The Walk

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4:42

The Walk

PG

Released Oct 9, 2015

2h 4m

Biography

Drama

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

83%

Tomatometer

279 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

As a boy, Philippe Petit dreams of performing daring feats for dazzled crowds. As an adult (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), his life's ambition comes true when he becomes a high-wire artist who stares death in the face with every step. Under the guidance of mentor Papa Rudy, the French daredevil devises a plan to walk on a tightrope attached to the north and south towers of the World Trade Center. With help from his team and against all odds, Petit attempts the seemingly impossible stunt on Aug. 7, 1974.

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Critics Consensus

The Walk attempts a tricky balancing act between thrilling visuals and fact-based drama -- and like its wire-walking protagonist, pulls it off with impressive élan.

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J. Hoberman

The New York Review of Books

The stunt is worth the wait. In a sense it's something we've been waiting for since September 12, 2001.

Mar 28, 2017

Full Review

Max Weiss

Baltimore Magazine

Just the mechanics of getting to the roof are fun -- filled with surprise allies and strokes of luck and last minute escapes.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 12, 2016

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Jason Bailey

Flavorwire

It's applause-worthy work, and a killer climax. But a killer climax does not a motion picture make.

May 3, 2016

Full Review

David Nusair

Reel Film Reviews

...a far-from-streamlined drama that’s elevated by its performances and smattering of engrossing sequences...

Rated: 3/4

Oct 5, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

Zemeckis is in his element here and the film starts to pick up energy, and as the outcome is no doubt--it's history, after all--Zemeckis eases us from the thrill of the caper mechanics into something more spiritual

Aug 19, 2023

Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

Through all of the character history and careful planning the narrative sometimes sputters in its attempt to maintain a crisp pacing. But once it comes time for the big act, “The Walk” is every bit as high-tension and breathtaking as you would expect.

Rated: 3/5

Aug 21, 2022

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Sharang L

The actual 'walk' sequences are truly stomach-churning. You find yourselves flinching every moment as Petit does his balancing act. Very little here in terms of a story though.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/16/24

Full Review

Birithivy Y

The Walk - 8/10. Robert Zemeckis, whose career is full of amazing films (Back To The Future, Forrest Gump, Cast Away, and Flight just to name a few), directed this amazingly underrated true story film depicting the amazing feat that Philippe Petit had done at the World Trade Center. A french daredevil trying to find his next big stunt, sees the towers when he comes to NYC, and decides that doing a tightrope routine in between the buildings would be his magnum opus. A brilliant and surprisingly thrilling film, it captures the pure vertigo and thrill that Petit probably had when crossing that wire on that fateful day. Its one of those rare fact films which feels so good to be true, and that when you actually look at the story in real life, you will be so surprised that this was all true. The movie was meant to be viewed on the big screen, and I was so happy to watch it in Imax. The way Zemeckis captures the tight rope scene is pure exhilaration and tension. He brilliantly uses his expertise of blending great special effects with well staged scenes. The movie is literally built around this event, so if these scenes failed, the movie would have failed. Joseph Gordon Levitt also turns in a wonderful performance as the french daredevil. The accent is a little bit hammed up, but he convinces you that he is really up there doing the balancing act. Its a great film that ends on a sad note due to the gift that the protagonist receives for his feat. But as a film, it entertains and is such a great experience of visceral viewing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/30/24

Full Review

Mitchell S

It's artistic! It's inspiring! It's a true story of a dream being completed through persistence! "All artists are anarchists to some degree." Indeed if you're an artist, you will not want to miss this!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/26/24

Full Review

Joshua M

Watch the last 30 minutes. No need to waste your time with the first hour and a half. Also, why didn’t they find a French actor…

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

08/19/24

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Audience Member

What mind numbing boring movie idk wtf these reviews are talking about.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

03/28/24

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Alec B

There's really no reason for this film to exist, but due to Zemeckis' technical prowess it is highly watchable.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/14/23

Full Review

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Robert Zemeckis

Director

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Philippe Petit

Ben Kingsley

Papa Rudy

Charlotte Le Bon

Annie

James Badge Dale

Jean-Pierre

Clément Sibony

Jean-Louis

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The Walk: Movie Clip - Sending the Cable

1:14

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The Walk: Trailer 2

4:42

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Synopsis

As a boy, Philippe Petit dreams of performing daring feats for dazzled crowds. As an adult (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), his life's ambition comes true when he becomes a high-wire artist who stares death in the face with every step. Under the guidance of mentor Papa Rudy, the French daredevil devises a plan to walk on a tightrope attached to the north and south towers of the World Trade Center. With help from his team and against all odds, Petit attempts the seemingly impossible stunt on Aug. 7, 1974.

Director: Robert Zemeckis
Producer: Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Jack Rapke
Screenwriter: Robert Zemeckis, Christopher Browne
Distributor: Sony Pictures Entertainment
Production Co: ImageMovers
Rating: PG (Language|Brief Drug References|Thematic Elements|Perilous Situations|Smoking|Some Nudity)
Genre: Biography, Drama, Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 9, 2015, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $10.1M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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