Man on Wire poster

Man on Wire

1974. 1350 feet up. The artistic crime of the century.

7.4(1,007)20081h 34m3

On August 7th 1974, French tightrope walker Philippe Petit stepped out on a high wire, illegally rigged between New York's World Trade Center twin towers, then the world's tallest buildings. After nearly an hour of performing on the wire, 1,350 feet above the sidewalks of Manhattan, he was arrested. This fun and spellbinding documentary chronicles Philippe Petit's "highest" achievement.

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Status
Released
Budget
—
Box office
$3M
Language
English
  • judge
  • 1970s
  • juggler
  • based on true story
  • street artist
  • jail
  • fame
  • hiding
  • tower
  • tightrope
  • world trade center
  • notre dame cathedral

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

James Marsh

Produced in

United Kingdom

Gallery

Still from Man on WireStill from Man on Wire

Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • PremiereSundance Film Festival22 Jan 2008
    • TheatricalPG-1329 Aug 2008
  • United KingdomGB

    • Theatrical12A1 Aug 2008
  • CanadaCA

    • Theatrical (limited)14A1 Aug 2008
  • AustriaAT

    • Digital / OTT621 Oct 2008
  • DenmarkDK

    • Theatrical (limited)151 Aug 2008
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical622 Jan 2009
  • GreeceGR

    • Theatrical25 Mar 2010
  • IrelandIE

    • Digital / OTT1212 Jul 2008
  • JapanJP

    • Digital / OTTG13 Jun 2009
  • NorwayNO

    • Physical121 Aug 2008
  • PortugalPT

    • TheatricalM/65 Mar 2009
  • South KoreaKR

    • Theatrical1229 Oct 2015

Frequently asked questions

Man on Wire was released on 1 August 2008.

Audience reviews

1
  • C

    CinemaSerf

    6/4/2025

    6/10

    If you ever saw “Spills and Chills” (1949) then you’ll get a sense of mankind’s obsession with doing daft things at great altitude. This takes that audacity just one step further as it introduces us to French acrobat Philippe Petit who has designs on the ultimate on American daftness. He is going to string some high wires between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York and set off into the middle for so…

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