American Flyers
Two estranged brothers confront family wounds and fragile health while pushing themselves through a grueling bicycle race across the Rockies.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- inspirational
- tense
- earnest
- sports movie night
- cycling enthusiasts
What critics said
Critics generally found the film's blend of family drama and cycling action sufficiently strong to make it an above-average inspirational sports picture.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Marcus and David's bicycle race becomes a test of their strained brotherly relationship as well as their sporting ability.
The bicycle race is staged against prominent views of the Rocky Mountains, making the terrain a defining visual presence.
The film explicitly emphasizes the tactics of bicycle racing alongside the physical contest.
Marcus conceals David's brain aneurysm, which could cause paralysis or death during training and competition.
Films like American Flyers, and why
Breaking Away
shared inspirational sports drama, sibling conflict, and competition-centered storytelling
The Racer
shared cycling focus, personal perseverance, and grounded underdog sports emotion
Chariots of Fire
shared family drama, athletic ambition, and emotionally direct competition narrative
Movie Details
- Director
- John Badham
- Release Date
- 1985-08-16
- Runtime
- 113 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (136)
Cast
- Kevin Costner
- David Marshall Grant
- Rae Dawn Chong
- Alexandra Paul
- Janice Rule
- Luca Bercovici
- Robert Townsend
- John Amos
- Jennifer Grey
- Doi Johnson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is American Flyers about?
- Two estranged brothers confront family wounds and fragile health while pushing themselves through a grueling bicycle race across the Rockies.
- What is American Flyers like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of American Flyers as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is American Flyers violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in American Flyers.
- What did critics think of American Flyers?
- Critics generally found the film's blend of family drama and cycling action sufficiently strong to make it an above-average inspirational sports picture.
- Which films are like American Flyers?
- Films with a similar feel include Breaking Away, The Racer, and Chariots of Fire.
- How long is American Flyers?
- American Flyers runs 113 minutes.
- Where can I watch American Flyers?
- In United States, American Flyers streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
