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Comedy drama

The Climb (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

The Climb (2020) movie poster

The Climb is a 2020 comedy drama starring Michael Angelo Covino as Mike, Kyle Marvin and Judith Godrèche. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $711,639 worldwide on a $3 million budget. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best First Feature at the Spirit Awards 2020. Critics gave it 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10.

IMDb rating
6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes
90%
worldwide gross
$711.6K
award nomination
1
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The Climb (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 38m (98 min)
Genres
Drama , Comedy
Original language
English
Budget
$3M
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Climb About?

The premise of The Climb without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

A poignant story about male friendship, it explores the complexities of a lifelong bond tested by betrayal and emotional pain. Kyle and Mike experience moments of laughter, sadness, and anger as their relationship is pushed to its limits. The film reveals the raw beauty and humor found within the most authentic connections, examining the challenges and resilience of their enduring friendship.

The Climb Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • male nudity
  • male bonding
  • male friendship
  • male rear nudity
  • penis
  • cyclist
  • ice fishing
  • ice fishing hut
  • track cycling
  • best friends
  • bachelor party
  • written and directed by star
+38 more
  • france
  • infidelity
  • french woman
  • public passionate kiss
  • graveside service
  • death of wife
  • chapter headings
  • sex on washing machine
  • thanksgiving dinner
  • voice actor
  • engagement announcement
  • family christmas
  • reunion of friends
  • ski holiday
  • drunken man
  • broken wrist
  • jagermeister
  • new year's eve celebration
  • attempted kiss
  • kidnapping prank
  • snorting cocaine
  • movie theater
  • interrupted wedding ceremony
  • bicycle repair
  • divorce
  • moving truck
  • riding a bicycle with training wheels
  • father son relationship
  • falling through ice
  • man wears jockey shorts
  • man passes out
  • woman punches a man
  • written by director
  • actor director writer
  • reference to rob thomas
  • reference to judas iscariot
  • reference to jesus
  • scene before opening credits
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Cast & crew

The Climb Cast & Characters

Michael Angelo Covino leads the cast as Mike, with Kyle Marvin as Kyle and Judith Godrèche as Ava.

Ratings

The Climb Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Climb 90% on Rotten Tomatoes and 82 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 6.7/10. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in story & flow (60).

78 /100

The Climb Echo Score Breakdown

In general, The Climb receives commendation for its thoughtful examination of friendship and inventive direction, offset by uneven pacing and occasional tonal inconsistencies. Many reviews highlight the film’s offbeat humor and sincere portrayal of male relationships as primary strengths. Criticism often centers on story cohesion and a lack of accountability for toxic behaviors. Overall, The Climb registers as a nuanced but somewhat uneven comedy-drama that rewards attentive viewers.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of art and craft, The Climb excels through its fluid direction and dynamic camerawork. Critics and users note the long takes and tracking shots that immerse viewers in scenes and the inventive transitions marking time jumps. Despite its low budget, the production design remains coherent and focused. Overall, the film’s visual approach contributes a consistently engaging aesthetic.

  • Character & Emotion 75

    When it comes to character and emotion, The Climb offers nuanced performances that capture the awkwardness and sincerity of male friendship. Reviewers praise the naturalistic acting of the leads and Gayle Rankin’s grounded presence. However, some note a lack of redeeming traits or accountability for one character, which hinders emotional resonance. Overall, the portrayal remains compelling yet uneven.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, The Climb presents an original structure with uncut segments that underscore the passage of time. Some observers commend the precise script and thematic depth, while others find the pacing uneven and the narrative lacking sufficient backstory for the friendship’s roots. Ultimately, the plot remains engaging but occasionally strained by its own ambitions.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When it comes to sensory experience, The Climb balances an understated soundtrack with precise sound design and a cohesive visual style. Reviews mention the musical interludes as both brilliant markers of time and occasionally superfluous. The sound mix receives particular praise for its clarity, and the visual palette maintains an intimate, realistic tone. Overall, the sensory elements are largely effective.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    In terms of rewatch factor, The Climb offers thought-provoking moments that reward repeat viewings with its subtle character nuances and thematic layers. Some viewers find that the film’s talky nature and resolution limit its replay value after initial impressions. Nevertheless, the offbeat humor and authentic interactions sustain a moderate lasting appeal. Overall, it retains interest on subsequent viewings.

Plot

The Climb Plot Summary

What happens in The Climb from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Chapter 1 — I’m Sorry

Best friends Mike Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Kyle Marvin are out for a bike ride when Mike drops a painful truth: he’s sleeping with Kyle’s fiancée, Ava Judith Godrèche. The confession sparks a fierce argument, and Mike’s temper boils over into a road-rage moment that ends with him being assaulted after chasing a motorist down the road. At the hospital, where Mike recovers from minor head wounds, Ava arrives to visit, and the tension in the room intensifies as Kyle confronts her about the affair. The scene is tense and uncomfortable, revealing how fragile trust has become between two friends who once shared everything.

Chapter 2 — Let Go

Full summary

The whole story of The Climb, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Climb Box Office & Budget

The Climb grossed $711,639 worldwide on a $3 million budget, 24% of what it cost. $234,429 came from the US and Canada and $477,210 (67%) from the rest of the world.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$711.6K

24% of its budget back

US & Canada
$234.4K
International
$477.2K
Budget
$3M
US & Canada 33% Rest of the world 67%
Awards

The Climb Awards & Nominations

The Climb earned 1 award nomination, including Best First Feature at the Spirit Awards 2020.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

The Climb Trailers & Videos

7 videos: 1 trailer, 2 clips and 4 featurettes.

All 7 videos
Official Trailer
  • Clip Bunny Slopes Clip
  • Clip Extended Preview
  • Featurette TIFF 2019 Cast and Crew Q&A
  • Featurette THE CLIMB's Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin on filming the movie's most challenging scene
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Climb?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What are the names of the two best friends whose relationship drives the story?

Details

The Climb Also Known As

22 alternative titles, including “Изкачването” and “Virsune”.

Also known as
  • Изкачването
  • Virsune
  • Pod górkę
  • A Amizade
  • Сходження
  • Az emelkedő
  • Yoxuş
  • The Climb - La salita
  • La montée
  • Успон
  • 이 죽일 놈의 우정
  • 爬坡人生
+10 more
  • A Subida
  • 婊兄弟上路
  • Cima a la amistad
  • เพื่อนซี้มีไว้ถีบ
  • Felfelé a lejtőn
  • Восхождение
  • עליות ומורדות
  • Yokuş
  • Kāpiens
  • カイル&マイク 俺たちの人生は上り坂

Seen The Climb?

FAQ

The Climb FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Climb, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Climb?

The Climb runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).

When was The Climb released?

The Climb was released on November 13, 2020.

Who is in the cast of The Climb?

The Climb stars Michael Angelo Covino as Mike, Kyle Marvin as Kyle and Judith Godrèche as Ava, among 14 credited actors.

How much did The Climb make at the box office?

The Climb grossed $711,639 worldwide ($234,429 domestic, $477,210 international) on a budget of $3 million.

How is The Climb rated?

The Climb has 6.7/10 on IMDb, 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, 82 on Metacritic and 61% on TMDB.

Was The Climb nominated for any awards?

The Climb received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does The Climb have a post-credit scene?

No. The Climb has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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