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Need a cycling fix on your rest day?
Grab some snacks and settle in.
We’ve curated an epic collection of two-wheeled cinema that’ll have you itching to get back in the saddle.
21 Best Cycling Movies Of All Time
1. American Flyers
📽 In my opinion: Watching “American Flyers” was like taking a nostalgic ride through the ’80s. The movie’s cheesy charm is part of its appeal, and Kevin Costner’s performance adds depth to the story. 🍿
2. Breaking Away
Breaking Away is a multi-award-winning movie from 1979 that follows a young guy, who has recently graduated from high school, as he tries to win the heart of a young college girl.
One of the things that stand in his way is his working-class background. But as an avid fan of the Italian cycling team, and a champion cyclist himself, he tries to pass himself off as an Italian exchange student.
Suitable for: fans of romantic comedies
Watch on: DVD
3. Rising From Ashes
Rising From Ashes is a documentary film about the first Rwandan cycling team ever to make it to the Olympic Games.
The story follows a group of men who have struggled through the horrors of their country’s civil war, including the deaths of multiple family members, but found solace and purpose through cycling.
This documentary follows the team as they attempt to make history by competing in the London 2012 Olympics.
Suitable for: finding inspiration
Watch on: DVD
4. The Flying Scotsman
The Flying Scotsman is based on the true story of Graeme Obree, the Scotsman who beat the World Hour Record for cycling distance in 1993 on a bike that he made himself using parts of a washing machine.
This 1996 movie highlights the struggles Obree had to deal with in his life, namely his depression, and how he was able to overcome these to succeed.
Suitable for: fans of uplifting dramas
Watch on: DVD
5. The Bicycle Thief
The Bicycle Thief (also called Bicycle Thieves) is a black and white film from 1948 that tells the story of a man searching for his stolen bicycle. This is a highly acclaimed Italian movie that has won several awards, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe.
The movie is set in post-war Rome, where there are high rates of poverty. The man finally receives a job offer, for which he’s required to have a bicycle. After pawning some of his family’s household items to buy the bike, it’s stolen on his first day on the job.
Suitable for: fans of the classics
Watch on: DVD
6. Rad
Rad tells the story of a young guy who dreams of riding in the Hell Track BMX competition. This amateur small-town BMX rider gets offered the chance to qualify for the race and ends up putting everything on the line just to take part.
The story also follows the rider’s love for a semi-pro BMX rider, who, along with her friends, may be able to help him succeed.
Suitable for: families and fans of 80s music
Watch on: Blu-ray
7. Half The Road
Half The Road is a documentary movie that focuses on women’s cycling. It takes you inside the world of female professional cycling, with insights into the differences and inequalities between men and women’s cycling.
The movie features interviews with champions, Olympians, coaches, and many others involved in the sport, as well as footage of various races around the world.
Suitable for: serious road riders
Watch on: DVD
8. Slaying The Badger
Slaying the Badger is a documentary film that was part of ESPN’s 30 For 30 series. The film follows the story of Greg LeMond, the first and only American ever to win the Tour de France.
It covers the rivalry between LeMond and his teammate Bernard Hinault, known as “the badger” during the 1986 Tour.
Suitable for: road riders and sports history fans
Watch on: DVD
9. Luca
Luca is not entirely about cycling but a large portion of the movie centers around an annual cycling race that takes place in a small village in Italy. This fun animated Disney Pixar movie features the usual life lessons that are often standard in Disney Pixar movies.
The colorful story follows the underdog characters who train to take part in the coveted Portorosso Cup, despite only just learning how to ride a bike.
Suitable for: family viewing
Watch on: Blu-ray
10. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure is a silly family comedy that sees Pee-Wee Herman’s precious bicycle get stolen in broad daylight.
The movie follows Pee-Wee’s adventures as he travels across the United States in search of his beloved bike, which he believes has been taken to the basement of the Alamo after visiting a fortune teller. Along the way, he meets a host of unsavory characters.
Suitable for: fun, family viewing
Watch on: Blu-ray
11. The Armstrong Lie
The Armstrong Lie is a documentary film that covers one of the greatest deceits in cycling, and possibly all sport. What had originally started out as a documentary about Lance Armstrong’s comeback and his attempt to win his eighth Tour de France, ended up becoming a film showing his demise after his admission of doping.
This led to him being stripped of all seven Tour de France titles, as well as being given a lifetime ban.
