Free Solo

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2:27

Free Solo

PG-13

Released Sep 28, 2018

1h 40m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

97%

Tomatometer

159 Reviews

93%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Alex Honnold completes the first free solo climb of famed El Capitan's 3,000-foot vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park.

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Critics Consensus

Free Solo depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason - and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal.

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Andrea Gronvall

Chicago Reader

This awe-inspiring National Geographic documentary is as much a celebration of U.S. parks and wilderness as it is a record of one of the most audacious feats in the history of mountaineering.

Mar 3, 2020

Full Review

Melanie McFarland

Salon.com

The visuals are stunning, offering head-spinning views with the comfort of total safety.

Mar 5, 2019

Full Review

John Doyle

Globe and Mail

Free Solo...is a jaw-dropper, both in what is documented and its visual impact.

Mar 4, 2019

Full Review

Bianca Garner

Filmotomy

The last act of this film is so tense, that it is almost hard to describe. The theatre was silent, as all of the audience held their breath, watching in awe as Honnold began his climb.

Oct 11, 2024

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Alex Honnald is as fascinating as he is enigmatic and soaking up his story proves to be a satisfying experience. Yet despite the amount of time we spend with him it’s hard to get into his headspace.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 20, 2022

Full Review

M.N. Miller

Ready Steady Cut

An exhilarating, immersive achievement. Free Solo is simply the best sports documentary ever made if you had to categorize it.

Rated: 5/5

Aug 17, 2022

Full Review

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Stephen C

Real footage in 1 hour and 40 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Brief Strong Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $17,500,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/07/25

Full Review

Angelo Caro G

This documentary, for me, was an amazing reflection of human capability to overcome fear and achieve our biggest goals. In this film, you can see both the beauty and the danger that Mother Nature holds, with the stunning cinematography of El Capitan. Emotionally, you feel anxiety and tension while watching Alex climb, but in the end, you share his satisfaction once he conquers "El Cap". An absolutely great and captivating film.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

Full Review

Quan Z

Beautiful, scary, emotional, inspirational.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/22/24

Full Review

akira b

Excellent doco about Alex, a fascinating character obsessed with free solo climbing and achieving excellence. His father was also an obsessive character and taught Alex climbing.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/05/24

Full Review

Daniel N

An incredible and awe-inspiring film about an incredible and awe-inspiring feat. Wow!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/04/24

Full Review

lola m

I just watched this for the third time. I can't get enough of this guy

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/24/24

Full Review

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Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi

Director

Jimmy Chin

Director

Alex Honnold

Self

Tommy Caldwell

Self

Sanni McCandless

Self

Jimmy Chin

Self

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Free Solo: Trailer 1

2:27

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Synopsis

Alex Honnold completes the first free solo climb of famed El Capitan's 3,000-foot vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park.

Director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin
Producer: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Evan Hayes, Shannon Dill
Distributor: National Geographic Documentary Films
Production Co: Little Monster Films, Itinerant Media
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Strong Language)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 28, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 12, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $17.5M
Runtime: 1h 40m

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