Man on Wire (2008)
Kernel Score: 83% · 943 ratings · Rated PG-13
Genres: Documentary
Released: 2008-08-01
Runtime: 94 minutes
Where to watch Man on Wire
- Stream: Netflix, Prime Video
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Hoopla, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home, YouTube Free
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
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.
Man on Wire parents' guide: ages 8+
Parents need to know that Man on Wire is a PG-13 documentary about Philippe Petit's illegal high-wire walk between the World Trade Center towers.
- Violence & scariness: A little — No real violence, though the extreme height and danger of the tightrope stunt may unsettle sensitive viewers.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official PG-13 rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Man on Wire
If you liked Man on Wire, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) — 85%
- Deliver Us from Evil (2006) — 79%
- 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (2021) — 83%
- The Walk (2015) — 76%
- Whitney (2018) — 82%
- O.J.: Made in America (2016) — 90%
- Office Romance (1977) — 87%
- Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006) — 81%
Director
James Marsh
Cast
- Philippe Petit as Himself
- Jean François Heckel as Himself
- Jean-Louis Blondeau as Himself
- Annie Allix as Herself
- David Forman as Himself
- Alan Welner as Himself
- Barry Greenhouse as Himself
- Jim Moore as Himself
- Mark Lewis as Himself
- Richard Nixon as Self (archive footage)
Man on Wire FAQ
Is Man on Wire good?
Man on Wire has an 83% Kernel Score on Fresh Kernels from 943 audience ratings.
Where can I watch Man on Wire?
In the US you can stream Man on Wire on Netflix and Prime Video, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Hoopla, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home and YouTube Free and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Man on Wire OK for kids?
Man on Wire is rated PG-13. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 8+. Parents need to know that Man on Wire is a PG-13 documentary about Philippe Petit's illegal high-wire walk between the World Trade Center towers.
What movies are like Man on Wire?
If you liked Man on Wire, try Exit Through the Gift Shop, Deliver Us from Evil, 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible and The Walk.