US rock climber Alex Honnold, famed for his free solo ascents of El Capitan, speaks at Yosemite National Park, California on October 26, 2025, amid the ongoing US government shutdown. Thousands of adrenaline junkies including BASE jumpers are flocking to California’s Yosemite National Park, as the US government shutdown leaves park rangers short-staffed to cope at the world-renowned climbing destination.The shutdown, which began on October 1 due to the budget impasse between Republicans and Democrats in Congress, has seen personnel levels plummet at this national park — which is home to the imposing 3,000-foot granite wall known as El Capitan.”We’re challenged,” a park ranger told AFP, on condition of anonymity.”A lot of rangers have been furloughed” and those still working have had to contend with “an increase in illegal activity,” he said. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP) (Photo by FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
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Before Alex Honnold conquered the Taipei 101 tower during Netflix’s Skyscraper Live on Saturday, the prolific climber was featured in the 2018 Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo.
During Skyscraper Live, Honnold set a new record with his free solo climb — a climb without ropes or safety nets — of the Taipei 101, the 11th tallest building in the world at 1,667 feet in height. The 101 story Taipei 101 marked Honnold’s first attempt at free soloing a skyscraper after climbing rock faces for 30 years.
Perhaps Honnold’s most high-profile appearance before Skyscraper Live came in 2018 in the documentary feature Free Solo, where Honnold became the first climber in history to do a free solo climb of the 3,000-foot rock face of El Capitan Summit at Yellowstone National Park in California.
Free Solo earned directors Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, and producers Evan Hayes and Shannon Dill the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 2019 Academy Awards.
Rated PG-13, Free Solo, which is a National Geographic film, is currently available to stream for subscribers of Netflix and Disney+.
The film is also available to purchase or rent on digital streaming via video on demand on Apple TV, Prime Video and YouTube, and for purchase only on Fandango at Home.
Alex Honnold Joined The ‘Free Solo’ Winners Onstage At The Oscars
Jason Momoa and Helen Mirren presented the Best Documentary Feature Oscar to Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Evan Hayes and Shannon Dill at the 2019 Oscars. As part of her acceptance speech, Vasarhelyi thanked Honnold and his wife, Sanni McCandless, who joined the filmmakers onstage.
“Thank you, Alex Honnold, for giving us courage and teaching us how to believe in the impossible and inspiring us,” Vasarhelyi said to the climber while at the podium. “This film is for everyone who believes in the impossible.”
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 24: (L-R) Evan Hayes, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Jimmy Chin, Shannon Dill, Alex Honnold and Sanni McCandless accept the Documentary (Feature) award for ‘Free Solo’ onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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Free Solo was also a big hit with critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes, earning a 97% “fresh” score based on 159 reviews and a 93% “fresh” Popcornmeter score based on 2,500-plus verified user ratings.
The RT Critics Consensus for the film reads, “Free Solo depicts athletic feats that many viewers will find beyond reason – and grounds the attempts in passions that are all but universal.”
Free Solo is available to stream on Netflix and Disney+ and is available for purchase or rent on video on demand, while an edited version of Skyscraper Live is streaming on Netflix.