While very few Chinese know about Frenchman Philippe Petit who illegally walked on a high wire strung between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York in 1974, Chinese moviegoers seem to like watching a Hollywood film based on the stunt, as reported by China Daily.
Going by box-office receipts and online reviews, the Chinese viewing public seems to be enjoying "The Walk," which premiered in the mainland on Jan. 22, quickly beating domestic rivals and landing it at the second highest slot in the January box office.
According to Cbooo.cn, a live box-office tracker, the film grossed 52.7 million yuan ($8 million) from the Chinese box office by Jan. 25. It was surpassed only by "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," which grossed 762 million yuan.
Film review websites in China, like Douban and Mtime, gave the film scores averaging a seven out of 10.
"The last 30-minute walk on the wire, around 400 meters above the ground, is both horrifying and breathtaking," said Huang Yuanqing, a viewer from Beijing. "I had to clench my fists to conquer my anxiety."
Some moviegoers saw the biopic more like a horror film, with 3D visual effects that are so impressive, they make the audience feel like they are going on a walk with Petit.
Zhou Lei, a film critic, said that the film is a love letter exchanged between the twin towers that were brought down during the 2001 terror attacks.
However, Chinese moviegoers are not likely to relate to the Western humor of the script, such as the French accent that Petit, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, uses when speaking English, said Zhou.
Chinese fans are likely to watch the film with high expectations due to it being directed by Robert Zemeckis and the presence of Gordon-Levitt in the cast.
Zemeckis has enjoyed popularity in China ever since 1994 when "Forrest Gump" was released, becoming influential for Chinese people, including Jack Ma, who said the film inspired him to pursue his businesses.
Gordon-Levitt rose to popularity in the country in 2010 when he starred in the sci-fi thriller "Inception," one of the most viewed foreign films in China.