Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Bicycle Thieves

Play trailer 1:59 Poster for Bicycle Thieves 1948 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
99% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 94% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
Unemployed Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorani) is elated when he finally finds work hanging posters around war-torn Rome. His wife, Maria (Lianella Carell), sells the family's bed linens to retrieve Antonio's bicycle from the pawnshop so he can take the job. However, disaster strikes when Antonio's bicycle is stolen, and his new job is doomed unless he can find the thief. With the help of his lively son, Bruno (Enzo Staiola), Antonio combs the city, growing increasingly desperate for justice.
Watch on Fandango at Home Stream Now

Where to Watch

Bicycle Thieves

Bicycle Thieves

What to Know

Critics Consensus

An Italian neorealism exemplar, Bicycle Thieves thrives on its non-flashy performances and searing emotion.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Richard Winnington Sight & Sound 02/02/2021
Bicycle Thieves is a wholly satisfying film in that de Sica has so simplified and mastered the mechanics of the job that nothing stands between you and his intention. Go to Full Review
Bob Thomas Associated Press 03/29/2019
This gem tells the story of a frantic search bv a man and his son for a stolen bike which provided for the family's existence. It is told with the usual Italian realism, but with unusual excitement. Go to Full Review
Christy Lemire ChristyLemire.com 02/27/2018
4/4
Decades later, you can see the influence of Bicycle Thieves everywhere, in a variety of genres and languages. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Nov 11
4/4
It's not hyperbole to flatly state that this is one of the all-time greats in the annals of cinema; on my own list, only Ingmar Bergman's The Seventh Seal ranks higher when it comes to foreign-language films. Go to Full Review
Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 02/04/2023
[Vittorio] De Sica brings an almost documentary style to capture life in front of his lens, but infused it with an eye toward poetic realism. Go to Full Review
Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/19/2022
4.5/5
“The Bicycle Thief” paints a bleak picture of a troubling cycle. It takes abject poverty and theft and links them together to form a depressing revolving door. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
James H Dec 8 Engrossing, and highly moving story. Beautifully shot in post WW2 Rome, with so many fascinating scenes and characters along the way. Beautifully shot. I now feel like I know what 1948 Rome was like. See more Ghalib D. @Gdhalla Nov 10 Poignant, beautiful. See more Lars N @movie_douche Oct 20 Beautifully simple and powerful because of it. See more Steve B Jun 10 This review has spoilers not that it can make this experience any worse. Let’s be honest. It is just a depressing film made after Italy lost the war. The sort of film that offers nothing but constant frustration. From the moment the guy gets his bike stolen and nobody is willing to help him recover it to the end when he tries to steal a bike and all of a sudden the whole of Italy is ready to help stop him. The end. Good luck finding some pleasure from this film. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jun 7 Success in 1.5 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Christian L Jan 27 Such a simple story that is incredibly moving. Heart breaking. See more Read all reviews
Bicycle Thieves

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW
Shoeshine 100% 92% Shoeshine Watchlist Variety Lights 100% 71% Variety Lights Watchlist Umberto D 98% 93% Umberto D Watchlist Bitter Rice 100% 82% Bitter Rice Watchlist Berlin Express 80% 60% Berlin Express Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Unemployed Antonio Ricci (Lamberto Maggiorani) is elated when he finally finds work hanging posters around war-torn Rome. His wife, Maria (Lianella Carell), sells the family's bed linens to retrieve Antonio's bicycle from the pawnshop so he can take the job. However, disaster strikes when Antonio's bicycle is stolen, and his new job is doomed unless he can find the thief. With the help of his lively son, Bruno (Enzo Staiola), Antonio combs the city, growing increasingly desperate for justice.
Director
Vittorio De Sica
Producer
Vittorio De Sica
Screenwriter
Luigi Bartolini, Cesar Zavattini, Suso Cecchi d'Amico
Production Co
Produzioni De Sica
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Italian
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 24, 1948, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 29, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA)
$332.9K
Runtime
1h 30m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
Most Popular at Home Now