Tom Hiddleston’s Tenzing Hits a Historic Rotten Tomatoes Milestone Ahead of Apple TV Release
Tom Hiddleston is heading to the top of Mount Everest before he returns to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Loki. His new Apple TV adventure drama, Tenzing, has made an impressive early impact with critics, giving the actor the highest Rotten Tomatoes score of his career so far.
The biographical drama centers on the 1953 British expedition that made history when Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary became the first climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Genden Phuntsok plays Tenzing, while Hiddleston takes on the role of Sir Edmund Hillary. Willem Dafoe stars as expedition leader Colonel John Hunt.
Tenzing premiered at the 53rd Telluride Film Festival before screening at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival. Early reviews have highlighted the film’s striking mountain photography, its focus on Tenzing Norgay and the performances at the center of the story, although some critics have also found the screenplay and pacing more conventional than the extraordinary real-life events might suggest.
Tenzing Gives Hiddleston His Highest Rotten Tomatoes Score
With 13 reviews, Tenzing initially debuted with a perfect 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the highest-rated film of Tom Hiddleston’s career on the site at that point. The score surpassed Archipelago, which stands at 96%, and Thor: Ragnarok, which has a 93% score.
Because the film is still weeks away from its October theatrical release, the Rotten Tomatoes percentage can change as additional reviews are published.
Hiddleston’s five highest-rated movies listed in the original comparison are:
| Film | Year | Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score | Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tenzing | 2026 | 100% | N/A |
| Archipelago | 2010 | 96% | 60% |
| Thor: Ragnarok | 2017 | 93% | 87% |
| Midnight in Paris | 2011 | 93% | 83% |
| Marvel’s The Avengers | 2012 | 91% | 91% |
The film’s early critical reception also places it among the highest-rated movies centered on Mount Everest and climbing. Its initial 100% score tied it with The Summit of the Gods and Netflix’s Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa. It also moved ahead of Sherpa (98%), Everest (1998) at 93%, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible at 92%, The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest at 77%, and the 2015 survival thriller Everest at 73%.
Tenzing Norgay Is the Heart of the Story
One of the most notable aspects of Tenzing is its decision to put Tenzing Norgay at the center of the story.
Rather than presenting the 1953 expedition primarily through the perspective of its Western climbers, the film follows Norgay’s personal, spiritual and professional journey. Apple describes the character as a gifted Himalayan climber whose relationship with Everest is deeply connected to his reverence for Chomolungma, the sacred mother goddess.
The story also follows Norgay’s efforts to establish himself as a member of the British climbing team rather than simply someone working for it. His wife Dawa, played by Thinley Lhamo, encourages him, while expedition secretary Jill Henderson, played by Caitríona Balfe, becomes an important ally in helping convince Colonel John Hunt that Norgay belongs on the team.
That perspective has been one of the film’s most frequently discussed elements. Critics have praised Genden Phuntsok for giving the central character a quiet and poignant presence, while the film’s portrayal of the relationship between Tenzing and Hillary adds another layer to the expedition.
Hiddleston and Dafoe provide major supporting performances as Hillary and Hunt, respectively, with the story placing particular emphasis on the camaraderie that develops among the climbers as they confront the dangers of Everest.
The Everest Climbing Sequences Are a Major Strength
The scale of Everest gives Tenzing an obvious visual advantage, and the film’s cinematography has received considerable attention from early reviewers.
The mountains, snow-covered landscapes and climbing sequences are designed to convey both the beauty and danger of the expedition. Sound also plays an important role in creating the physical sensation of climbing at extreme altitude. RogerEbert.com’s review praised the film’s immersive qualities, including its crisp sound design and the way it makes the uncertain terrain feel increasingly threatening.
At the same time, the film has not received universal praise.
Some reviews have argued that the extraordinary historical achievement at the center of the story is sometimes presented through a familiar biographical-drama structure. The pacing has also been criticized for weakening some of the film’s emotional impact.
ScreenRant’s own review, written by George Bates, awarded Tenzing 6 out of 10 stars and argued that the movie does not fully capture the emotional weight or character development demanded by its true-story foundation.
A similar concern appeared in a TIFF review from The HoloFiles, which described the film as visually impressive but more conventional than the historical achievement it depicts. The review specifically pointed to underdeveloped relationships and dialogue as limitations.
That split in the early response is worth keeping in mind alongside the Rotten Tomatoes percentage. A high critics’ score indicates the proportion of positive reviews, but it does not mean every reviewer has responded to the movie in the same way.
Jennifer Peedom Makes Her Narrative Feature Debut
Jennifer Peedom directed Tenzing, marking her first feature film outside documentary filmmaking.
The choice makes particular sense given Peedom’s previous work. Her filmography includes documentaries centered on climbing and humanity’s relationship with mountains, including Solo and Sherpa. She also previously worked with Willem Dafoe on the 2017 documentary Mountain, which examined humanity’s fascination with climbing and the world’s great peaks.
With Tenzing, Peedom turns that long-running interest in mountaineering into a scripted historical drama.
The screenplay comes from Luke Davies, who received an Academy Award nomination for Lion. The supporting cast includes Caitríona Balfe and Thinley Lhamo.
The production also has a direct connection to Tenzing Norgay’s family. His eldest son, Norbu Tenzing, served as one of the executive producers alongside Simon Gillis and David Michôd.
Apple’s official materials list the principal cast as Genden Phuntsok as Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hiddleston as Edmund Hillary, Willem Dafoe as Colonel John Hunt, Caitríona Balfe as Jill Henderson and Thinley Lhamo as Dawa Norgay.
When Will Tenzing Be Released?
Tenzing will first arrive in select theaters on October 9, 2026.
The film will then make its global debut on Apple TV on October 16, 2026. Apple lists the movie as a 2-hour-5-minute drama and adventure film based on true events.
The theatrical release gives audiences an opportunity to see the Everest landscapes and climbing sequences on the big screen before the film moves to streaming the following week.
Watch the Official Trailer
Apple released the official trailer on September 16, 2026, offering a closer look at Genden Phuntsok’s Tenzing Norgay, Tom Hiddleston’s Edmund Hillary and Willem Dafoe’s Colonel John Hunt.
For viewers interested in the film itself, Apple’s official trailer and movie page confirm the October 9 theatrical release followed by the October 16 Apple TV premiere.
With its focus on Tenzing Norgay rather than treating him as a supporting figure in someone else’s Everest story, Tenzing takes a distinct approach to one of mountaineering’s most famous achievements. Whether its conventional biopic structure ultimately limits the film or proves accessible to a wider audience will become clearer when it reaches theaters and Apple TV in October.
