In 1974, Frenchman Philippe Petit walked illegally on a high wire strung between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York.

Very few Chinese back then knew about it. But today they are watching The Walk, a Hollywood film based on the dizzy feat. Going by the money generated and online reviews, they seem to be enjoying it.

The 2015 film premiered on the Chinese mainland on Friday and quickly beat domestic rivals to take the second-highest slot in the January box office.