The Alpinist
Performance & Direction: The Alpinist Review
Last updated: January 30, 2026
Quick Verdict: Hit or Flop?
Is The Alpinist (2021) worth watching? According to our cinematic analysis, the film stands as a SUPER HIT with a verified audience rating of 7.7/10. Whether you're looking for the box office collection, ending explained, or parents guide, our review covers everything you need to know about this Documentary.
Cast Performances: A Masterclass
The success of any Documentary is often anchored by its ensemble, and The Alpinist features a noteworthy lineup led by Marc-André Leclerc . Supported by the likes of Brette Harrington and Alex Honnold , the performances bring a palpable realism to the scripted words.
Performance Analysis: The lead actors exhibit a remarkable range, navigating the emotional peaks and valleys of their respective characters with a precision that makes every motivation feel earned.
Final Verdict: Is it Worth Watching?
Story & Plot Summary: The Alpinist
Quick Plot Summary: The Alpinist is a Documentary, Adventure film that presents a compelling narrative that engages viewers from start to finish. This summary provides a scannable look at the movie's central conflict and narrative structure.
Story Breakdown
The film presents its narrative with careful attention to pacing and character development. Marc-André Leclerc, an exceptional climber, has made solo his religion and ice his homeland. When filmmaker Peter Mortimer begins his film, he places his camera at the base of a British Columbia cliff and waits patiently for the star climber to come down to answer his questions. Marc André, a little uncomfortable, prefers to return to the depths of the forest where he lives in a tent with his girlfriend Brette Harrington. In the heart of winter, Peter films vertiginous solos on fragile ice. He tries to make appointments with the climber who is never there and does not seem really concerned by this camera pointed at him "For me, it would not be a solo if there was someone else" . Marc-André is thus, the "pure light" of the mountaineers of his time, which marvel Barry Blanchard, Alex Honnold or Reinhold Messner, interviewed in the film. An event film for an extraordinary character. The story unfolds naturally, allowing viewers to become invested in the outcome while maintaining engagement throughout.
Narrative Structure
- Opening Hook: The title establishes its world and central conflict efficiently in the opening act.
- Character Arc: The protagonist undergoes a meaningful transformation, with their journey feeling earned and emotionally resonant. Supporting characters are well-developed, each serving a purpose in the narrative.
- Climax & Resolution: The climax brings together the narrative threads, providing resolution while staying true to the established tone.
Ending Explained: The Alpinist
Ending Breakdown: The Alpinist resolves its central conflict while maintaining thematic consistency. The finale has been praised for its approach to documentary resolution.
The conclusion addresses the core thematic questions, creating a memorable conclusion that audiences have responded to positively.
Ending Analysis:
- Narrative Resolution: The story concludes with clear resolution of its central conflicts, providing closure while maintaining some ambiguity.
- Character Arcs: Main characters complete meaningful transformations, reflecting the film's thematic priorities.
- Thematic Payoff: The ending reinforces the documentary themes in a way that feels organic to the story.
The final moments of The Alpinist demonstrate careful narrative planning, offering an ending that aligns with the film's tone and style.
Who Should Watch The Alpinist?
Highly Recommended For:
- Fans of Documentaries cinema looking for quality storytelling
- Viewers who appreciate well-executed genre storytelling
- Anyone seeking a well-crafted film that delivers on its promises
Box Office Collection: The Alpinist
| Metric / Region | Collection (Approx) |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Gross | $1.2M |
| Trade Verdict | CLEAN HIT |
Top Cast: The Alpinist
All Cast & Crew →
Where to Watch The Alpinist Online?
Streaming Hub🎟️ Rent on
Amazon VideoThe Alpinist Parents Guide & Age Rating
2021 AdvisoryWondering about The Alpinist age rating or if it's safe for kids? Here is our cinematic advisory:
⏱️ Runtime & Duration
The total runtime of The Alpinist is 93 minutes (1h 33m). Ensuring you have enough time for the full cinematic experience.
Verdict Summary
Analyzing the overall audience sentiment, verified rating of 7.7/10, and global performance metrics, The Alpinist is classified as a SUPER HIT. It remains an essential part of the 2021 cinematic calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Alpinist worth watching?
The Alpinist is definitely worth watching if you enjoy Documentary movies. It has a verified rating of 7.7/10 and stands as a SUPER HIT in our box office analysis.
Where can I find The Alpinist parents guide and age rating?
The official parents guide for The Alpinist identifies it as PG-13. Our detailed advisory section above covers all content warnings for families.
What is the total runtime of The Alpinist?
The total duration of The Alpinist is 93 minutes, which is approximately 1h 33m long.
Best Movies to Watch if you liked The Alpinist
How The Alpinist Compares & Where it Ranks
Critic Reviews for The Alpinist
Rarely can I have seen a documentary with so much recent, and active, participation from a man about whom I knew nothing beforehand but for whom I actually cared by the middle of the film. The term "free-spirit" is entirely suitable to describe the young Marc-André Leclerc, a man who spends his time travelling the globe ascending sheer cliffs of rock that would give an eagle acrophobia. The film could also have been called "the Individualist". The young man wasn't a loner, in any social sense, but he preferred the exhilaration of climbing - and enduring all the hostile conditions that accompanied that - on his own. Only reluctantly, I thought, did he agree to allow the photographers to accompany him - and boy, what photography they have created. We really get a sense of not just the peril as the young man climbed these monumental pieces of rock (without a rope), but of the sense of adventure, of determination and of purpose that drove him to tackle these toughest, and frequently beautiful, of obstacles that nature could put in his path. There are a few, poignant, contributions from fellow climbers, the photographers, his mother and his girlfriend - but somehow we don't really need them - this is a story about a young man determined to live his life on his own terms. Got to be an Oscar contender.
movieMx Verified
This review has been verified for accuracy and editorial quality by our senior cinematic analysts.
This analysis is compiled by our editorial experts using multi-source verification and audience sentiment data for maximum accuracy.
