There are plenty of movies to take inspiration from, just in case you need some motivation for your next race or just want to get through the cold night.
Today, we’ve rounded up the best cycling films you should see at least once, each perfect for an off-season break until you hit the road again!
The Kid With a Bike
📌 Running Time: 1h 27m | Director: Luc Dardenne, Jean-Pierre Dardenne | Cast: Thomas Doret, Cécile de France, Jérémie Renier and others
The Kid with a Bike is about a desperate young boy named Cyril who was dumped by his dad who promised to return but never did. Cyril finds out that his father moved out from their old place and sold his bike for immediate cash.
Samantha, an outgoing hairdresser, befriends Cyril and looks after him, while they find his dad. She then helps Cyril track down his father and his bike, but after a long search, his father rejected him again.
Cyril was having a hard time accepting the truth about his dad, or Samantha despite her kindness and care. Until Cyril falls under the influence of a local drug dealer who led him to the wrong path.
Despite his tough exterior, Cyril’s vulnerability emerges in quiet moments—like practicing bike tricks in an empty lot, clinging to the hope that the next ride might reunite him with family.
Samantha’s own backstory—a divorce that left her craving purpose—parallels Cyril’s search for belonging. The film’s handheld camera work and naturalistic lighting capture the raw emotion of every pedal stroke, making it an immersive study in resilience.
The movie got a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with 119 reviews, and a weighted average score of 87/100 based on 100 reviews on Metacritic.
It also grossed $5,176,423 worldwide, $1,389,524 in North America alone and almost $3,786,899 in other countries.
The Ride
📌 Running Time: 1h 38 m | Director: Alex Ranarivelo | Cast: Sasha Alexander, Kathleen Wilhoite, Christina Moore, and others
The Ride is the touching story of the BMX champion John Buultjens, a young teen who was falsely accused of a crime forcing him to be placed into juvenile detention at the age of 9.
Then a social worker finds him a mixed-race foster parent, who slowly begins a relationship with John through extreme sports and BMX biking.
As John learns to trust again, the film intercuts high-octane race sequences with intimate mentor moments—Sasha Alexander’s character designing custom training drills in a makeshift backyard track.
The movie also delves into family dynamics, showing how sport can bridge cultural divides. A standout scene depicts John teaching his coach a gravity-defying BMX trick, symbolizing mutual growth.
This cycling movie has been given good ratings in different review platforms, getting 7 in IMDb and 81% on Rotten Tomatoes.
American Flyers
📌 Running Time: 1h 53m | Director: John Badham | Cast: Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong, and others
American Flyers is a cycling movie released in 1985 involving 2 brothers who trained for a 3-day cycling race called “Hell of the West”.
The story revolves around 2 brothers chasing their once-in-a-lifetime dream of becoming race champions but one of them has a hereditary brain disease that may cause paralysis at any time.
Beyond sibling rivalry, American Flyers explores the science of peak performance—training montages set to ’80s rock show interval workouts, altitude tents, and aerodynamic testing. Kevin Costner’s character grapples with mortality, turning each climb into a metaphorical ascent over his own limitations. The sibling bond deepens during late-night bike repairs and strategy sessions, underscoring themes of loyalty and sacrifice.
The million-dollar box-office movie is filled with wonderful footage in bike racing and plenty more to show you how biking was in the ’80s. Google users rated it 91%, while it got an approval rating of 6.5 out of 10 in IMDb.
The Flying Scotsman
📌 Running Time: 1h 43m | Director: Douglas Mackinnon | Cast: Jonny Lee Miller, Laura Fraser, Brian Cox, and others
The Flying Scotsman is a British drama movie covering the life and career of Graeme Obree. The story portrays the psychological struggle of Graeme Obree having bipolar disorder while trying to beat the hour record.
The movie also shows how he has created a huge impact in the track cycling industry and how his “washing machine on wheels” changed the rules in the competition.
The Flying Scotsman immerses viewers in Obree’s relentless engineering: midnight garage welds, trial-and-error frame adjustments, and the solitude of solo time-trial training on empty velodromes.
The film doesn’t shy from his darkest days, depicting manic highs where he designs revolutionary bike parts, and depressive lows that nearly derail his career. A pivotal scene shows him circling the track alone at dawn, headset thumping to a homemade soundtrack—an anthem of obsession and innovation.
The 2006 film grossed $1,258,900 worldwide and received great ratings at 88% on Google and 7.1/10 on IMDb
Breaking Away
📌 Running Time: 1h 41m | Director: Steve Tesich | Cast: Barbara Barrie, Shaun Cassidy, Jackie Earle Haley, and others
A group of friends from a working-class town takes on elite collegiate cyclists in a local race, chasing dreams beyond their blue-collar roots.
Inspired by real-life amateur legend Dave Blase, Breaking Away brings “underdog” energy to every frame. The protagonist, Dave, devours Italian cycling lore, dons vintage kits, and obsesses over “the couplets”—two-man time trials that become rites of passage.
