Everest takes audiences on an inspirational and harrowing ascent of the world’s tallest mountain with a team of four international climbers who find hope, beauty, and triumph in the wake of tragedy. Audiences discover how Mt. Everest was formed, how high-altitude challenges a climber’s physical and mental capabilities, and how Sherpa culture and tradition permeates the Mt. Everest experience. Everest’s popularity and marketing strategies changed everything for the IMAX Theatre industry. The film was the first large-format film to be shown in over 90 theatres simultaneously, making industry history as the largest and fastest network-wide rollout ever for a large-format film. In December 1998, Everest earned the number one spot on Variety’s box office grosses for “limited releases,” and placed on the “Top 50 films of 1998” list by USA Today. In February 1999, Everest reached the $75 million plateau at the box office, less than one year from its release, making Everest the fastest grossing giant screen documentary film in history.

• Inducted into the IMAX Hall of Fame – Voted in by members of the Giant Screen Cinema Association, September 2009
• Best Picture of the Year, Best Cinematography of the Year, and Best Score of the Year – 1998 Maximum Image Awards, IMAX Corporation (Best score Award presented to George Harrison & Steve Wood)
• IMAX Award for Outstanding Achievement and Excellence in Large Format Filmmaking – IMAX Corporation, 1998
• Best Marketing Campaign of the Year by a Distributor – 1998 Giant Screen Theater Association Achievement Awards
• Grand Award and WorldMedal for International Non-Broadcast Media (Documentary) – New York Festivals
• Grand Prix du Public (the highest award) – La Géode Film Festival, Paris
• Platinum Best of Show (Documentary) – The Aurora Awards
• Grand Award – Best Film & Video Production (Documentary) – The Worldfest Flagstaff and Worldfest Houston International Independent Film & Video Festival
• Chris Award (Best of Nature & Wildlife category) and Certificate of Excellence in Media Print (Press Kit and Teacher’s Guide) – The Columbus International Film & Video Festival
• Golden Eagle Award (Documentary Feature) – Cine Golden Eagle
• Gold Angel Award (Best Adventure Film) – The International Angel Awards
• 2nd Place (Recreation/Promotion category) – Outdoor Writers Association of America, North American Film/Video Awards
• The highest grossing documentary (of any format—15/70 or 35mm) of 1998
• The highest grossing IMAX Theatre documentary film of all time

“Plain and simple, Everest takes movie-making to new heights—in every sense of the phrase. It’s not only the best IMAX film to date, it features some of the most spectacular, breathtaking photography on record. Indeed, the thrill-a-minute scenario makes Everest a must see for all.”
– New York Post

“Everest… is a thrilling account of athleticism, courage and whatever folly it is that makes people risk their lives to prove themselves. The eight-story-high enormousness and amazing clarity of the IMAX picture is as close as most people will want to get to the sport of mountaineering. Without the expense, exertion, pain and risk, Everest is the next best thing to being there.”
– New York Daily News

“Everest… is not only a visually glorious and absorbing film and a story of hope and hubris; it is also an amazing feat of filmmaking.”
– New York Times

“…a powerful, absorbing adventure…”
– The Hollywood Reporter

“…combines real-life tragedy and derring-do with eye-popping scenery for an effect that’s as dramatic as it is fascinating and spectacular…Somber yet exciting and beautiful, this dazzling doc is sure to be a favorite…”
– Daily Variety

“What the large-format IMAX screen was made for: a breathtaking climb to the top of Mount Everest that reveals the world’s highest mountain in all of its awesome, perilous grandeur.”  “A.”
– Entertainment Weekly

Everest DVD

Everest CD
Featuring the music of Sting, on Pangaea Records

Everest: Mountain without Mercy
By Broughton Coburn

Download the Educator Guide.