At the center of Man on Wire, aside from the bold recital of incomparable performance art, Petit is The Great Storyteller reeling us into his foolhardy personal adventure. We go willingly, joyfully, in awe.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Oct 2, 2025

Man On Wire is an astonishing, adorable, playful and absolutely unforgettable film.

Full Review | Sep 27, 2021

Reminds us that dreams can come true and men can fly, through the heights of the imagination and the triumph of the human spirit - this a film for all those who ever dared to dream.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Jul 7, 2019

Some of the on-the-spot footage of the eccentric French thrillseeker's exploits truly boggle the mind (including a controversial stroll Petit once took across the Sydney Harbour Bridge).

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | May 25, 2018

Man on Wire is 80 minutes of white-knuckled suspense followed by a surprisingly emotional climax.

Full Review | Aug 21, 2017

Exhilarating docu about high-wire feat has some edgy scenes.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 3, 2015

...captures the mysterious beauty of Petit's obsession, without ever being so gauche as to 'explain' it.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Oct 1, 2015

The triumph of Man on Wire is its archival footage, including the stunning scenes of Petit dancing and tumbling 1,350 feet above the pavement. They put the most dizzying shots of The Dark Knight to shame.

Full Review | Mar 6, 2015

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Feb 18, 2012

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 18, 2011

The pains of the public eye are acknowledged just as much as the joy this artistic endeavour brought people.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Apr 8, 2011

Despite a known outcome, James Marsh's documentary offers sublime thrills - grafting the tense suspense of a heist film onto an existential dissection of artistic accomplishment and true friendship.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Sep 19, 2010

The tension builds incrementally, reaching almost unbearable heights at its dizzying climax.

Full Review | Jul 6, 2010

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Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Mar 26, 2010

It all makes for an absorbing, mischievously amusing yarn, whose climax unfolds with unexpected emotional force.

Full Review | May 7, 2009

Interviewed today, Petit is a whale of a storyteller, and he recalls with relish the chilling details of that amazing day.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Apr 23, 2009

Man On Wire's cinematic tension that in the wire Philippe Petit balanced on as he walked between the Twin Towers in the history-making high wire stunt shown in this compelling documentary. The film's also a poignant memorial to the hallowed Twin To

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Apr 3, 2009

Not only a fun heist movie but also a moving tale of spiritual uplift and beauty.

Full Review | Feb 27, 2009

The details of how the event was planned and staged are fascinating, but a crucial element missing from the film is good cinematography of the actual event.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Feb 8, 2009

A feat like the one Philippe Petit pulled off deserves to be documented.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Dec 24, 2008