The short answer: our five essential bicycle films are Bicycle Thieves (1948), Breaking Away (1979), One Mile Above (2011), Wadjda (2012) and Premium Rush (2012) — a neorealist classic, a coming-of-age racing story, a long-distance journey across Tibet, a tale of freedom in Saudi Arabia and an action thriller on the streets of New York.
The bicycle is a true lifestyle, and cinema has celebrated it in all its nuances. There's no better way to share your love for the bike than watching a film about it.
Here is our selection of the 5 best films about bicycles. Popcorn first!
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
This great classic of Italian cinema had to top our list. Directed by Vittorio De Sica and winner of an honorary Academy Award, it portrays an Italy struggling to survive after the Second World War. The protagonist, Antonio Ricci, finds work as a bill-poster, but the job requires a bicycle — and his is at the pawnshop. His wife pawns their bed sheets to get it back. On his first day at work, Antonio's bike is stolen, and so begins his desperate search across Rome: he keeps catching sight of the thief, but never manages to catch him.
Wadjda (2012)
Directed by Haifaa Al-Mansour, the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia tells the story of Wadjda, a spirited 10-year-old girl from Riyadh.
After a quarrel with a friend, Wadjda spots a beautiful green bicycle in a shop near her home. Her dream is to buy it and beat him in a race. At the time, cycling was not an accepted activity for women and girls in Saudi Arabia, so the bike becomes much more than a means of transport: it's a symbol of personal freedom and of female dignity.
Premium Rush (2012)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a New York bike messenger who races through the busy streets of Manhattan on a fixed-gear bike with no brakes. Tasked with delivering a mysterious envelope, he finds himself chased by a corrupt policeman — and his wild ride between cars and yellow cabs begins.
Breaking Away (1979)
This film takes you to small-town Indiana in the late 1970s. Dave is a young man who loves cycling and everything Italian, until a professional team knocks him off the road during a race. Disillusioned, he's ready to give up his passion — but he gets back in the saddle and, with his friends, enters the local university's bike race against far better-equipped rivals. The screenplay won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
One Mile Above (2011)
This Chinese film tells the story of Zhang Shuhao's bicycle journey across the roads of Tibet. After graduating and losing his brother, the 24-year-old sets off on a month-long ride with no experience at all. The challenge is brutal, but he makes it to the end — one of the most moving films about long-distance bike travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous film about a bicycle?
Bicycle Thieves by Vittorio De Sica (1948), a masterpiece of Italian neorealism that is regularly listed among the greatest films ever made.
Which film is about a long-distance bike trip?
One Mile Above (2011), which follows a young man's month-long ride across Tibet — the best pick if you're dreaming of your own cycling journey.
Which bicycle films are good to watch with the family?
Breaking Away and Wadjda are gentle, uplifting stories suitable for older children and teenagers. Bicycle Thieves is moving but more demanding.
Is Premium Rush realistic?
It's an action film, so the riding is exaggerated for the screen — but it captures the speed and chaos of urban bike messenger culture well.
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