🎬 Feature Film

Chris O'Donnell

1970Directed by American

Chris O'Donnell is an American actor known for his roles as Robin in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, and as Special Agent G. Callen in the long-running CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles.

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Chris O'Donnell filmed 1 production in Queenstown: Vertical Limit. Chris O'Donnell is an American actor known for his roles as Robin in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, and as Special Agent G. Callen in the long-running CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles.

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About O'Donnell

American actor, 1 production filmed in Queenstown.

Chris O'Donnell is an American actor known for his roles as Robin in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, and as Special Agent G. Callen in the long-running CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles.

In Vertical Limit (2000), O'Donnell played Peter Garrett - a climber who must rescue his sister from near-certain death on K2. The film used Queenstown's Remarkables mountain range and the surrounding Southern Alps to stand in for the world's second-highest peak.

The production involved extensive location work at altitude, with cast and crew living in Queenstown for weeks while filming the climbing sequences in the surrounding mountains. O'Donnell trained extensively in mountaineering techniques for the role.

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Films Shot in Queenstown

Every production O'Donnell filmed in the Queenstown-Lakes region, with characters, roles, and behind‑the‑scenes stories.

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Vertical Limit

2000Martin Campbell

“O'Donnell trained in rock climbing and ice craft for weeks before filming began. The production based itself in Queenstown and filmed on the Remarkables and in the Southern Alps - with some sequences shot at altitudes above 2,000 metres. O'Donnell called the experience 'terrifying and magnificent in equal measure.'”
Chris O'Donnell, on filming Vertical Limit

Behind the Camera

Queenstown Stories

Trivia, anecdotes, and inside stories from O'Donnell's time filming in Queenstown.

Where was Vertical Limit filmed in Queenstown?

The Remarkables mountain range, Mount Cook/Aoraki region and the Southern Alps near Queenstown were used to double for K2, the world's second-highest peak. The production was based in Queenstown, with cast and crew commuting to high-altitude locations daily. Some scenes were shot above 2,000 metres.

Did Chris O'Donnell really climb for Vertical Limit?

O'Donnell underwent extensive mountaineering training before filming, learning rock climbing, ice craft and rope techniques. While the most dangerous stunts were performed by professional climbers, O'Donnell performed many of his own scenes on the Remarkables and surrounding peaks. He has described the experience as physically the most demanding of his career.

Is Vertical Limit based on a true story?

No - Vertical Limit is a fictional action thriller. However, the climbing technicalities and some of the survival scenarios draw from real mountaineering accidents and rescue operations on peaks like K2. The filmmakers consulted extensively with professional climbers to ensure authenticity.

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