American Flyers

1985
PG-13
1h 53m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

6.9K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer1:26

1 Video

55 Photos

Drama Sport

Marcus takes his kid brother, David, with him for a physical test and a brain scan, suspecting cerebral aneurysm like their dad died of. They head off on bikes for the big Rockies bike race ... Read allMarcus takes his kid brother, David, with him for a physical test and a brain scan, suspecting cerebral aneurysm like their dad died of. They head off on bikes for the big Rockies bike race with Marcus' Sarah driving the van.Marcus takes his kid brother, David, with him for a physical test and a brain scan, suspecting cerebral aneurysm like their dad died of. They head off on bikes for the big Rockies bike race with Marcus' Sarah driving the van.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

6.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
When the cyclists are racing at "Monumental National Park" (actually Colorado National Monument, west of Grand Junction, Colorado) one of the cyclists (an extra) falls off and goes over the edge. He actually went over a drop off that was about 1,000 feet, and was only saved from major injuries when a small tree snagged his bike.

Goofs
When Sarah picks up the rock it is fairly large. Later when Becky is showing off the rock it is much smaller.

Quotes
Woman Reporter: It's a big day for American cycling, to have two Americans beat an Olympic champ. You must feel some pride.
Jerome: Come on man, walk it off.
Muzzin: No, no, I'm alright. OK. I'm not riding for America lady. I tried riding for America. I spent four years of my life working shitty jobs so I could train and make the Olympic team and ride for my... Look at me! And then some fatasses in Washington started having opinions. The Olympic Committee started having opinions. You, you bitch, I know you! You started writing your opinions. So we boycott the Olympics. I was in the best shape of my life in the summer of 1980 and I got beat by opinions.
Woman Reporter: Is that why you're boycotting the victory ceremony?
Muzzin: What victory? There's two stages left.
Woman Reporter: Still, the fact remains...
Muzzin: You wouldn't know a fact if it banged you all night long!

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Worst Movies of Summer 1985 (1985)

Soundtracks
Brand New Day
Written by Lee Ritenour, Matheison & Veitch
Performed by Danny Hutton

User reviews54

Review

Featured review

7/10

Great movie, even for non-bike-lovers

Don't write this off just because it's a bicycle movie; it's more than that. If you happen to like bike riding, this is an absolute must-see. But even if you can't even function without training wheels (like yours truly) there's still a lot to love about American Flyers.

If you liked Breaking Away (a bike riding movie from 1979), you'll be happy to hear American Flyers was written by the same person, Steve Tesich. In American Flyers, two brothers enter into a bike race, and during the training and the race itself, tensions run high! Of course, there's romance along the way, and some brother banter that leaves audiences conflicted about whose side to take.

John Badham's gentle directorial touch is seen in this film; the actors work off each other with a wonderful rapport and have a strong sense of their characters, part of Badham's signature in his directing. He's also known for creating interesting and intense action scenes. Watch the bicycle race scenes to see what I mean!