The Best Movies with Ski Scenes: 12 Films Every Skier Must Watch

Skiing made its Hollywood debut in the early 1930s, when it first became popular in the United States. Since then, the mountains have provided the backdrop for some of cinema's most exhilarating sequences — from Bond chases to quiet Scandinavian family dramas. Here are our favourite films featuring iconic skiing and snowboarding scenes.

Looking for more mountain inspiration? Explore our best music festivals at ski resorts and discover women's ski fashion through the ages.

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1. The Spy Who Loved Me (1977)

The film opens with one of cinema's most iconic ski chase sequences: Bond skis off a cliff face in Austria and deploys a Union Jack parachute mid-air. Filmed on the Aiguille du Midi above Chamonix — see our

guide to ski resorts for non-skiers for Chamonix's off-slope wonders. Stuntman Rick Sylvester performed the cliff jump for real and was paid $30,000.

2. Goldfinger (1964)

Bond's Aston Martin DB5 is pursued along the hairpins of the Furka Pass in Switzerland — a road that also features in our best Alpine driving routes guide. The Bond franchise did more for Alpine tourism than any marketing campaign.

3. Inception (2010)

Christopher Nolan's thriller features an unforgettable ski chase in its third dream level — a fortified mountain hospital surrounded by hostile gunmen. Filmed on location in Alberta, Canada, with genuine powder skiing by the stunt team. One of the finest ski sequences in modern cinema.

 

4. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

This sequel features an insane sequence in which the main characters become trapped in a fast-rotating ski lift. Filmed at a real resort with exceptional stunt work — a uniquely Kingsman combination of stylish, violent, and completely over the top.

5. Force Majeure (2014)

The most thoughtful film on our list. This Cannes-acclaimed Swedish drama follows a family on a ski trip in the French Alps who witness a controlled avalanche — and are forced to confront the husband's alarming instincts when it approaches. A devastating, darkly funny study of masculinity and marriage. Essential viewing.

6. Eddie the Eagle (2015)

This biographical comedy follows Eddie Edwards — played with enormous warmth by Taron Egerton — the British ski jumper who became an unlikely hero at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Hugh Jackman co-stars as his unconventional coach. Funny, moving, and genuinely inspiring.

7. Downhill Racer (1969)

Robert Redford stars as a ruthless young American ski racer. The film features extraordinary real-racing footage — Redford and his stunt doubles actually ski the World Cup courses — giving it a documentary authenticity that no CGI can replicate. Still the definitive ski racing movie.

8. Chalet Girl (2011)

Former skateboarding champion Kim (Felicity Jones) takes a job as a chalet girl in the Austrian Alps and discovers an unexpected talent for snowboarding. A warm-hearted romantic comedy with excellent mountain scenery — the perfect après-ski film.

9. Hot Dog...The Movie (1983)

A cult classic of the era, featuring genuinely impressive freestyle skiing and a very particular moment in ski culture. Pair it with our women's ski fashion through the ages blog for a fascinating time capsule of 1980s mountain style.

10. Aspen Extreme (1993)

Two friends from Detroit head to Aspen to become ski instructors. More grounded than Hot Dog, with a surprisingly effective story about ambition, friendship and the seductive pull of the ski resort world. The Aspen scenery is gorgeous.

11. The Mountain (1956)

Spencer Tracy and Robert Wagner in this classic about a plane crash high in the Alps and an obsessive search for the wreckage. Filmed partly on the Aiguille du Midi and Mont Blanc — the mountain's scale and danger are captured magnificently.

12. First Tracks (2022)

This documentary follows legendary ski mountaineer Angel Collinson on a quest to ski the most remote mountains on earth. Breathtaking cinematography, genuine danger, and a remarkable subject make this one of the best ski documentaries of recent years.

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The perfect gift for the ski fan who loves cinema — mountain art prints and ski-themed homeware inspired by the drama of the slopes.

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Bring the mountains home. Our Mountain Art collection features beautiful ski-inspired prints and homeware created by British artist Natasha Durlacher — perfect for the film buff and mountain lover in your life. Browse our Mountain Art collection