6 Best Bicycle Movies of All Time

By Vlad Zakh · May 31, 2026

Two wheels mean freedom, and filmmakers have used that for both drama and adrenaline. Wadjda follows a Saudi girl scheming to buy the green bicycle she wants, Premium Rush has a Manhattan bike messenger chased by a corrupt cop, and Quicksilver reinvents a disgraced trader as a messenger. BMX Bandits, Breaking Away and Bicycle Thieves complete a list with great range.

Premium Rush (2012)

TMDB ★ 6.5

A daring bike messenger in Manhattan is relentlessly pursued by a corrupt cop after intercepting a dangerous package.

Directed by David Koepp · 1h 31m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Wadjda (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.4

A determined young Saudi girl schemes to earn enough money to buy the green bicycle she desperately wants.

Directed by Haifaa al-Mansour · 1h 38m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Quicksilver (1986)

TMDB ★ 5.3

A disgraced Wall Street trader reinvents himself as a bicycle messenger navigating the city's underworld.

Directed by Thomas Michael Donnelly · 1h 45m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

BMX Bandits (1983)

TMDB ★ 5.4

Three young BMX riders uncover a gang of bank robbers and use their bikes to outwit them.

Directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith · 1h 32m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Stream: Best of British Tv Amazon Channel · Rent or buy: Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Breaking Away (1979)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A working-class teenager obsessed with Italian cycling dreams of racing against privileged college students.

Directed by Peter Yates · 1h 41m · Rated PG

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Bicycle Thieves (1948)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 99%

A poor father and his young son search desperately through Rome for his stolen bicycle.

Directed by Vittorio De Sica · 1h 29m · Rated NR

Nominated for 1 Oscar18 wins & 1 nomination

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

6 Best Bicycle Movies of All Time

Premium Rush (2012)

Wadjda (2012)

Quicksilver (1986)

BMX Bandits (1983)

Breaking Away (1979)

Bicycle Thieves (1948)

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