---
title: "Sherpa: the reviews"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/sherpa/reviews"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/sherpa"
critics_score: 79
critics_reviews: 11
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Sherpa (2015): what the critics said

Critics' score 79 from 11 reviews: 9 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative.

## Time Out — Tom Huddleston

Rating 5/5. 15 December 2015. 

The review calls the documentary unforgettable. It singles out its account of the Everest disaster from the Sherpas’ perspective.

[Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/sherpa)

## Los Angeles Times — Sheri Linden

Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2015. 

The critic gives the documentary an enthusiastic recommendation, praising its visual magnificence and political urgency. She especially singles out the compelling human drama between guide Phurba Tashi Sherpa and expedition operator Russell Brice.

[Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-sherpa-movie-review-20151001-story.html)

## Variety — Richard Kuipers

Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 July 2015. Festival review. 

Kuipers gives the documentary a strongly positive verdict, praising its visual magnificence and emotional force. He especially highlights the filmmakers’ balance of intimate Sherpa stories with the disaster’s rescue efforts and political fallout.

[Read the review](https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/sherpa-review-mount-everest-1201538634/)

## Empire — Patrick Peters

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 December 2015. 

The review finds the documentary spectacular, intimate and politically provocative. It praises the film’s forceful examination of Sherpas’ dangerous work and exploitation by Westerners.

[Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/sherpa-review/)

## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan

Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 18 December 2015. 

O'Sullivan finds the documentary tense, fascinating and eye-opening, while noting that it avoids sentimentalising its subject. She praises its stark exposure of the dangerous, often unnecessary labor Sherpas perform for Everest tourists.

[Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/sherpa-film-review-disturbing-truth-behind-the-everest-industry-a3140521.html)

## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward

Rating 3/4/3. 15 December 2015. 

The critic finds the documentary compelling and damning in its account of Sherpa exploitation. He praises its sensitive portrayal of the community and its history, with the tragedy on the mountain intensifying its message.

[Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/sherpa)

## Radio Times — David Parkinson

Rating 4/5. 

Parkinson regards the documentary as compelling and astute. He praises its stunning vistas and intimate insights into Sherpa life.

[Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-uxn8xr/sherpa/)

## The Guardian — Henry Barnes

Rating 4/5. 17 December 2015. 

Barnes calls the documentary smart, genuine and thoughtful. He praises its account of Sherpa workers recognizing their power after the deadly avalanche.

[Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/17/sherpa-review-peril-in-the-shadow-of-everest)

## Total Film — Stephen Puddicombe

Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 December 2015. 

Puddicombe gives the documentary a clearly positive assessment, noting its damning view of the Everest industry. He praises how Peedom builds tension and uses candid footage to expose Western climbers’ entitled attitudes.

[Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/movies-to-watch-18-december-2015/)

## Screen Daily — Sarah Ward

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 June 2015. 

The page identifies this as Sarah Ward's review, but the paywall hides her verdict. No specific praise or complaint is available in the accessible text.

[Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/sherpa-review/5089226.article)

## The New York Times

Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 1 October 2015. 

The accessible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It provides no praise or complaint to summarize.

[Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/movies/review-sherpa-delves-into-a-risky-profession.html)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/sherpa.md