The Flying Scotsman
An unemployed Scottish amateur cyclist turns scrap materials and relentless determination into a world-record challenge while confronting depression and the demands of sporting fame.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- inspirational
- affecting
- earnest
- inspirational movie night
- sports film marathon
What critics said
Critics found the true-life story compelling and Jonny Lee Miller’s performance sympathetic, but widely felt that brisk pacing and an uneven treatment of Obree’s depression weakened the drama.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Graeme Obree designs and builds a revolutionary bicycle from scrap metal and washing-machine parts before challenging the world one-hour record.
Obree’s record attempts are intertwined with depression and the pressure of exceptional performance.
The bicycle is constructed from discarded materials rather than conventional professional racing resources.
Obree is presented as an unemployed Scottish amateur competing against the expectations and structures of elite cycling.
Films like The Flying Scotsman, and why
Eddie the Eagle
shared biographical sports drama, perseverance against institutional obstacles, and inspirational competitive drive
The World’s Fastest Indian
shared true-story sports drama focused on an unconventional athlete, personal struggle, and determined self-invention
Billy Elliot
shared British biographical sports drama with working-class ambition, emotional adversity, and a sympathetic central performance
Movie Details
- Director
- Douglas Mackinnon
- Release Date
- 2006-08-16
- Runtime
- 96 min
- Rating
- 6.5 / 10 (85)
Cast
- Jonny Lee Miller
- Sean Brown
- Joseph Carney
- Billy Boyd
- Laura Fraser
- Brian Cox
- Ron Donachie
- Morven Christie
- David Hounslow
- Gary Hollywood
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Flying Scotsman about?
- An unemployed Scottish amateur cyclist turns scrap materials and relentless determination into a world-record challenge while confronting depression and the demands of sporting fame.
- What is The Flying Scotsman like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Flying Scotsman as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Flying Scotsman violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Flying Scotsman.
- What did critics think of The Flying Scotsman?
- Critics found the true-life story compelling and Jonny Lee Miller’s performance sympathetic, but widely felt that brisk pacing and an uneven treatment of Obree’s depression weakened the drama.
- Which films are like The Flying Scotsman?
- Films with a similar feel include Eddie the Eagle, The World’s Fastest Indian, and Billy Elliot.
- How long is The Flying Scotsman?
- The Flying Scotsman runs 96 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Flying Scotsman?
- In United States, The Flying Scotsman streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
