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Touching the Void

Play trailer Poster for Touching the Void R Released Sep 5, 2003 1h 47m Adventure Drama Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 135 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In 1985, two young climbers, Joe Simpson (Brendan Mackey) and Simon Yates (Nicholas Aaron), set out to be the first to reach the summit of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. They succeed, and the two embark on the treacherous descent down the mountain -- only to meet with disaster when Simpson breaks his leg in a fall, leaving Yates to lower him the rest of the way with ropes. When a storm threatens both their lives, Yates must decide whether to cut the rope and risk Simpson's likely death.
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Touching the Void

Touching the Void

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Critics Consensus

Gripping even though the outcome is known.

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Critics Reviews

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Sheila Norman-Culp Associated Press In the right hands, a docudrama can deliver all the excitement, emotion and storytelling of the very best feature films -- and director Kevin Macdonald has done that with startling clarity in the mountaineering adventure Touching the Void. Jan 23, 2019 Full Review Nell Minow Common Sense Media Excruciatingly tense story of a terrible accident. Rated: 4/5 Dec 29, 2010 Full Review David Ansen Newsweek Touching the Void leaves you emotionally and physically spent, and grateful it was only a movie, not a mountain, you had to endure. Mar 26, 2007 Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal "Void" plummets into the nucleus of instinct and consciousness - survival a near-primordial pursuit beyond bravery or weakness. It concocts no comfort about what was gained, but stares in transfixed, unforgettable awe at the horror of all that was lost. Rated: 4/4 Nov 4, 2010 Full Review Cole Smithey ColeSmithey.com "Touching the Void" towers above the rest of that rarest of all film genres, the docudrama. Rated: A+ Aug 9, 2009 Full Review Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review This harrowing, white-knuckle tale of human endurance and gut-wrenching dilemma mingles the dramatization of these events and interviews with both climbers into an unforgettable, sometimes comically deadpan nightmare. Rated: 5/5 Aug 7, 2008 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Deborah S. I’ve seen it three times and will be watching it again tonight. The best mountain climbing survival movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/05/25 Full Review Stephen C Real footage in 1 hour and 47 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated R for Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In British English with American English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $4,600,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/07/25 Full Review Zoe M Brilliantly executed movie. What a story!! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/04/24 Full Review Jason R Phenomenal, gut-wrenching film that occasionally veers into torture-porn territory. Absolutely worth a watch, but not for the faint of heart. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 04/06/24 Full Review Hei Det E What starts out as an "ordinary" trip between two seasoned mountain climbers evolves into an amalgamation of nature's will, human perseverance - and a survival of the elements - and the will of both human and nature's will - to explore both their highest highs and their deepest depths - as humanity face the quite awesome nature of their supposed 'undertaking'. An overwhelming tale of tragedy, misfortune, luck - more misfortune - and THEN SOME. A fantastic movie that should be in everyone's "To watch" list. Unless they've already been snowblinded by the fantastic premise this movie has to offer. An utter piece of perfection. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/23/24 Full Review Les N Was anyone else waiting for this to end....please! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/18/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Touching the Void

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Cast & Crew

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Kevin Macdonald

Director

Brendan Mackey

Joe Simpson

Nicholas Aaron

Simon Yates

Richard Hawking

Self

Joe Simpson

Self

Simon Yates

Self

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Touching the Void

Touching the Void (2003) Touching the Void (2003) Touching the Void (2003) Touching the Void (2003) Touching the Void (2003) Touching the Void (2003) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In 1985, two young climbers, Joe Simpson (Brendan Mackey) and Simon Yates (Nicholas Aaron), set out to be the first to reach the summit of the Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes. They succeed, and the two embark on the treacherous descent down the mountain -- only to meet with disaster when Simpson breaks his leg in a fall, leaving Yates to lower him the rest of the way with ropes. When a storm threatens both their lives, Yates must decide whether to cut the rope and risk Simpson's likely death.
Director
Kevin Macdonald
Producer
John Smithson
Screenwriter
Joe Simpson
Distributor
IFC Films
Production Co
FilmFour, UK Film Council, Darlow Smithson Productions
Rating
R (Language)
Genre
Adventure, Drama, Documentary
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 5, 2003, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 15, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.6M
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Surround