Apple TV's Tenzing, a biographical thriller detailing the first successful 1953 ascent of Mount Everest, has debuted to overwhelming critical acclaim. The film currently holds a 98% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has rapidly ascended to the top of the platform's global movie charts.
A 98% Rotten Tomatoes score and Hiddleston's new career peak
The critical reception for Tenzing has been nothing short of historic for its lead cast. According to the report,the film's 98% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes represens one of the highest ratings ever for a movie centered on Mount Everest. This achievement marks a personal milestone for Tom Hiddleston, whose performance as Sir Edmund Hillary has pushed his career-best rating higher than it has been in 16 years.
The film's appeal extends beyond critics to general audiences, who have awarded it a 95% score based on more than 50 ratings. This audience enthusiasm has propelled the movie to the No. 1 spot globally for films on Apple TV within a single day of its release. Notably, the audience score surpasses the 92% previously held by Avengers: Infinity War, making Tenzing Hiddleston's most favored project among viewers to date.
Shifting the lens from Sir Edmund Hillary to the Sherpa experience
While the 1953 expedition is a well-worn subject in cinema, Tenzing distinguishes itself by pivoting away from the traditional Western-centric narrative. As the report says, many mountaineering films focus on the clients or the lead explorers, but this production centers on the Sherpa mountaineers who endure extreme conditions to guide others. By focusing on Tenzing Norgay's perspective, the film explores the socio-political barriers he faced and his spiritual bond with the mountain.
This shift in perspective is anchored by Genden Phuntsok's performance, which is described as both motivated and emotional. By casting Tom Hiddleston in a "quieter role" as Sir Edmund Hillary, director Jennifer Peedom ensures that the narrative weight remains with the Sherpa experience. This approach refflects a broader trend in historical cinema to reclaim narratives from marginalized figures who were previously relegated to supporting roles in their own histories.
Jennifer Peedom's transition from 'Sherpa' and 'Mountain' to narrative film
The visceral quality of the film's visuals is a direct result of director Jennifer Peedom's specialized background. Although Tenzing is her first narrative feature, Peedom is a veteran of the climbing genre. She previously directed the acclaimed documentaries Sherpa in 2015 and Mountain in 2017, both of which established her ability to capture the dangerous beauty of high-altitude environments.
This documentary pedigree likely contributed to the film's ability to balance stunning cinematography with a grounded, realistic portrayal of the 1953 expedition. The production also reunited Peedom with Willem Dafoe, who previously provided narration for Mountain, suggesting a creative shorthand that helped translate the scale of Everest to the screen.
Competing with 'Ted Lasso' and 'Slow Horses' for US viewership
Despite its gllobal dominance in the movie category, Tenzing faces stiff competition from Apple TV's powerhouse series in the United States. Within 24 hours of release, the biopic reached No. 4 on the US charts, trailing behind the popular series Ted Lasso, Slow Horses, and Dark Matter. This ranking highlights the challenge streaming films face when competing against episodic content that maintains long-term viewer engagement.
However, industry observers expect word-of-mouth to sustain the film's momentum. The timing of the release is particularly strategic, arriving months before Tom Hiddleston returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Loki in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday, likely drawing in a wider demographic of fans who may not typically seek out biographical thrillers.
The influence of Norbu Tenzing and the script's historical gaps
The film's authenticity is bolstered by the involvement of Norbu Tenzing, the son of Tenzing Norgay, who served as an executive producer alongside Simon Gillis and David Michôd. The inclusion of the Norgay family suggests a high level of cooperation in depicting the private life and spiritual motivations of the legendary climber.
Despite the acclaim, certain details remain unverified in the current reporting. It is unclear how the script, penned by Luke Davies, handles the long-standing historical debate over who actually stepped onto the summit first—a point of contention that has shadowed the 1953 expedition for decades. Furthermore, while the report mentions "socio-political hurdles," it does not specify which particular colonial or cultural conflicts the film highlights, leaving the exact nature of the film's political commentary open to viewer interpretation.
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