Name: Man on Wire
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2008-08-01
Duration: 94 min
Rating: 7.1
Cast: Philippe Petit, Jean François Heckel, Jean-Louis Blondeau, Annie Allix, David Forman

2008·Documentary·1h 34m

7.1

★

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.

Directed by James Marsh

judge

1970s

juggler

based on true story

street artist

jail

fame

hiding

tower

tightrope

world trade center

notre dame cathedral

Trailer

IMDB

N/A

Where to Watch

Cast

Philippe Petit

Himself

Mark Lewis

Himself

Richard Nixon

Self (archive footage)

Crew

James Marsh

Director

Philippe Petit

Writer

Andrea Meditch

Executive Producer

Simon Chinn

Producer

Michael Nyman

Music

Popular Reviews

170 reviews

Madison RouleauPRO

7.0★ · 04/04/26

Nirvana The Band The Show The Movie (2026)

super humble guy. Most French thing ever

Jonathan Kim

8.0★ · 03/24/26

Saw this media studies class. Something about French people going into orgasmic detail about their hyperfixations, that really tickles my brain

8/10

koi

2.0★ · 01/15/26

idk why he’s thought of as some amazing guy. i could do this easily. and even better, im not french.

Sky

7.0★ · 08/22/25

For a UK based documentary this film is sooooo unashamedly French. You could’ve told me Agnes Varda co directed this and I (maybe) might’ve believed you. A prime example of the notion that non fictional direction doesn’t have to be soulless or void of artistry

Treyward

7.0★ · 08/13/25

Philippe Petit: It's impossible, that's sure. So let's start working.

An incredibly solid retelling of events from one of the most fascinating scenes in American history.
Takes a bit to get to the titular day (which is when this documentary hits its stride). But it really sells the true terror and spectacle that come with it all.