Breaking Away (1979)

94% of critics liked it
(34 reviews)
84% of users liked it
(8,369 ratings)

Dennis Christopher stars as a recent high school graduate in Bloomington, Indiana, who is caught with his friends -- Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley -- coasting between high school and deciding what to do with the rest of their lives. The four friends are snobbishly looked down upon… More Dennis Christopher stars as a recent high school graduate in Bloomington, Indiana, who is caught with his friends -- Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley -- coasting between high school and deciding what to do with the rest of their lives. The four friends are snobbishly looked down upon by the college students of the town as "cutters," since they were born in Bloomington and their parents worked in the local limestone quarries that built the university. Dennis Christopher's character Dave wants to be a champion bicycle racer and he idolizes the Italian racing team -- so much so that he speaks, thinks, and acts Italian, all to his father's (Paul Dooley) forlorn exasperation. Dave falls for a college girl (Robyn Douglass), but is ashamed to admit he is a cutter and poses as an Italian exchange student to impress her. Dave is particularly excited when his heroes -- the Italian racers -- come to town for a race. But they are even more snobbish than the college students and rely on dirty tricks to keep Dave from winning a race against them. After that ordeal, Dave throws away his false identity and convinces his friends to enter the university's "Little 500" bicycle race against the college students. This light-hearted and heartwarming tale was a surprising word-of-mouth success at the box-office and won several awards, including an Academy Award for "Best Screenplay." ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 40 min.
Directed By: Peter Yates
Written By: Steve Tesich
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jul 13, 1979 Wide
On DVD: Jan 29, 2002
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
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.
, Variety
Though its plot wins no points for originality, Breaking Away is a thoroughly delightful light comedy.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Peter Yates, previously typed as an action director, lends the film a fine, unexpected limpidity, and the principals are mostly excellent.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Breaking Away is a wonderfully sunny, funny, goofy, intelligent movie that makes you feel about as good as any movie in a long time. It is, in fact, a treasure.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
Here is a movie so fresh and funny it didn't even need a big budget or a pedigree.
Heather Boerner, Common Sense Media
Rousing bicycle race story is a family favorite.
Dan Jardine, Cinemania
Breaking Away embraces the good old fashioned small town family values that would catapult Ronald Reagan to an enormously popular two term presidency. And still, I like it.
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
The triumphant ending teeters on twee, but feels warranted enough to give it a pass and enjoy the moment right along with him.
, Film4
Christopher is so good in this quietly charming, Yates-drected tale of four high school graduates trying to decide what to do with their lives that it's a wonder he didn't achieve the heights of co-star Quaid.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A delightful sleeper.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The screenplay by Oscar-winner Steve Tesich sometimes turns a little precious, but the character and atmosphere is so firmly established that it all works out.
, Time Out
Displays the kind of unsentimental optimism that went out of fashion with Hawks.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This charming comedy shows sensitivity to American peculiarities and eccentricties in spite (or may be because) of the fact that it was scripted by a writer of foreign descent and helmed by a Brit, Peter Yates.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Despite a reasonably fun performance from Daniel Stern, Dennis Quaid earnest overacting sinks what could have been a quaint film about middle America.
Lori Hoffman, Atlantic City Weekly
Dennis Christopher is unforgettable in his one big film role.

Read all 15 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dan S

A feel-good, inspirational story concerning an offbeat teenager who discovers his love for biking, despite his non-supportive father (Paul Dooley) wanting him to grow up and accept adulthood as a member of the "cutter" class. While it suffers from a couple scenes that come… More
A feel-good, inspirational story concerning an offbeat teenager who discovers his love for biking, despite his non-supportive father (Paul Dooley) wanting him to grow up and accept adulthood as a member of the "cutter" class. While it suffers from a couple scenes that come across as over dramatic and one of the plot points is just downright awful, this movie is still hard not to love given the energetic lead performance by Dennis Christopher, as well as the fact that this is a great coming of age story. Sure, it's absolutely corny at times, but if you really don't fall in love with this movie, especially the last big race scene - something is wrong with you.
AJ V

The essential biking film! If you're into sports movies, love riding bikes, or compete in bike racing yourself, you will love this movie. It's a great sports drama about both bikes and growing up.
Cindy I

This film really impressed me the first time around. But since I haven't seen it since then (about 1984 or so), my rating is based on fond memories. If I see it again and it doesn't hold up, I'll re-evaluate.
Lanning :

This is my friend Gwen's all-time favorite movie. It turned her into a bike fanatic. Great early work from a young Dennis Quaid. My how time flies.
Byron B

A little rough around the edges, but I guess that represents the cutters. Dave, his three friends and his parents are each unique characters. I thought it was VERY strange but also funny that Dave wants to become Italian, and works toward that goal with such conviction. His Italian… More
A little rough around the edges, but I guess that represents the cutters. Dave, his three friends and his parents are each unique characters. I thought it was VERY strange but also funny that Dave wants to become Italian, and works toward that goal with such conviction. His Italian bicycling idols turn out to be really nasty though. It's a coming of age story about losing innocence, maturing, standing up for yourself, and discovering your place in the world.
Christopher O

A poignant look at small time town living and the people who live there and have dreams and aspirations just like everyone else. Dennis Christopher plays Dave a bicycle racing enthusiast of the Italian racing team, he even tries to act Italian much to the dismay of his hard working… More
A poignant look at small time town living and the people who live there and have dreams and aspirations just like everyone else. Dennis Christopher plays Dave a bicycle racing enthusiast of the Italian racing team, he even tries to act Italian much to the dismay of his hard working dad, the brillant Paul Dooley. Dave's friends include: Cyril(Daniel Stern), Moocher(Jackie Earle Haley) and angry young man Mike(Dennis Quaid). They form a racing team when the Italians hold a exhibition in their town and are pitted against the spoiled college rich kids who continually put them down. A great touching film, funny and heartwarming and the acting is top rate.
Brian R

Peter Yates "Breaking Away" is a tender picture, starts off slowly and then turns into a beautiful flower. It is one of those coming of age films that can instantly make film goers grin from ear to ear. I don't know how a film this good kept my attention. "Breaking… More
Peter Yates "Breaking Away" is a tender picture, starts off slowly and then turns into a beautiful flower. It is one of those coming of age films that can instantly make film goers grin from ear to ear. I don't know how a film this good kept my attention. "Breaking Away" is not even stylistic(but who says all films have to be?) the story of four teenage guys who graduated from high school and is sort of stuck in finding what they want to do. One of the guys is obsessed with cycling, another friend use to be leading football player for the high school, another doesn't want to be known as a shorty, and another who is not so bright. The character that struck me the most is the one who has an obsession with cycling and Italian culture. He is played by Dennis Christopher. In one scene he tries to out run a Cinzano big rig truck, another scene shows him riding his bike on a treadwheel in the rain while his father who is inside the shed looks on in puzzlement. "Breaking Away" has a lot of those funny moments but it also has smartness, heartwarming and heartbreaking scenes.
Donna D

One of my favorite classic movies from the late 70's. Funny and charming, with Paul Dooley being the scene stealer as Dave's father. A classic in it's time. :)