The Last First Winter K2 Movie Review

This documentary follows extreme sports aficionados attempting to complete what may be the last remaining challenge on this planet. They want to ascend K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth. It stands 5.35 miles high, and this is an attempt to make history by being the first to reach the summit in winter.​

It’s already cold that high and winter presents another challenge, frost bite (which someone does encounter) slipping on “Blue Ice” and staying warm enough to get the proper rest you need to accomplish this tremendous task. Sit still too long, and you freeze to death. It’s that simple.

We get to meet and know a group of some of the best at this skill, and yet, five do end up losing their lives. We meet them while they tell us what their aim is. You can hear the passion and excitement in their voices to reach the summit, even though they have seen how many lives are at risk, especially knowing that their own are, as well. The director tells us how long they’ve been moving, with the last post reading, “Four Months Later.”

K2 sits on the border between Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region and China’s Xinjiang region. They have some luck but also have a lot go wrong, with five of them losing their lives. In a recording at the beginning of the documentary, it’s said that some won’t make it through the night. They shouldn’t have been there, but a company has commercialized the thrill and excitement of that risk, and people without proper training want to take that chance.  

We are introduced to John Snorri, an extreme mountaineer from Iceland, and his wife, Lina. They have six children, but knowing how happy he is doing what he does, hooked on the thrill of it, she’s happy for him but nervous for herself. The film introduces you to many on the trek; one is Nirmal Purja (aka Nims), who shows up late. He’s known as a rockstar in the climbing world. Now they have to compete with him?! Luckily, Sherpas are also there to help them. They create several different campsites each night. They’re very diverse, with different situations to ponder. “What are they doing?” Came to my mind a lot. The Nepalese make a promise with John to work together and then, in secret, sneak off to fly solo on the project. It’s their mountain to conquer, or is it?

The movie never stops. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, or if you like a good documentary, see this tomorrow. The cinematography is impressive. The visuals are stunning, and the politics surrounding the project make this a surprisingly appealing watch. It premieres globally on October 2, 2026, on Apple TV.