What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedThe Walk
Robert Zemeckis · Film · 2015
If you loved The Walk, start with Let the Great World Spin (Colum McCann, 2009) — a book on the same thread. Below: 1 book, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to The Walk across media.
If The Walk captivated you with the spectacle of impossible feats, these stories explore the thin line between obsession and singular human achievement.
Books on the same thread
Let the Great World Spin
Colum McCann · Book · 2009
Explores: Interconnected lives, Grief and redemption, Urban alienation.
This novel captures the same 1974 New York energy as The Walk, grounding Philippe Petit’s high-wire dream within a wider, beautifully interconnected portrait of urban life and artistic ambition.
Series on the same thread
From the Earth to the Moon
Tom Hanks · Series · 1998
Shares a thread with The Walk: Teamwork.
Much like the meticulous planning seen in The Walk, this series highlights the intense technical preparation and sheer audacity required to turn a near-impossible vision into reality.
The Practice
David E. Kelley · Series · 1997
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Ethical Dilemmas, Underdog.
Just as Philippe Petit balanced above the city, these characters navigate a precarious moral tightrope, showing that the most dangerous leaps are often the ethical ones taken under pressure.
The Defiant Ones
Series · 2017
Explores: Partnership, Mentorship, Cultural Impact.
The Walk celebrates the power of an improbable partnership, and this documentary echoes that sentiment by detailing how two vastly different individuals combined their talents to change history.
The Man in the High Castle
Frank Spotnitz · Series · 2015
Explores: Totalitarianism, Resistance, Moral Ambiguity.
While The Walk features a physical challenge, this series presents a psychological one, forcing viewers to confront the weight of impossible circumstances and the resilience required to resist them.
Podcasts on the same thread
Search & Rescue NZ
Podcast
Explores: search and rescue operations, wilderness survival, human resilience.
If the tension of man versus nature in The Walk moved you, these stories of survival and human resilience against an unforgiving landscape will provide a similar visceral thrill.
The Truth
The Truth · Podcast · 2026
Explores: human condition, experimental storytelling, moral ambiguity.
Like the cinematic experience of The Walk, these short audio dramas offer immersive, high-stakes storytelling that pulls you into a new world with every single episode you hear.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is The Walk based on a true story?
Yes, The Walk is based on the true story of French high-wire artist Philippe Petit. The film depicts his real-life attempt to walk across a high wire rigged between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in 1974.
What is the main plot of The Walk?
The Walk centers on the ambitious plan of Philippe Petit to perform a high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The film follows his preparations and the execution of this feat in 1974.
Who directed the movie The Walk?
The Walk was directed by Robert Zemeckis. Released in 2015, the film dramatizes the historical events surrounding Philippe Petit and his unauthorized high-wire walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center.
When does The Walk take place?
The events depicted in The Walk take place in 1974. The film focuses on the specific timeline of Philippe Petit preparing for and successfully completing his high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.