Breaking Away
Seen it?1979 | 101 min | Drama, Comedy
Friday Night FlickWhy it’s a Friday Night Flick
Critics loved it (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), it won an Oscar, it made about 9 times its budget and it's still drawing plenty of interest. Make plans for this one.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Billy Elliot or White Men Can't Jump, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 41 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
- Made in 1979: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Dave, nineteen, has just graduated high school, with his three friends: the comical Cyril, the warm hearted but short-tempered Moocher, and the athletic, spiteful but good-hearted Mike. Now, Dave enjoys racing bikes and hopes to race the Italians one day, and even takes up the Italian culture, much to his friends' and parents' annoyance.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsVery strong
95% on Rotten Tomatoes, 91 on Metacritic
- AudiencesSolid
7.2 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 1 Oscar: Academy Awards: Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen. Won 1 Golden Globe: Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Won 1 BAFTA: British Academy Film Awards: Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score. Won 1 WGA Award: Writers Guild of America Awards: Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screen. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars and 3 more Golden Globes. Plus 3 other awards.
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$20 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactStrong
About 177K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
More like this
Billy Elliot
Saturday SpecialAnother coming-of-age dramedy, and a Saturday Special.
White Men Can't Jump Saturday SpecialAnother sports dramedy, and a Saturday Special.
The Way Way Back Saturday SpecialAnother dramedy, and a Saturday Special.
Thunderstruck
Monday Morning MaybeAnother sports comedy. Fair warning: it's a Monday Morning Maybe.
Bend It Like Beckham
Sunday Safe BetAnother sports dramedy, and a safe bet for a quiet night.
Want more like this, picked just for you? Get my picks
Cast & crew
Directed by Peter Yates
- Dennis ChristopherDave Stoller
- Dennis QuaidMike
- Daniel SternCyril
- Jackie Earle HaleyMoocher
- Barbara BarrieEvelyn Stoller
- Paul DooleyRay Stoller
- Robyn DouglassKatherine
- Hart BochnerRod
- Amy WrightNancy
- Peter MaloneyDoctor