Parents' Guide to Race to the Summit

Movie NR 2023 89 minutes
Race to the Summit movie poster: Right facial profile of record-breaking White Swiss rock climber Dani Arnold going up a mountain, wearing a denim blue hardshell jacket, orange climbing pants, orange and white climbing helmet, and carrying an orange and black backpack. There's a cap N in the upper left hand corner to designate that this is a Netflix film and the documentary's title appears in white bold letters across the image of Arnold

Common Sense Media Review

Sabrina McFarland By Sabrina McFarland , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Speed climbers sprint to the top in docu; language, peril.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Still from Race to the Summit: White rock climber walking on a mountain top with the use of ski trail poles with back to the camera, wearing an orange-colored T-shirt, dark pants, dark hiking boots and a white, orange, and black backpack
  • Still from Race to the Summit: Record-breaking White Swiss mountain climber Ueli Steck smiles at the camera, wearing an orange parka and gray sports bandana headband with words in white letters
  • Still from Race to the Summit: Right facial profile of record-breaking White Swiss rock climber Dani Arnold standing on a snow-covered mountain looking upward, wearing an electric blue hardshell jacket and carrying a black backpack

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What's the Story?

RACE TO THE SUMMIT shares the true story about the professional admiration and competitiveness between Swiss alpinists Ueli Steck and Dani Arnold in the sport of speed climbing. Through firsthand interviews and archival footage and photos, the documentary looks at the death-defying techniques used by the mountaineers in their pursuit to become the world's best in their field.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

The spirit of competitiveness soars in this comprehensive film's look inside the world of modern-style alpinism. Enter the universe of Swiss natives Ueli Steck and Dani Arnold in Race to the Summit, where Steck is the reigning speed climbing champ and also serves as a sports role model to many, including Arnold, a mountain guide and machine parts mechanic. "I was fascinated by his approach to climbing," says Arnold. "I admired the way he could make a living from mountaineering." Steck, who played ice hockey as a kid and has "always been an athlete," confesses that "it may be difficult for people to believe or understand, but I'm really am a scaredy-cat."

Arnold, on the other hand, experiences a series of leaps and bounds during childhood. He climbs up and over the roof of the family's three-story home at the age of 3 or 4 years old. "It was easy for him," recalls his mom Monika. Arnold later plunges into the "vertical world" of climbing and declares, "when I took that first step…something kind of clicked." Arnold shares his passion with his parents who are leery about their son's choice, but support him. "We live in a society overrun with rules and regulations," says Arnold. "But the ability to do what I want when I want and the way I want to do it, I want that freedom, and you can get that in the mountains."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the courage shared by the cast in Race to the Summit. How do they also demonstrate communication, perseverance, and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?

  • What do you think about the competition between mountain climbers Ueli Steck and Dani Arnold? Is it important to have rivalries in sports? Why or why not?

  • Would you engage in the risky challenges and tactics demonstrated by Steck and Arnold in their methods of mountain climbing? Why or why not?

  • How does this documentary compare with other extreme sports films?

Movie Details

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Race to the Summit movie poster: Right facial profile of record-breaking White Swiss rock climber Dani Arnold going up a mountain, wearing a denim blue hardshell jacket, orange climbing pants, orange and white climbing helmet, and carrying an orange and black backpack. There's a cap N in the upper left hand corner to designate that this is a Netflix film and the documentary's title appears in white bold letters across the image of Arnold

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