‘Tenzing’ Hits a Perfect Score on Rotten Tomatoes, Making It Tom Hiddleston’s Best-Reviewed Film Yet

Mountain movies have a way of dividing audiences between awe and exhaustion. Every so often, though, one arrives with the kind of early reception that gets a whole festival buzzing. ‘Tenzing’, the new Everest drama from director Jennifer Peedom, is now in that conversation, and its critical debut is turning heads.

The film tells the story of Tenzing Norgay, the Sherpa who reached the summit of Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary in May 1953. Rather than treating him as a supporting figure, it places him at the center of the climb. In the film, Tenzing sees the mountain as Chomolungma, a sacred mother goddess, while the Western climbers see something to conquer.

Peedom is best known for the acclaimed documentary ‘Sherpa’, and she brought a great deal of care to this project. Genden Phuntsok plays Tenzing, Tom Hiddleston plays Hillary, and Willem Dafoe plays expedition leader Colonel John Hunt. Production was split between Nepal, including Kathmandu and the Everest region, and New Zealand, with the Norgay family credited as part of the process.

Now the reviews are in. ScreenRant reported on X that with 13 reviews, ‘Tenzing’ debuted as Tom Hiddleston’s highest-rated movie ever, with a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists 14 reviews and no verified audience ratings, and the post has drawn 2,489 views on X.

The milestone puts the film ahead of some of Hiddleston’s biggest hits. ScreenRant notes that ‘Tenzing’ surpasses ‘Archipelago’ at 96% and ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ at 93%. It also beats several other mountaineering titles, including ‘Sherpa’ at 98%, the 1998 documentary ‘Everest’ at 93%, and 2015’s survival thriller ‘Everest’ at 73%.

New trailer for ‘TENZING’ has been released.

In select theaters on October 9 and Apple TV on October 16. pic.twitter.com/1w2scgb45Z

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) September 16, 2026

Critics have singled out the film’s photography, score, and immersive sound design. RogerEbert.com highlighted the drone work for offering a bird’s-eye view few people will ever see. It also praised the crew’s commitment to the danger of the climb, saying the cast looks as if they truly spent time in the wind.

First Showing went even further, calling the film the definitive telling of the first summit. That review praised Phuntsok’s performance and said the two leads bring authenticity and grit to their friendship on the mountain. It’s the sort of praise that helps explain the perfect score.

There is an important caveat. The 100% figure rests on a small number of reviews, and the score may shift as more critics weigh in before release. Readdork noted that it is a strong early showing rather than a permanent record.

New poster for ‘TENZING’ starring Tom Hiddleston, Genden Phuntsok, Willem Dafoe & Caitríona Balfe.

It follows the inspirational life of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and his summit of Mount Everest in 1953 alongside Edmund Hillary.

Trailer releases today. pic.twitter.com/227EcmPykI

— Film Crave (@_filmcrave) September 16, 2026

Some notices have also been more reserved. According to a Latin Times analysis, Metacritic listed an average of 65 out of 100 across 7 reviews, with none negative. The Hollywood Reporter’s headline called the drama staid, while The AU Review gave it 3.5 out of 5 and described it as exquisitely photographed but overly faithful to the inspirational true-story template.

That spread suggests the film’s strengths are most obvious in its craft and perspective. Critics who wanted a more daring screenplay have not always been won over. Still, the overall response is positive, and the perfect score is a headline in its own right.

For Hiddleston, the role also marks a departure from his Marvel image. It gives him a chance to work in a grounded, historical drama with a strong ensemble. Whether the score holds or dips, the film has clearly made a strong first impression.

‘Tenzing’ opens in select cinemas on October 9 before reaching Apple TV on October 16. By then, the score will have had time to settle, and audiences will get to judge it for themselves.

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