Monday Morning Maybe

Add your email and we'll match picks to the services you stream at home.

Poster for First Descent

First Descent

Seen it?

2005 | 110 min | Documentary

Weeknight Watchearly rating

Why it’s a Weeknight Watch

With almost no lasting buzz and middling reviews (52% on Rotten Tomatoes), it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Tailor-made for sports fans (and people who swear they aren't) and people who'll be looking things up afterwards. You don't need to know the game to feel the big moments. A good follow-up to Grizzly Man or Icarus. Based on real events, so expect to go down a research rabbit hole afterwards.
The mood
Eye-opening.
The pace
Well paced for a documentary, at 1 hr 50 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • Skip it if you want made-up drama tonight.

First Descent is a 2005 documentary film about snowboarding and its beginning in the 1980s. The snowboarders featured in this movie (Shawn Farmer, Nick Perata, Terje Haakonsen, Hannah Teter and Shaun White with guest appearances from Travis Rice) represent three generations of snowboarders and the progress this young sport has made over the past two decades. Most of the movie was shot in Alaska.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsBelow par

    52% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $740K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 2K people sought it out in the past year

More like this

Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks

Cast & crew

Directed by Kemp Curly, Kevin Harrison

  • Shaun WhiteHimself
  • Hannah TeterHerself
  • Shawn FarmerHimself
  • Terje HaakonsenHimself
  • Travis RiceHimself
  • Nick PerataHimself