The Dawn Wall (2017)
Kernel Score: 88% · 344 ratings · Rated NR
Genres: Documentary, Adventure
Released: 2017-11-01
Runtime: 101 minutes
Where to watch The Dawn Wall
- Free with ads: The CW
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
The definitive film on the climb that captured headlines and ignited imaginations worldwide. Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson ascend the hardest big wall of all time: a 19 day ascent of The Dawn Wall, on the 3,000 foot vertical face of El Capitan, in Yosemite National Park. The film travels deeper than the climb, digging into the history of the climbers and painting an intimate portrait of Caldwell's harrowing life experiences that culminated in a single-minded drive to complete this impossible climb. The Dawn Wall is a heart-warming and inspiring movie that celebrates perseverance, camaraderie, and the universal spirit of dreaming big, and never giving up.
The Dawn Wall parents' guide: all ages
Parents need to know that this documentary follows two rock climbers attempting a record-breaking, dangerous ascent of El Capitan.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Depicts real physical risk and danger from extreme high-altitude rock climbing.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official NR rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like The Dawn Wall
If you liked The Dawn Wall, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Free Solo (2018) — 89%
- Meru (2015) — 83%
- 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021) — 83%
- African Cats (2011) — 83%
- Fire of Love (2022) — 85%
- Safety Last! (1923) — 87%
- Touching the Void (2003) — 85%
- Katy Perry: Part of Me (2012) — 81%
Director
Josh Lowell
Cast
- Tommy Caldwell as Self
- John Branch as Self
- Kevin Jorgeson as Self
- Beth Rodden as Self
- Becca Pietsch as Self
The Dawn Wall FAQ
Is The Dawn Wall good?
The Dawn Wall has an 88% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 344 audience ratings.
Where can I watch The Dawn Wall?
In the US you can watch it free with ads on The CW.
Is The Dawn Wall OK for kids?
The Dawn Wall is rated NR. Fresh Kernels suggests all ages. Parents need to know that this documentary follows two rock climbers attempting a record-breaking, dangerous ascent of El Capitan.
What movies are like The Dawn Wall?
If you liked The Dawn Wall, try Free Solo, Meru, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible and African Cats.