The Complete List Of The Best Cycling Movies Of All-Time

Cycling is more than just a sport or a mode of transportation.

It is a culture, an obsession, and for many, a way of life that defines their very existence.

This passion translates exceptionally well to the big screen.

Whether it is the raw, unscripted drama of a Grand Tour documentary or a fictional coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a local race, the best cycling movies capture the unique blend of suffering and euphoria that every rider knows well.

We have compiled the ultimate list of films that every cyclist needs to watch, most of them are available on Amazon prime video here.

These movies range from heart-pounding documentaries that expose the dark underbelly of the sport to inspiring dramas that will make you want to clip in and ride immediately after the credits roll.

Pantani: The Accidental Death of a Cyclist (2014)

Marco Pantani was the last rider to win the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France in the same year, a feat achieved in 1998.

He was the greatest climber of his generation, a flamboyant character known as "Il Pirata" (The Pirate). This documentary is a heartbreaking look at his rise and tragic fall.

The film explores how the pressure of fame, the expectations of a nation, and the doping culture of the era destroyed him.

Pantani was a fragile genius, and his death from a cocaine overdose in a lonely hotel room is one of cycling's saddest chapters.

‍The footage of Pantani attacking in the high mountains is electrifying, serving as a stark contrast to his melancholy decline.

It is a powerful reminder of the human cost behind the yellow jersey.

The Armstrong Lie (2013)

Much like Icarus, The Armstrong Lie offers a unique perspective because the filmmaker, Alex Gibney, was originally hired to make a comeback film celebrating Lance Armstrong.

When the doping scandal broke and Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour titles, Gibney had to pivot and re-examine all the footage he had shot.

The result is a fascinating character study of a man who was arguably the greatest fraud in sports history.

‍The film grants access to Armstrong that no one else had, showing him in unguarded moments during his 2009 comeback.

It dissects the mechanism of the lie and how many people were complicit in keeping it alive. It is essential viewing for understanding the "EPO era" of the peloton.

Breaking Away (1979)

If there is one movie that stands as the undisputed champion of cycling cinema, it is Breaking Away.

This coming-of-age classic captures the essence of feeling like an outsider and finding your identity through the bike.

The story follows Dave Stoller, a recent high school graduate in Bloomington, Indiana, who becomes obsessed with Italian cycling culture.

He shaves his legs, learns Italian, and sings opera on his rides, much to the confusion of his working-class father.

The film is brilliant because it is not just about the bike. It explores the class tension between the local "Cutters" and the wealthy college students at Indiana University.

‍The climax of the film features the Little 500, a relay race on a cinder track that remains one of the most exciting sporting sequences in movie history.

It is a perfect film that reminds us why we fell in love with riding in the first place.

A Sunday in Hell (1976)

For the purist, A Sunday in Hell is the holy grail of cycling documentaries. Directed by Jørgen Leth, this film chronicles the 1976 Paris-Roubaix, arguably the toughest one-day race in the world.

The documentary is revered for its artistic approach.

It treats the race not just as a sporting event but as a brutal, beautiful ballet of chaos and endurance.

The film features legends of the sport like Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck, and Freddy Maertens at the height of their powers.

‍Leth captures the sensory details of the race perfectly, from the rattling of chains over cobblestones to the dust coating the riders' faces.

It shows the unique atmosphere of the "Hell of the North" where luck plays as much of a role as strength.

If you want to understand the grim romance of the Spring Classics, this is mandatory viewing.

The Triplets of Belleville (2003)

This animated masterpiece from Sylvain Chomet is a surreal and visually stunning love letter to the Tour de France.

‍The Triplets of Belleville (also known as Belleville Rendez-vous) is virtually silent, relying on exaggerated animation and sound design to tell its story.

It follows Madame Souza and her dog Bruno as they attempt to rescue her grandson, a professional cyclist who has been kidnapped by the French mafia during the Tour.

The film captures the physical grotesquerie of professional cycling like no live-action film could.

‍The cyclists are depicted with massive, powerful legs and gaunt, exhausted upper bodies, emphasizing the specialized and sometimes unnatural physique required for the sport.

It is weird, wonderful, and deeply appreciative of the suffering involved in stage racing.

Icarus (2017)

Icarus started as a completely different movie than the one it became, which is what makes it so gripping.

