Breaking Away

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Breaking Away

PG

1979

1h 40m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

88%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Dave (Dennis Christopher) and his working-class friends Cyril (Daniel Stern), Moocher (Jackie Earle Haley) and Mike (Dennis Quaid) spend their post-high school days in Bloomington, Indiana, sparring with snooty students from the local university, chasing girls and--in Dave's case--dreaming of competitive bicycle racing. The four friends face opposition from all corners as they decide to make Dave's dreams come true in the university's annual bicycle endurance race.

Critics Consensus

At once a touching, funny coming-of-age story and a compelling sports film, Breaking Away is a delightful treat.

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Linda Holmes

NPR

03/14/2021

It's very, very much worth seeing.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

03/14/2021

4/4

I seriously can't imagine anyone not liking it.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

08/03/2008

There are a few moments when the picture's easygoing pace turns into wobbliness, but these are insignificant compared with its many moments of shrewd insight into the lives of amusingly shaded but very recognizable human beings.

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Phoenix Staff

Boston Phoenix

09/23/2024

3/4

A commercial American movie with a real feeling for its Midwestern locale, and an unsentimental generosity towards its characters.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

10/11/2021

3.5/4

A textbook definition of a sleeper hit.

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Rob Hunter

Film School Rejects

03/14/2021

Part coming of age comedy, part underdog sports tale, and part glimpse into small-town America, the film is an effortless joy as it explores a tight friendship approaching the inevitable.

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Les N

@Vegas628 Oct 30

Watched it again after 50 years and it is still magnificent!

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Albert S

@RT70602514 Sep 2

An absolute gem. Feels like a movie that had no clue how good and timeless it was going to be… dunno. So good.

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Ethan S

@RT81945943 Aug 24

One of the all-time great sports movies. And it's about... cycling?! So so good.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Jul 7

Funny in 1 hour and 40 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Christian S

@Cstein99 04/12/2025

This movie is a classic that entertains today as much as it did when released! Not much are better than this. Writing, cast and acting top notch. Caio!

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Ray J

@RT77383350 09/17/2024

A classic coming of age film & something truly special for cycling aficionados (especially those of us born in the 70s) Bellisimo 👌

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Peter Yates

Director

Dennis Christopher

Dave Stoller

Dennis Quaid

Mike

Daniel Stern

Cyril

Jackie Earle Haley

Moocher

Barbara Barrie

Evelyn Stoller

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Synopsis

Dave (Dennis Christopher) and his working-class friends Cyril (Daniel Stern), Moocher (Jackie Earle Haley) and Mike (Dennis Quaid) spend their post-high school days in Bloomington, Indiana, sparring with snooty students from the local university, chasing girls and--in Dave's case--dreaming of competitive bicycle racing. The four friends face opposition from all corners as they decide to make Dave's dreams come true in the university's annual bicycle endurance race.

Director: Peter Yates
Producer: Peter Yates
Screenwriter: Steve Tesich
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 18, 1979, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Runtime: 1h 40m