Casey Affleck was keen to take part in Tower Heist (2011), as he really wanted to do a comedy and was very rarely being approached to do anything other than serious drama.

Universal Pictures wanted a final extra scene to be shot, to show what happened to the characters played by Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy. The latter said he would only do it if he was paid an additional $500,000, so the scene was dropped.

The signing on of Ben Stiller as the lead was instrumental in coaxing Eddie Murphy back to the project.

The original idea for the movie came from Eddie Murphy, who first pitched it to both director and producer Brett Ratner and Brian Grazer, years before the project was finally launched.

The only improvised scene was when Odessa instructs Slide how to crack a safe in a very suggestive manner.

Kate Upton: the Victoria's Secret model appears as Mr. Hightower's mistress. Her actual photo from one of their ad campaigns is later seen in the Victoria's Secret store window, as Josh goes in to steal the underwear.