Tenzing is streaming now on Apple TV+ (recently rebranded simply “Apple TV”), where it premiered worldwide on October 16, 2026. In the United States, you can watch it with an Apple TV+ subscription, which costs $14.99 per month or $119 per year after a seven-day free trial for eligible new subscribers.
Because it is an Apple Original Film, Tenzing streams on demand — there is no weekly rollout and no fixed drop time to wait out. If you have a subscription, you can start it this minute. Below is everything you need: platform, release timing, price, and what the movie actually is.
Where and when to watch Tenzing
Tenzing opened in select US theaters on October 9, 2026, then arrived on Apple TV+ for streaming on October 16, 2026. Apple generally makes its titles available at 12:00 a.m. PT / 3:00 a.m. ET on release day, and the film has been live since then. As an on-demand original, it stays in the catalog, so there is no episode schedule to track — press play whenever you like, pause, and come back later.
How much does it cost?
You need an Apple TV+ subscription to watch Tenzing in the US; the film is included at no extra charge, not a separate rental. The service runs $14.99 per month or $119 per year, following the price increase Apple rolled out in 2026. New subscribers who are eligible get a seven-day free trial, and the movie is also covered if you subscribe through an Apple One bundle. You can watch on the Apple TV app across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K, smart TVs, game consoles, and the web at tv.apple.com.
A subscription also lets you download the film to your phone or tablet for offline viewing — handy if you want to watch on a flight — and Apple TV+ originals typically stream in 4K HDR with Dolby Atmos sound where your device and connection support it. For a movie built on sweeping Himalayan vistas, that image quality is worth seeking out on the biggest, sharpest screen you have.
What is Tenzing about?
Tenzing retells the first ascent of Mount Everest, but from a vantage point the history books long sidelined: that of Tenzing Norgay, the Himalayan climber who reached the summit in 1953 alongside New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary. Rather than recycle the familiar version of events, the film foregrounds Norgay’s skill, judgment, and partnership on the mountain, reframing a story most people think they already know.
Genden Phuntsok plays Tenzing Norgay, with Tom Hiddleston as Edmund Hillary. The supporting cast includes Willem Dafoe as expedition leader Colonel John Hunt, Caitríona Balfe as Jill Henderson, and Thinley Lhamo as Dawa. Jennifer Peedom — a documentarian with real mountaineering pedigree — directs from a screenplay by Luke Davies, and the film runs roughly 125 minutes.
The true story behind the film
On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary became the first climbers confirmed to reach the 29,032-foot summit of Mount Everest, part of a British expedition led by John Hunt. The achievement made global headlines, yet for decades the spotlight tended to favor Hillary while Norgay’s role was treated as supporting. Tenzing sets out to correct that balance, giving the Sherpa climber his name in the title and his point of view at the center of the story. Casting Genden Phuntsok, rather than a marquee star, in the lead reinforces that intent — the film wants you to see the climb through the eyes of the man the history books kept in the margins.
A festival-circuit arrival
This is not a quiet streaming dump. Tenzing had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 4, 2026, played the Toronto International Film Festival, and opened the Zurich Film Festival before its theatrical and streaming release. Apple also gave it a rare theatrical window ahead of the Apple TV+ debut — a sign of the studio’s confidence in the film as awards-season material. On its first day of streaming, it landed among the most-watched movies on the platform in the US.
That festival-first path is the route Apple has used for its prestige titles, and it tends to signal a movie the studio plans to campaign through the fall and winter. If you like to watch the year’s awards contenders before the nominations arrive, Tenzing is an easy one to check off from your couch.
Here is the official trailer:
Frequently asked
Is Tenzing on Netflix?
No. Although the project was once linked to Netflix, Apple acquired worldwide rights, and the film streams exclusively on Apple TV+ in the United States.
How much is Apple TV+?
$14.99 per month or $119 per year in the US, with a seven-day free trial for eligible new subscribers.
Can I watch Tenzing for free?
Only through Apple TV+’s seven-day free trial, if you are eligible. There is no separate free option.
Is Tenzing a documentary?
No. It is a scripted drama based on the true story of the 1953 Everest ascent, directed by Jennifer Peedom.
How long is Tenzing?
About 125 minutes.
Do I need to watch it at a specific time?
No. It is available on demand on Apple TV+, so you can start it whenever you want.
