Breaking Away

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Breaking Away

PG,

1979,

1h 40m,

Comedy/

Drama

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Watchlist

95%

42 Reviews

Tomatometer

88%

5,000+ Ratings

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.

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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

Mar 14, 2021

It's very, very much worth seeing.

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Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

Mar 14, 2021

4/4

I seriously can't imagine anyone not liking it.

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Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Aug 3, 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

Sep 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

Oct 11, 2021

3.5/4

A textbook definition of a sleeper hit.

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Rob Hunter

Film School Rejects

Mar 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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Jan 27, 2019

The best, GREATEST inspiring sports movie ever made! With the best movie song ever sung: M'Appari Tutt'Amor!

Anakin P

Sep 11, 2018

Four teenage friends from the what is supposedly the impoverished side of an Indiana town of Mike (Dennis Quaid), Moocher (Jackie Earle Haley), Cyril (Daniel Stern) and Dave Stohler (Dennis Christopher) mope and groan and debate about advancing their lives after high school. With Dave Stohler (Dennis Christopher) being the main star as his ambition was to be a professional bicyclist and compete in tournaments. Barbara Barrie and Paul Dooley also stars as Dave's parents as Evelyn and Raymond.

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Finn W

Aug 29, 2018

Wonderful,funny,realistic pix,

Finn S

Mar 16, 2018

Love this movie. Filled with the passion to kick arse agaonst the odds

Poe P

Dec 1, 2017

Very well written, amazingly developed characters and a great execution, Breaking Free is a great story. Just what I didn't enjoy was the character's personalities. Though most may find them to be perfectly enjoyable, I personally found them to be annoying. And this story wasn't for me but I do appreciate how well developed and written it is. And obviously there are moments of being over dramatic and corny but these weren't too distracting from the overall story.

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Theodore S

Jun 28, 2017

Another Oscar casualty thanks to Kramer vs. Kramer. This is a fantastic and underappreciated, lesser known coming of age story with a lot of talented actors, feeling, bicycling, comedy and the equivalent of a bar fight. What else could I possibly ask for? This movie may be nearly forty years old but the emotions and struggles that our hero Dave endures are still 100% relevant today. Dennis Christopher's heartfelt performance (and ability to make Dave so relatable), a strong supporting cast, great script and beautiful cinematography make this one a winner.

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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

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