The film’s humor—teasing town stereotypes—and its heartfelt moments—Dave’s pep talk before the big race—balance seamlessly. The climactic road race shoots through tree-lined country roads, evoking the breathless thrill of real competition.
Breakaway received various movie awards like Best Motion Picture- Musical or Comedy in the 37th Golden Globe Awards and Best Original Screenplay in the 52nd Academy Awards. The movie is also a box office hit earning almost 20 million worldwide.
2 Seconds
📌 Running Time: 1h 40m | Director: Manon Briand | Cast: Charlotte Laurier, Dino Tavarone, Jonathan Bolduc, and others
2- seconds is about a professional cycling racer, Laurie-who got fired from her job as a professional downhill racer. She then takes a job in Montreal as a courier and meets Lorenzo, a bike shop owner, and an Italian ex-racer.
2 Seconds contrasts the adrenaline of downhill racing with the grind of urban courier work—navigating traffic, darting between lanes, and racing up city hills. Laurie’s rediscovery of joy is mirrored in her growing friendship with Lorenzo, who teaches her subtle bike-handling tricks learned on European roads.
The film’s snow-dusted skyline and rain-slicked streets create an atmospheric backdrop, reminding viewers that every environment offers its own challenges and rewards.
Lorenzo’s recollection of his road racing helps reawaken Laurie’s passion for riding. This cycling movie won 5 times out of 13 nominations in 1998 and is considered one of the most engaging cycling movies to watch.
Quicksilver
📌 Running Time: 1h 46m | Director: Thomas Michael Donnelly | Cast: Kevin Bacon, Jami Gertz, Paul Rodriguez, and others
Quicksilver is about Jack-who worked as a bike messenger after failing miserably in the stock market. He then gets tangled up in illegal activity and becomes the enemy of the criminal Gypsy.
Quicksilver delivers ‘80s flair—neon cityscapes, synth-pop headlines, and gravity-defying messenger stunts. Jack’s journey from Wall Street suites to adrenaline-fuelled alley races offers a wild commentary on risk and reward.
His messenger bike, customized with freight-carrying mods, his improvised shortcuts through subway tunnels, and his witty banter with other couriers inject both comedy and heart into the chase sequences.
Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist
📌 Running Time: 1h 36m | Director: James Erskine | Cast: Greg LeMond, Bradley Wiggins, Evgeni Berzin, and others
This documentary chronicles Marco Pantani’s meteoric rise to Giro d’Italia and Tour de France victories—and his tragic fall amid doping controversies.
Through archival footage, personal interviews, and race-day audio, the film paints Pantani as both heroic climber and tortured soul. Moments of triumph—his iconic attack on Alpe d’Huez—contrast sharply with hospital room scenes where he battles depression and addiction.
Commentary from peers like Greg LeMond and Bradley Wiggins offers nuanced perspectives on cycling’s evolving ethics. The result is a moving portrait of brilliance and the sport’s dark undercurrents.
Bicycle Thieves
📌 Running Time: 1h 33m | Director: Vittorio De Sica | Cast: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell, and others
Set in post-war Rome, this neorealist masterpiece follows Ricci and his son as they search for their stolen bicycle—their livelihood’s cornerstone.
One day, his bike was stolen, so he and his son desperately searched for it. This iconic cycling film is also considered one of the masterpieces of the 1940s.
Shot on real streets with non-professional actors, Bicycle Thieves captures every dusty alley and open-air market. Ricci’s desperation resonates with any cyclist who’s felt stranded by a flat tire or a broken chain.
His son’s hopeful innocence—riding a salvaged bike frame—adds emotional depth. The film’s silent pauses and lingering close-ups underscore the bicycle’s symbolic weight as freedom, dignity, and family bond.
The Triplets of Belleville
📌 Running Time: 1h 20m | Director: Sylvain Chomet | Cast: Michèle Caucheteux, Jean-Claude Donda, Michel Robin, and others
Animated gem where Grandma Souza trains her grandson, Champion, who is then kidnapped during the Tour de France—prompting a rescue mission with the eccentric Triplets of Belleville.
With its retro-cartoon style and minimal dialogue, The Triplets of Belleville uses exaggerated bike-chase sequences—riders pedaling through stylized cityscapes—to convey tension and humor. The Triplets’ jazzy nightclub performances contrast with Champion’s silent determination.
Every frame is rich in visual puns: spokes spinning like hypnotic swirls, jerseys billowing like sails. It’s a celebration of cycling’s romance, seen through a surrealist lens.
Conclusion on the Best Cycling Movies
Whether you’re drawn to documentaries that explore cycling’s triumphs and trials or narrative films that capture the sport’s spirit, this list offers something for every Active Adventurer. From gritty neorealism to high-octane thrillers, these ten films will inspire your next ride—reminding you that every pedal stroke carries its own story.
Happy watching—and even happier riding!
