The film 's producer Simon Chinn first encountered Philippe Petit in April 2005 on BBC Radio 4 's '' Desert Island Discs '' , after which he decided to try to acquire the film rights to his book , '' To Reach the Clouds '' . After months of discussion , Petit agreed , with the condition that he could actively collaborate in the making of the film . In an interview conducted during the run of '' Man on Wire '' at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival , director James Marsh explained that he was drawn to the story in part because it immediately struck him as " a heist movie . " As Jean François , one of Petit 's collaborators later said , " It may have been illegal ... but it was n’t wicked or mean . " Marsh also said that , as a New Yorker , he saw the film as a gift to the city since the 9/11 attacks . He said he hopes to hear people say that they will now always think of Petit and his performance when recalling the World Trade Center 's twin towers . Responding to questioning as to why the towers ' destruction in the 2001 attacks is not mentioned in the film , Marsh explained that Petit 's act was " incredibly beautiful " and that it " would be unfair and wrong to infect his story with any mention , discussion or imagery of the Towers being destroyed . " '' Man on Wire '' opened theatrically on 29 August 2008 in the United States , earning $ 51,392 in its first weekend , ranking number 37 in the domestic box office . By the end of its run , on 5 March 2009 , the film grossed $ 2,962,242 in the United States and Canada and $ 2,296,327 internationally for a worldwide total of $ 5,258,569
9/11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Man on Wire