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      Watch trailer for Man on Wire

      Man on Wire

      2008, Documentary, 1h 30m

      160 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

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      Critics Consensus

      James Marsh's doc about artist Phililppe Petit's artful caper brings you every ounce of suspense that can be wrung from a man on a (suspended) wire. Read critic reviews

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      Man on Wire  Photos

      "Man on Wire photo 1" "Man on Wire photo 2" "Man on Wire photo 3" "Man on Wire photo 4" "Man on Wire photo 5" "Man on Wire photo 6" "Man on Wire photo 7" Man on Wire (2008) Man on Wire (2008) Man on Wire (2008) Man on Wire (2008) Man on Wire (2008) Man on Wire (2008) Man on Wire (2008) Man on Wire (2008) "Man on Wire photo 12" "Man on Wire photo 13" "Man on Wire photo 14" Man on Wire (2008) Man on Wire (2008) "Man on Wire photo 16" "Man on Wire photo 17" "Man on Wire photo 18"

      Movie Info

      Using actual footage from the event seamlessly mingled with new re-enactments, filmmaker James Marsh masterfully recreates high-wire daredevil Philippe Petit's 1974 stunt: performing acrobatics on a thin wire strung between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. Plotting his feat like a master cat burglar, Petit enlists the help of a motley group of friends as he calculates every detail, from acquiring building access to stringing up the wire, and manages to pull off an astounding crime.

      • Rating: PG-13 (Some Sexuality|Some Nudity|Drug References)

      • Genre: Documentary

      • Original Language: English

      • Director: James Marsh

      • Producer: Simon Chinn

      • Release Date (Theaters):  limited

      • Release Date (Streaming):

      • Box Office (Gross USA): $3.0M

      • Runtime:

      • Distributor: Magnolia Pictures

      • Production Co: Discovery Films, UK Film Council

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      Critic Reviews for Man on Wire

      Audience Reviews for Man on Wire

      • Jan 22, 2016
        Based on the memoir of Philippe Petit, Man on Wire tells the extraordinary story of one of the most daring artistic coups of the 20th century. In this documentary Petit and his team recount their 1974 exploit of rigging a high-wire between the World Trade Center towers (still under construction at the time) in order for Petit to give a wire walking performance. In addition to the interviews, original footage and re-enactments are used to help complete the story; showing how the team planned and trained for the event (infiltrating construction crews, building scale models, etc.). However, the filmmakers don't explore the larger context; the impact that the event had. Still, Man on Wire is a remarkably compelling look at a feat of incredible ingenuity and audacity.
        Super Reviewer
      • Sep 08, 2014
        A magnificent feat told by its own participants. Emotionally engaging and exhilarating.
        pierluigi p Super Reviewer
      • Jul 31, 2013
        An unnecessarily prolonged documentary, forcefully expanded twice its required length in order to tell a story much more interesting than its cinematic execution. The emotional fillers do not add anything to the story. I appreciate the balance maintained between seriousness and the comedic moments: anecdotes are anecdotes. The commentary regarding how an intrepid pursuit of a life dream that does not fit into the liberalism structure of our economy and the conservative laws around the world is cataloged as "guilty" under the charges of "trespassing" and "disorder behavior" is amusing. We saw the inspirational message of never giving up, of not allowing ourselves to live restricted to rules, etc., coming from miles away. But how can I buy it? A fearless man is recommending me to evolve an intrepid mentality and break borders. He should have also made people remember that such process should not necessarily lead to illegal actions, life-risking activities or simply achievements that surpass average standards, because no profession or ocupation is better than the other, or more admirable. Wrongfully, the entire story is called at the very end a "love story", because thanks to that typical fanatism that people have for worshipping deeds like that of Philippe, he scored and got a girl, resulting also in sequences of unnecessary graphic sexuality, maybe to remind us of the naughty French spirit? It is indeed a love story, but to a dream come true. The Academy choosing this average documentary over Herzog's work is actually more fearless than Philippe's deed! I rest my case with that statement. 58/100
        Super Reviewer
      • May 28, 2013
        A stuntman/performer dreams up a stunt impossible to ignore in the modern day world full of been there, done that. True enough, I wondered what's the big deal, "a guy on a tightrope", blah, blah, blah, yada, yada. Fueling these thoughts, the man himself, Monsieur Petit, seems a shameless attention hog, one whom it inadvertently pleases one to ignor. But then, the stunt itself ... jaw droppingly, utterly un-friggen-believable! See it.
        kevin w Super Reviewer

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