Curated list

The Hardest Climbs Ever Filmed

12 films · updated 2026-09-04

Grades are argued about endlessly, but a handful of ascents sit at the edge of what has been done in each style. These films document them: the first 9c, the first V17 boulders, the hardest trad flash, the hardest deep water solo, and the routes that defined a grade for a generation.

Each entry names the climb and grade so you can go straight to the one you care about. The route pages linked from each film carry the first-ascent history.

  1. Silence (2021) climbing film

    01 · 2021 · 18 min · Adam Ondra

    Silence

    Adam Ondra's Silence in Flatanger, the world's first 9c (5.15d). Ondra's own film, including the kneebar crux and the training behind it.

  2. Alphane (2022) climbing film

    02 · 2022 · 47 min · Mellow

    Alphane

    Shawn Raboutou on Alphane in Chironico, one of the first V17 (9A) boulders. The Mellow cut, 47 minutes of process.

  3. The Lappnor Project (2017) climbing film

    03 · 2017 · 33 min · Adventure Sports TV

    The Lappnor Project

    Nalle Hukkataival's years on Burden of Dreams in Finland, the first boulder proposed at V17.

  4. La Dura Complete: The Hardest Rock Climb in the World (2013) climbing film

    04 · 2013 · 18 min · Reel Rock

    La Dura Complete: The Hardest Rock Climb in the World

    Ondra and Chris Sharma on La Dura Dura in Oliana, 9b+, the hardest route in the world when this was made.

  5. World's Hardest Flash - Adam Ondra Climbs 5.15 (9a+) First Try (2018) climbing film

    05 · 2018 · 11 min · Reel Rock

    World's Hardest Flash - Adam Ondra Climbs 5.15 (9a+) First Try

    Ondra flashes Supercrackinette, 9a+, at Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux: the hardest flash ever at the time.

  6. Hardest Trad Flash Ever | Adam Ondra | Lexicon E11 (2025) climbing film

    06 · 2025 · 22 min · Mammut

    Hardest Trad Flash Ever | Adam Ondra | Lexicon E11

    Lexicon, E11, in the Lake District, flashed. Neil Gresham explains what E11 means.

  7. Rotpunkt: Bibliographie (2021) climbing film

    07 · 2021 · 17 min · Patagonia

    Rotpunkt: Bibliographie

    Alex Megos on Bibliographie in Céüse, proposed at 9c on the first ascent and later downgraded to 9b+.

  8. EXCALIBUR | The North Face (2024) climbing film

    08 · 2024 · 28 min · The North Face

    EXCALIBUR | The North Face

    Stefano Ghisolfi on Excalibur in Arco, 9b+.

  9. Born From the Climbing Life: Episode 4 — Drifter's Escape, The World's Hardest Trad Climb (2025) climbing film

    09 · 2025 · 27 min · Black Diamond

    Born From the Climbing Life: Episode 4 — Drifter's Escape, The World's Hardest Trad Climb

    Connor Herson on Drifter's Escape in Squamish, argued to be the hardest trad climb in the world.

  10. Margo Hayes Makes History (2019) climbing film

    10 · 2019 · 13 min · Reel Rock

    Margo Hayes Makes History

    Margo Hayes becomes the first woman to climb 9a+ with La Rambla, then repeats it with Biographie.

  11. Es Pontàs: The First Ascent (2007) climbing film

    11 · 2007 · 7 min · Reel Rock

    Es Pontàs: The First Ascent

    Chris Sharma's first ascent of the Es Pontàs arch in Mallorca, still the hardest deep water solo in the world.

  12. Matt Segal vs America’s FIRST 9a/5.14d ‘Kryptonite’ (2023) climbing film

    12 · 2023 · 3 min · Louder Than Eleven

    Matt Segal vs America’s FIRST 9a/5.14d ‘Kryptonite’

    Kryptonite in Colorado, the first 5.14d in the United States.

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