There have been some pretty memorable bicycles in films, from Kermit the Frog’s bike in The Muppet Movie to the bike Elliot rides in E.T. the Extra Terrestrial. Heck, even the kids on Stranger Things have a penchant for getting around town on two wheels. While many movies have a bike, few have centered solely around bike riding and cycling.
But that’s not the case for every film! In fact, there are some incredible, cinematically important films based on the joy of pedaling around town. From Italian neorealist masterpieces to modern Chinese cinema, there are plenty of great stories about bicycles and the people that ride them.
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
This classic Italian film takes places after World War II and follows the down on his luck Antonio (Lamberto Maggiorani) as he tries to find a job. Luckily, he’s offered the chance to get paid in exchange for plastering advertisements around town. Unfortunately, the job requires a bike. A bike that Antonio doesn’t have. He and his wife Maria (Lianella Carell) pawn some goods so he can buy himself one, only to see it stolen.
Bicycle Thieves is a beautiful example of Italian neorealism and has gone on to inspire countless filmmakers. It’s a tale about poverty, family, and overcoming the odds. The film and its director, Vittorio De Sica, went on to win the BAFTA Award for Best Film and a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
Jour de Fête (1949)
Jour de Fête is a fantastic French comedy that’s influence has gone on to influence and be referenced in a number of films, like The French Dispatch. The movie follows the trials and triumphs of François (Jacques Tati), a small-time mailman. Despite his best efforts, François is a bit of a bumbler and proves to be an ineffectual method of mail delivery. That is until one day when he sees a film about the US Postal system and dedicates himself to implementing their practices.
Tati puts in an amazing performance, zooming around the town at a frantic pace on his bicycle. There’s something about his performance, and the film in general, that feels hilariously slapstick. And it’s hard not to root for François as he bustles about before ultimately collapsing in exhaustion.
Breaking Away (1979)
This 1979 film is a classic coming of age story about Dave (Dennis Christopher), a working-class teenager in smalltown Indiana with a passion for Italian cycling. Following his high school graduation, he’s a bit lost until he wins his very own bike, further cementing his obsession. Eventually, he ends up invited to Indiana University’s Little 500 race, a cycling competition that features riders from all over – including Italy. Despite setbacks and injuries, he triumphs, winning the race.
Breaking Away is often ranked as one of the best stories about cycling, listed as one of AFI’s best sports movies, and was well received the year it came out. Dennis Christopher went on to win a BAFTA for his role as Dave, and Steve Tesich won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.
BMX Bandits (1983)
Ever wondered what kind of BMX skills Nicole Kidman has? BMX Bandits answers this very question. Young BMX bikers P.J. (Angelo D’Angelo), Goose (James Lugton), and their new friend Judy (Kidman) end up entangled with some bank robbers after the youths steal and sell their walkie-talkies. The Boss (Bryon Marshall), angry that the kids have stolen his radios, sends his henchmen to hunt them down.
Does this plot sound slightly ridiculous? Yes. Are the stunts very obviously not done by Kidman? Also yes. But the film is the kind of delightful, lighthearted cheese that viewers can’t help but be enchanted with. It has the same nostalgic charm of 80s movies like The Goonies or The Sandlot. The film was nominated for, but didn’t win, several Australian Film Institute Awards, and did help propel Kidman’s career.
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
Directed by Tim Burton, this children’s classic is actually based loosely on the previously discussed film Bicycle Thieves. In simplest terms, both tales are about men desperate to get their bikes back. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure leans more into a Jour de Fête style of comedy. It’s slapstick, lighthearted, and full of over-the-top characters including the titular Pee-Wee (Paul Reubens).
The film was hugely successful after its release, and per IMDb it grossed $41,047,344 worldwide before going on to be nominated for the Young Artist Award for Best Family Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical. And it launched Pee-Wee from an obscure character to a cultural mainstay, with the show Pee-Wee’s Playhouse airing in 1986. In 1988, Rueben’s starred in another Pee-Wee film, Big-Top Pee-Wee.
Beijing Bicycle (2001)
Another film inspired by the classic Bicycle Thieves. Beijing Bicycle is a story of two boys, Guei (Lin Cui) and Jian (Bin Li). Guei, a recent arrival to Beijing, works as a courier until one day when his bike is stolen. Jian wants a bike desperately so he can ride around with his crush. Finally, he buys a bike – only to have Guei show up and claim it’s his.
Wang Xiaoshuai’s films are known for being thoughtful pieces that focus on the realities of modern Chinese life. And while the story cribs from Thieves, it is wholly concerned with the socioeconomic and personal realities of its characters. The film was an international success and went on to win the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival.
The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
This delightful bit of French animation follows the story of Madame Souza (Monica Viegas) and her grandson Champion (Noël Baye/Michel Robin). After being orphaned, Champion goes to live with his grandmother, and the two quickly bond over their love of cycling. Champion becomes a cyclist himself, only to get kidnapped while competing in the Tour de France. Souza goes on a mission to find and rescue her lost grandson.
It won endless praise when it was released. It went on to be nominated for several Academy Awards, an Annie Award, and a BAFTA. This beautifully animated film is a treat to watch and uses lush imagery and sound to convey the love between Souza and Champion. It’s a sweet movie about family and the ties that bind us together.
The Kid with a Bike (2011)
Written and directed by brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, The Kid with a Bike is a painful, lovely film about love, loss, and finding family. Cyril (Thomas Doret) is left at a foster care facility by his father, who promises to return but never does. Not content to move on, Cyril searches for two things: his father and his bike. He does find his bike, but not his father. Instead, he finds Samantha (Cecil de France), a hairdresser turned mother figure.
The movie is a sweet albeit melancholic look at abandonment and family. Both Cyril and Samantha seem lonely, both are looking for something and unsure where to find it. The Kid with a Bike was well-received upon its release and won the Jury Prize at Cannes.
Premium Rush (2012)
This movie takes being a bike messenger to a whole other level. Wilee (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is a bike courier with a passion for cycling and a penchant for getting things delivered fast. After being asked to "premium rush" an envelope across town in 90 minutes, Wilee gets targeted by dirty cop Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) and has to pedal for his life.
The film clocks in at 92, just 2 minutes more than Wilee’s fateful delivery deadline. The action is fast, and the cycling tricks are exciting to watch. And while it’s not one of Gordon-Levitt’s most memorable movies, he does a great job with the role, embracing the stunts and giving the character and his bike a real sense of physicality.
Tour de Pharmacy (2017)
Following the success of 2015’s 7 Days in Hell, HBO released the cycling mockumentary Tour de Pharmacy. The movie follows the lives of cyclists JuJu Peppi (Orlando Bloom), Marty Hass (Andy Sandberg), Adrian Baton (Freddie Highmore), Slim Robinson (Daveed Diggs), and Gustav Ditters (John Cena) in the days leading up to a fatal crash during the 1982 Tour de France.
The film is a biting satirical take on the world of cycling, tackling issues like bribery, doping, and overall cheating. Despite its parody status, there’s a clear love for cycling in the film. The jokes are hilarious and manage to be both appropriate to the time and relevant for modern audiences. Sharp, witty, and full of cameos, there’s a lot to love about this movie.