Filmmaker and amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel initially set out to document his own attempt to dope for an amateur race to prove how easy it was to evade detection.

He connected with Russian scientist Grigory Rodchenkov to oversee his regimen.

Midway through filming, the story exploded. Rodchenkov revealed himself to be the mastermind behind the state-sponsored Russian doping program.

‍The film transforms from a sports experiment into a geopolitical thriller involving the KGB, the darker side of the Olympics, and a whistle-blower fleeing for his life.

It won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and forever changed how the world views doping controls in sport.

American Flyers (1985)

While Breaking Away is the critical darling, American Flyers is the guilty pleasure that holds a special place in the hearts of children of the 80s.

Starring Kevin Costner and a mustache that deserves its own credit, the film follows two brothers who travel across the country to compete in the "Hell of the West" stage race in Colorado.

The cycling action is surprisingly decent, featuring classic 7-Eleven team kits and the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. It touches on themes of family loyalty and the fear of hereditary illness, giving it a bit more emotional weight than your average sports drama.

The "Sunday ride" scene where they race a horse is pure cinematic cheese, but it captures the joy of speed that we all chase.

The Flying Scotsman (2006)

This biopic tells the incredible true story of Graeme Obree, an amateur cyclist from Scotland who broke the World Hour Record in the 1990s.

Obree was an innovator who built his own bike using parts from a washing machine and developed a radical riding position that baffled the UCI.

Jonny Lee Miller gives a fantastic performance as Obree, portraying not just his athletic genius but also his struggles with severe depression.

The film does an excellent job of showing the battle between the individual innovator and the rigid establishment of professional cycling.

It is an inspiring underdog story that highlights how mental health is just as critical as physical power in the life of an athlete.

Premium Rush (2012)

Sometimes you just want to see bikes going fast in traffic, and Premium Rush delivers exactly that.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars as Wilee, a New York City bicycle messenger who rides a fixed gear with no brakes.

He picks up a package that attracts the attention of a corrupt cop, leading to a high-speed chase through Manhattan.

This is not a film about professional racing, but it is a celebration of urban cycling culture.

‍The stunts are practical and visceral, capturing the adrenaline rush of weaving through gridlocked traffic.

While the plot is standard action movie fare, the cinematography gives you a genuine sense of the flow state that messengers experience.

It is pure entertainment that respects the skill involved in handling a bike on chaotic city streets.

Rad (1986)

We cannot talk about cycling movies without mentioning the cult classic Rad.

Focused on BMX rather than road cycling, this movie is a time capsule of 1980s culture.

The story follows Cru Jones, a small-town paperboy who has to choose between taking his SATs or racing in the Helltrack qualifier.

The plot is ridiculous, the acting is questionable, and the synth-pop soundtrack is overwhelming. However, the bike stunts are legitimate.‍

It features real BMX legends doing tricks that were cutting edge at the time.

For a generation of riders, this movie was the catalyst that got them to build ramps in their driveways.

It is a film that demands you do not take it seriously, which is exactly why it is so enjoyable.

Bicycle Thieves (1948)

While not a "sports" movie, Vittorio De Sica's Bicycle Thieves is a masterpiece of Italian Neorealism that centers entirely around a bicycle.

In post-war Rome, a man finally gets a job pasting posters, but it requires a bike.

On his first day, his bicycle is stolen, sending him and his young son on a desperate odyssey through the city to retrieve it.

The film is a devastating look at poverty and desperation. It highlights just how valuable a bicycle can be, not as a toy or a piece of sporting equipment, but as a lifeline for survival.

It is consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made and offers a sobering perspective on the machine we often take for granted.

Tour de Pharmacy (2017)

To end on a lighter note, Tour de Pharmacy is a mockumentary from HBO that parodies the rampant doping of the 1982 Tour de France.

It features an ensemble cast including Andy Samberg, Orlando Bloom, and even a cameo by Lance Armstrong himself.

The film is absurd, vulgar, and hilarious. It pokes fun at every cycling trope imaginable, from the mysterious team doctors to the intense rivalries.

It is a short watch, running only about 40 minutes, but it packs in more laughs per minute than any other cycling film.

It is the perfect palate cleanser after watching heavy documentaries like Pantani or The Armstrong Lie.