $16 million in China and $5.1 million in Japan.

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie holds a rating of , derived from reviews, with an average score of . The critical consensus reads, "Everest delivers breathtaking visuals uncommon in mountaineering films, despite a storyline that lacks complexity." Meanwhile, on Metacritic, it earned a score of 64 out of 100 based on 39 reviews, signifying "generally favorable" feedback. Viewers polled by CinemaScore assigned the film an average grade of "A" on the A+ to F scale.

Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air, voiced criticism over the film's inaccuracies and alleged defamatory content, lamenting Sony’s swift purchase of the book rights. Director Baltasar Kormákur responded by clarifying that Krakauer’s personal narrative was not utilized as a source and pointed out discrepancies between Krakauer's account and verified facts.

Awards and nominations

Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result
Camerimage	Best 3D Film	Salvatore Totino	Template:Nom
Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture		Template:Nom
Satellite Awards	Best Visual Effects		Template:Nom
Visual Effects Society	Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature	Dadi Einarsson, Roma O-Connor, Matthias Bjarnsasson, Richard Van Den Bergh	Template:Nom
	Outstanding Models in a Photoreal or Animated Project ("Mt. Everest")	Matthias Bjarnasson, Olafur Haraldsson, Kjartan Hardarson, Peter Arnorsson	Template:Nom
Saturn Awards	Best Action or Adventure Film		Template:Nom

See also

• List of people who died climbing Mount Everest
• List of media related to Mount Everest
• Survival film, overview of the genre with similar titles
• Into Thin Air: Death on Everest
• After the Wind, Lou Kasischke’s narrative about Rob Hall’s expedition
• Vertical Limit, comparable motion picture
• North Face, related film