We are reader-supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Pedal into the realm of cycling cinema where each race and revelation grips your senses.

From heartfelt victories to the grit of endurance, these stories wheel beyond mere pedal power.

Crave an adrenaline-fueled ride through the best cycling movies, shows, and documentaries ever captured?

Best Cycling Movies, Shows, and Documentaries:

  1. Breaking Away (1979)
  2. The Flying Scotsman (2006)
  3. American Flyers (1985)
  4. Quicksilver (1986)
  5. Premium Rush (2012)
  6. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
  7. The Program (2015)
  8. Bicycle Thieves (1948)
  9. Tour de Pharmacy (2017)
  10. The Armstrong Lie (2013) – Documentary
  11. Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist (2014) – Documentary
Cycling

#1 Breaking Away (1979)

  • 🎬 Directed by: Peter Yates
  • 🌟 Starring: Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley

Breaking Away is a coming-of-age film centered around cycling. The story follows a young man obsessed with Italian cycling who, along with his friends, navigates post-high school life in a college town. Their lives take a dramatic turn when they compete against the college students in a bicycle race, underscoring themes of social class and personal identity.

This heartwarming and inspiring film celebrates the love of sport and the pursuit of dreams, making it a timeless classic in cycling cinema.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#2 The Flying Scotsman (2006)

  • 🎬 Directed by: Douglas Mackinnon
  • 🌟 Starring: Jonny Lee Miller, Billy Boyd, Laura Fraser

The Flying Scotsman tells the true story of Graeme Obree, a Scottish amateur cyclist who, battling personal demons and financial hardship, builds his own bike and sets off to compete in the World Championships. Obree’s innovative engineering and unwavering determination make this an inspirational story emphasizing innovation and courage.

With an excellent performance by Jonny Lee Miller, the film captures the essence of passion and the spirit of a true underdog.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#3 American Flyers (1985)

  • 🎬 Directed by: John Badham
  • 🌟 Starring: Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong

American Flyers features Kevin Costner as a sports physician who convinces his less active brother to train for and compete in a grueling bicycle race across the Rocky Mountains. As they embark on this journey, they confront physical challenges and unearth familial secrets.

The movie offers a mix of drama, sports action, and the exploration of the bonds between siblings, set against the backdrop of competitive cycling.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#4 Quicksilver (1986)

  • 🎬 Directed by: Thomas Michael Donnelly
  • 🌟 Starring: Kevin Bacon, Jami Gertz, Paul Rodriguez

In Quicksilver, Kevin Bacon plays a young stockbroker who turns to bicycle messengering in the bustling streets of New York after a life-altering financial setback. This 1980s film provides an exciting look at urban cycling culture and the thrills and risks of bike messaging.

The movie is a time capsule of its era and showcases the physicality and freedom that come with cycling as a way of life and a means of reclaiming one’s purpose.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#5 Premium Rush (2012)

  • 🎬 Directed by: David Koepp
  • 🌟 Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Shannon, Dania Ramirez

Premium Rush is an action-packed film following a New York City bike messenger who is chased around the city by a corrupt police officer after picking up a package that attracts unwanted attention. The film is gripping, with high-speed cycling stunts, chase scenes, and a storyline that unfolds at a frenetic pace.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s performance as the agile and resourceful cyclist adds to the thrills of this urban adventure.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#6 Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

  • 🎬 Directed by: Tim Burton
  • 🌟 Starring: Paul Reubens, Elizabeth Daily, Mark Holton

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, Tim Burton’s directorial debut, follows the quirky character Pee-wee Herman on a nationwide quest to recover his beloved stolen bike. The film is a comedy classic with a unique visual style and humor, blending childlike wonder and adult whimsy.

This charming and wacky adventure celebrates the love for a bicycle and showcases Tim Burton’s distinctive storytelling and visual imagination.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#7 The Program (2015)

  • 🎬 Directed by: Stephen Frears
  • 🌟 Starring: Ben Foster, Chris O’Dowd, Guillaume Canet

The Program delves into the Lance Armstrong doping scandal that rocked the world of professional cycling. Ben Foster portrays Armstrong in this biographical drama that chronicles the cyclist’s rise to fame, his battle with cancer, and the aftermath of his fall from grace as his systematic drug use gets exposed.

Lifting the veil on one of the biggest deceptions in sports history, the movie provides an intense and cautionary tale about the pursuit of glory at any cost.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#8 Bicycle Thieves (1948)

  • 🎬 Directed by: Vittorio De Sica
  • 🌟 Starring: Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola

Bicycle Thieves is an Italian neorealist film that follows the story of a poor father in post-war Rome who relies on his bicycle for work. When it’s stolen, he and his young son embark on a poignant journey through the city to retrieve it.

Widely regarded as a masterpiece of world cinema, the film examines the human condition and the desperation of a man trying to sustain his family in the face of hardship.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#9 Tour de Pharmacy (2017)

  • 🎬 Directed by: Jake Szymanski
  • 🌟 Starring: Andy Samberg, Orlando Bloom, Freddie Highmore, John Cena

Tour de Pharmacy is a sports mockumentary comedy that lampoons professional cycling and its doping scandals. The film presents a fictional 1982 Tour de France where nearly every competitor is on performance-enhancing substances.

With an ensemble cast and a humorous take on the cycling world, the movie parodies the controversies of doping with wit and absurdity.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#10 The Armstrong Lie (2013) – Documentary

  • 🎬 Directed by: Alex Gibney

The Armstrong Lie is a documentary film that captures the comeback of Lance Armstrong in 2009 and the subsequent doping scandal that leads to his downfall. Award-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney sets out to document Armstrong’s return to cycling from retirement, but the narrative takes a dramatic turn as Armstrong’s carefully constructed image is unraveled.

The film provides an in-depth look at the deception, betrayal, and quest for power within the world of professional cycling.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

#11 Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist (2014) – Documentary

  • 🎬 Directed by: James Erskine

Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist explores the tragic life and death of Marco Pantani, one of Italy’s most beloved cyclists, whose career was overshadowed by allegations of doping.

The documentary covers Pantani’s rise to fame, his incredible victories, and the pressures and pitfalls of the sport that led to his early demise. With archival footage and interviews, the film offers a poignant and touching portrayal of a man who reached the highest peaks of cycling success, only to face a steep and devastating fall.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Cycling

FAQ

What is the best cycling movie of all time?

“A Sunday in Hell” (1976) is the best cycling movie of all time, offering an in-depth and thrilling depiction of the 1976 Paris-Roubaix race.

What are some good cycling movies?

“Breaking Away” (1979), “The Flying Scotsman” (2006), and “Premium Rush” (2012) are good cycling movies, showcasing the sport’s drama, perseverance, and thrill.

What cycling movies, shows, and documentaries are on Netflix?

The best cycling movies, shows, and documentaries on Netflix currently are “Icarus” (2017), “The Least Expected Day: Inside the Movistar Team” (2020), and “Stop at Nothing: The Lance Armstrong Story” (2014).

Meet Rev, one of our dedicated team members who embodies the essence of sports passion. When he’s not immersed in the world of sports content creation, Rev is busy honing his skills in esports and exploring the great outdoors through activities like hiking and basketball.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments