Parents' Guide to Memphis to the Mountain

TV Hulu Educational 2025
Memphis to the Mountain TV show poster: slate grey mountain image with rays of rainbow colored images of Black people climbing, rappelling, smiling

Common Sense Media Review

Joly Herman By Joly Herman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Language in stirring, activism-focused sports docuseries.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

In MEMPHIS TO THE MOUNTAIN, Memphis Rox, a climbing gym and community center in South Memphis is the star around which the underserved community has begun to circle. Co-founders of the center, community organizer Chris Dean and film director Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective), have built the center to provide a supportive, healthy place for the community to come together. Climbers there discuss gang history and how violence has affected their lives. But they also travel together to broaden their horizons and work toward the goal of climbing a mountain in Africa. Can their teamwork aid them when they're facing some of the most difficult challenges they've ever encountered?

Is It Any Good?

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

A group of climbers from a community center in South Memphis use inner strength borne from adversity to face Mother Earth's vertical walls in this gritty, well-produced docuseries. Memphis to the Mountain is seasoned with poetic musings of a community's visionary organizer. Even more poignant are the revelations of climbers whose horizons are expanded when they immerse themselves in nature.

A cameo by world-renowned solo climber Alex Honnold (Free Solo) is a nod to how serious this sports documentary should be taken. This series would suit families with older teens who're looking for an inspirational, gritty docuseries.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about perseverance in Memphis to the Mountain. Climbers talk about different kinds of "hard"—including emotionally hard situations and the difficulty of outdoor extremes. What kind of "hard" have you survived? What gets you through challenging situations?

  • Some rock climbers in this show admit to being afraid of heights. How does the encouragement of their group help them to gain the courage to succeed?

  • The group of climbers who travel together begin to bond in ways they couldn't formerly imagine. How does teamwork manifest in your life?

TV Details

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Memphis to the Mountain TV show poster: slate grey mountain image with rays of rainbow colored images of Black people climbing, rappelling, smiling

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