Cinema in Chamonix

Take a look at the charming trompe-l’œil mural on the back of the building—it shows a film crew in action, and it’s a fun reminder that Chamonix doesn’t just have a cinema… the town has also made its mark on the big screen! The Vox cinema opened in 1957 and today, it features three recently renovated theaters—perfect if you want to catch a movie during your mountain stay. One of the most iconic films shot here in Chamonix is Premier de cordée, or First on the Rope. Adapted from the novel by Roger Frison-Roche, it was filmed in 1944 and tells the story of a young man torn between his love of the mountains and the expectations of his father. It’s a classic—and a great way to get a feel for the spirit of Chamonix. Another memorable film set here is Malabar Princess, released in 2004. It tells the story of a young boy searching for his mother, who vanished in a plane crash on Mont Blanc. The film is inspired by a real crash that happened in 1950. There have been several other local productions too. Tout là-haut (Up There), directed by Serge Hazanavicius in 2017, pays tribute to Marco Siffredi—a snowboarder from Chamonix who disappeared on Everest. Les Aiguilles Rouges (The Red Needles) is a more intimate film, based on a real expedition experienced by its director in the 1960s. More recently, the film La Montagne (The Mountain) by Thomas Salvador, screened at Cannes in 2022, offers a mix of quiet reflection, mystery, and even fantasy—set entirely in the heart of the Alps. But Chamonix’s dramatic scenery has been turning heads for decades—even in Hollywood. Back in 1956, American filmmakers adapted the French novel La Neige en Deuil (Snow in Mourning) into a film called The Mountain, telling the story of two brothers searching for the wreckage of a plane crash high in the Alps. One thing’s for sure—if you want to see Chamonix on screen, you’ve got plenty of great films to choose from!