Suitable for: fans of documentaries
Watch on: Blu-ray
12. Chasing Legends
Chasing Legends is a documentary film that follows the HTC-Columbia team during the 2009 Tour de France. The team, which included Mark Cavendish, was the most successful UCI ProTour team in 2008 and 2009.
This interesting film includes footage of the race as well as interviews with the team and facts about the history of the Tour de France.
Suitable for: road racers and Tour de France fans
Watch on: Blu-ray
13. Blood Road
Blood Road is a 2017 documentary film that follows the journey of Rebecca Rusch, an endurance mountain biker, as she cycles with a fellow cyclist, 1,200 miles across the Ho Chi Minh Trail on an emotional ride in search of answers surrounding her father’s death. Rusch’s father – a US Air Force fighter pilot – was shot down in his plane during the Vietnam War.
The journey takes them through jungles and across mountains as they make their way to the crash site.
Suitable for: trail riders and history fans
Watch on: DVD
14. Inspired To Ride
Inspired to Ride tells the story of a group of cyclists as they embark on the TransAm Bike Race. This documentary film covers the race as the group travels along the famous TransAmerica Trail, winding through ten states and a variety of terrain.
The group, which includes men and women cyclists from all over the world, ride 300 miles each day, covering 4,233 miles across the entire race.
Suitable for: mountain biking inspiration
Watch on: DVD
15. Wadjda
Wadjda is the inspirational story of a young girl living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, who desperately wants a bicycle she has seen for sale so that she can beat her neighbor (a boy) in a race. Since her family won’t allow her to have the bike – because she’s a girl – she sets about trying to raise the money herself.
She hears about a Quran recitation competition with a cash prize and begins to memorize verses in an attempt to win and hopefully buy the bike.
Suitable for: family viewing
16. Icarus
Icarus is the 2017 documentary film directed by Bryan Fogel, an amateur cyclist, as he explores the world of doping to win competitions. He meets with a Russian scientist who can help him take performance-enhancing drugs that are designed to evade detection during athlete drugs tests.
This uncovers the Russian state-sponsored doping program that saw the Russian Olympic team stripped of medals and Russian athletes stripped of world championships. This doping program also resulted in the country being banned from all major sporting events.
Suitable for: fans of investigative journalism and competitive sports
Watch on: Netflix
17. Premium Rush
Premium Rush, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, tells the story of a bike messenger who gets caught up in a thrilling chase across New York City when he’s given an urgent envelope to deliver. He’s targeted by a guy who turns out to be an NYPD officer with a gambling debt.
The movie is filled with lots of action to keep you on the edge of your seat.
Suitable for: fans of action movies and thrillers
Watch on: DVD
18. All For One
All For One is a documentary film that follows the story of Australia’s first ProTour cycling team, GreenEdge. The movie highlights their athleticism and their drive to win over the first five years of the team’s journey, focusing on their personal ups and downs as they take on international competitions and achieve individual goals.
Suitable for: fans of inspiring stories
Watch on: Prime
19. Pantani: The Accidental Death Of A Cyclist
Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist is the true story of Marco Pantani, the Italian cyclist and winner of the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia, and his battle with addiction.
This biographical film highlights the struggles the athlete faced which ultimately led to him being found dead in a hotel room after a cocaine overdose. The film includes archive footage from Pantani’s 1998 race wins.
Suitable for: fans of road cycling
Watch on: Prime
20. A Sunday In Hell
A Sunday in Hell covers the 1976 Paris-Roubaix race as the cyclists ride over the challenging cobbled terrain that the route is renowned for.
The documentary follows the riders before they begin the demanding one-day race in Paris and journeys with them over the strenuous course as they make their way to the finish line in Roubaix.
Suitable for: competitive cyclists
Watch on: DVD
21. The Racer
The Racer is a 2020 movie that tells the tale of a Belgian cyclist who is a career support rider or “domestique” for the Tour de France, setting the pace and enabling his team sprinter to win. But after 20 years riding as support, he harbors dreams of winning and getting the chance to wear the coveted yellow jersey.
The movie is set in 1998 when the opening stages of the Tour de France were moved to Ireland.
Suitable for: drama fans
Watch on: Prime
Are You Inspired?
Are you ready to settle down, rest your legs and take a journey without leaving your couch?
Give these awesome cycling movies a watch and tell us which one is your favorite before you get back on your own saddle.
Maybe your favorite didn’t make our list? Let us know, so we can all check it out.
