There’s something special about the relationship between Bob Odenkirk and David Cross. Perhaps it’s the fact that their bond was forged decades ago through the fiery test of an old sketch comedy show, or maybe it’s that Cross played one of the funniest roles in sitcom history while Odenkirk anchored one of the best dramatic and comic roles of the modern television era. Either way, there’s something charming and fun about Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu, a documentary that explores the test of friendship. It looks at the weird parasocial ways your relationships with your famous friends evolve over time, along with the basics of connection that are inside all of us.
Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu Tribeca Review
Bob Odenkirk and David Cross in Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2026.
There are so many documentaries to watch at a festival, and every one of them needs a distinct hook. Sometimes that hook is a modern technology, and other times it’s a famous person. I’ve seen several documentaries at Tribeca so far that deal with similar subject matter. For many of these films, it ends up being far more about the viewer’s predetermined investment in the characters than anything else.
When David Cross pitches Bob Odenkirk on a grueling, multi-day hike to Machu Picchu, a journey I think he’s wanted for his life, the narrative instantly gains a poignant layer of gravity. Because of Odenkirk’s recent heart attack that he faced during the final season of Better Call Saul, the documentary pivots. It becomes this touching story of a man trying to achieve a lifelong bucket-list goal with his best friend by his side before it’s too late.
Related: 16 Years Later, Bob Odenkirk’s Favorite Saul Goodman Scene Remains One of the Most Powerful TV Moments Ever Made
For fans of the two actors, it’s easy to move past any standard documentary formatting because it’s pure fun to watch your favorite people do things. At the same time, that’s arguably what a project like Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu is made for. Some critics might think documentary filmmaking should be a serious medium reserved for intense, hard-hitting stories.
This feature film, however, happily sheds any semblance of self-important pretension. It understands its place in the world as a comedic, high-altitude road movie. It strips away the performance aspect, replacing it with exhaustion, coca leaves, and real vulnerability between two comedy icons who are winded but still in sync.
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One of the most striking and funny observations throughout the film is the divergent paths that Odenkirk’s and Cross’s careers have taken over the years. Odenkirk is constantly stopped by fans on the grueling trail and asked for photos. In a hilarious and awkward running bit, he tries to cheer Cross up by asking the various fans of Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad if they’ve also seen Cross’s performance in Arrested Development.
It could easily play as a self-important reflection on a moderate star complaining about fame, but it feels disarming. It allows Cross and Odenkirk to share a more earnest version of themselves while still delivering the brilliant comic chops they’ve always had.
Related: Bob Odenkirk: Vince Gilligan’s ‘Pluribus’ Will Be the Biggest Show Since Severance on Apple TV+
Is Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu worth watching?
The documentary is a charming film that excels by focusing on two aging legends taking a trip together. It feels simple, but it’s also fun to watch. It lives up to the promise of its name. Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu is the kind of breezy, touching reflection on mortality and comedy that you want it to be.
Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, which runs from June 3 – 14, 2026.
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