Breaking Away | Rotten Tomatoes

Breaking Away

PG

Released Jul 18, 1979

1h 40m

Comedy

Drama

List

95%

Tomatometer

42 Reviews

88%

Audience Score

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

It's very, very much worth seeing.

Mar 14, 2021

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

I seriously can't imagine anyone not liking it.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 14, 2021

Full Review

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.

Aug 3, 2008

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

Looking at it now, it’s obvious that even what it was selling back then was a sort of romantic, idealized and alcohol-free vision of post-high school youth, and perhaps it was set in still-seriously-segregated Indiana for a reason.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 13, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A textbook definition of a sleeper hit.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 11, 2021

Full Review

Rob Hunter

Film School Rejects

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.

Mar 14, 2021

Full Review

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Scott M

Unique coming of age film about a guy who cannot break from his high school friends who he's grown up with since childhood. It's an interesting dichotomy. Do you become an adult and end your childhood friendships, or do you continue to be a child forever. I've seen what remaining a child happens does to people. It's a sad end. Great movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/17/24

Full Review

Cedric G

I hate to be cliche, but they truly don't make them like this anymore. Just a pitch perfect movie that's as heartwarming human as it is truly funny.This movie had a huge impact on me as a kid and revisit it time and again to remind myself of the power of a great script, great actors and a story everyone can find something in. As inspiring as any Rocky movie. If you haven't seen it, do yourself a favor and give it a watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/23/23

Full Review

Rory M

Super coming-of-age film. Honest tale of 4 lads and the all so relatable late teen challenges of girls, studies, sports and hopes. Really nicely done

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

07/30/23

Full Review

Red T

An All Time Classic. The acting is phenomenal with Dave, Dave's Dad, and Mike being the standouts. The cinematography is excellent, with great racing shots and IU serving as a memorable location and all of it is on location. The music is really good also and the pacing is excellent. The editing is very good. The only issue is Dave is the main character in the second half but tis not entirely clear who is in the first half. This does merge a racing and coming of age story extremely well together though. This is really unique for a film around this time to have none of the cynicism or grittiness of the 70's in a coming of age story like this and feels almost like it belongs in the yester years. It's filled with sincerity, charm, and great chemistry. It doesn't do anything different you haven't seen a million times already, but it does it so well and with just enough of a uniqueness with the cycling aspect to make it amazing and unique. Everyone should check this out once.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/22/23

Full Review

K.G. M

Filmed in my hometown and was lucky enough to see some of the filming,so of course I love this movie and I recommend that if you've never seen it then watch it!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/27/23

Full Review

Mark A

Great coming of age movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

12/20/22

Full Review

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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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