Bicycle Thieves
In post-war Italy, a working-class man's bicycle is stolen, endangering his efforts to find work. He and his son set out to find it.
Directed by Vittorio De Sica · Drama · 89 min · 1949
Trailer
Director
Vittorio De Sica
Studio
Produzioni De Sica{{cite book / last1=Gordon / first1=Robert / title=Bicycle Thieves (Ladri Di Biciclette) / date=2008 / publisher=Macmillan / location=New York / isbn=9781844572380 / pages=26 / url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NGsV32ie1WAC / access-date=29 April 2018
Release
13 Dec 1949
Runtime
89 min
Genres
Drama
Full Plot
Antonio Ricci, an unemployed man in the depressed post-WWII economy of Italy, finally gets a job hanging up posters, but he needs a bicycle. But when his bicycle is stolen,, he and son walk the streets of Rome looking for it. Antonio finally manages to locate the thief, but with no proof he must abandon his cause. But he and his son know perfectly well that without a bike, Antonio won't be able to keep his job.
Cast & Characters
Antonio Ricci
Lamberto Maggiorani
Bruno Ricci, Antonio's son
Enzo Staiola
Maria Ricci, Antonio's wife
Lianella Carell
the Charitable Lady
Elena Altieri
a Beggar
Giulio Chiari
Alfredo Catelli, the Bicycle Thief
Vittorio Antonucci
the Secretary of the Charity Organization
Michele Sakara
an Amateur Actor
Fausto Guerzoni
a Beggar
Carlo Jachino
Emma Druetti
a citizen who protects the real thief
Giulio Battiferri
Did You Know?
Made on an estimated budget of $133,000, Bicycle Thieves has grossed $450,159 worldwide — about 3.4x its budget.
Source: TMDb API · verified 2026-08-02
Did You Know that Bicycle Thieves is considered one of the best-known works of Italian neorealism?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that De Sica raised money for Shoeshine himself from friends due to lack of financial backing from major studios?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Did You Know that the film's cast included untrained actors, with some roles mirroring their real-life experiences off screen?
Source: Wikipedia · verified 2026-08-13
Critical Assessment
Bicycle Thieves holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (190,001 votes), 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Not enough independent critic/audience score breakdown available.
Ratings as of August 11, 2026
Where to Watch
United States
United Kingdom
Streaming data from JustWatch via TMDb. Availability changes often — confirm on the provider before watching.
AI Verdict
AI-generatedBased on aggregated scores (8.2/10 on IMDb (190,001 votes), 99% on Rotten Tomatoes), this is a data-driven snapshot rather than an editorial take.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bicycle Thieves's Rotten Tomatoes score?+
Bicycle Thieves holds a 99% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes.
What is Bicycle Thieves's IMDb rating?+
Bicycle Thieves has a 8.2/10 rating on IMDb from 190,001 votes.
Is Bicycle Thieves good? What are critics saying?+
Bicycle Thieves holds 8.2/10 on IMDb (190,001 votes), 99% on Rotten Tomatoes.
How long is Bicycle Thieves?+
Bicycle Thieves has a runtime of 89 min.
Who directed Bicycle Thieves?+
Bicycle Thieves was directed by Vittorio De Sica.
Where can I watch Bicycle Thieves?+
Bicycle Thieves is available to stream, rent, or buy on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Curzon Home Cinema.
Fan & Critic Buzz
Review excerpts describe a negative reaction, with some viewers finding the film to be bleak and heartbreaking. Others praised its themes of hope and despair, as well as its sound quality. Some reviewers also noted that the trailer was emotionally impactful.
Viewer Reviews (TMDb)
When in Rome... keep an eye on your bicycle! Or else it might be stolen and you'll find yourself fruitlessly searching the streets of Italy, as the father and son do in this classic Italian film. Lamberto Maggiorani, as the desperate, out of work father, and Enzo Staiola, as his…
barrymost · 7/10In post war Rome, money is very tight for "Antonio" (Lamberto Maggiorani) so when he gets a chance to earn some extra cash, he grabs the opportunity. Snag is, he needs his bike to do the work and someone has just pinched it. Together with his young son "Bruno" (a superb Enzo Stai…
CinemaSerf · 7/10A heartwarming yet surprisingly bleak masterpiece of hope and despair.
James · 7/10
From the trailer's comments
I just watched the movie now. Either you find it quick or you'll never find it.
@Live21Forever · 3 likesOne of the saddest movie ever 😭❤️
@sreevatsanshrikanth7343 · 10 likesI see where Coppola got the inspiration for the young Vito scenes.
@thereccher8746 · 1 likesIs that the sound quality of the original score used in this trailer? ... if yes it has been improved to an unbelievable level compared to the sound on my old dvd
@Mandibil · 1 likesyes! and it's called "BICYCLE THIEVES", not "the bicycle thief" - it was mistranslated in its US release
@tonyclifton265 · 2 likes*Thief not Thives! Smh....
@mcbullitt · 1 likesПора говорить ПРЯМО. ВСЁ ИСКУССТВО: КИНО, ТЕАТР, МУЗЫКА, КНИГИ, ПОЭЗИЯ, ЖИВОПИСЬ имеет ИСКЛЮЧИТЕЛЬНО ДВА ГЛОБАЛЬНЫХ СМЫСЛА , либо служит ПРОСЛАВЛЕНИЮ БОЖЬЕГО СЛОВА , либо дьяволу. СЛУЖИТЬ БОЖЬЕМУ СЛОВУ это значит , каждым КАДРОМ, РЕПЛИКОЙ, КУПЛЕТОМ и т.п. "ПРИВОДИТЬ" НАС, ЗРИТЕЛЕ…
@СергейАкимов-о9в · 1 likes
