Movies Like American Flyers (1985)

American Flyers is a 1985 drama film from John Badham with a MovieMagicScore of 6.1/10. Here are 20 similar films, ranked by real viewer ratings — starting with Breaking Away and The Flying Scotsman.

Drama

Breaking Away

1979

Dave, nineteen, has just graduated high school, with his three friends: the comical Cyril, the warm hearted but short-tempered Moocher, and the athletic, spiteful but good-hearted Mike. Now, Dave enjoys racing bikes and hopes to race the Italians one day, and even takes up the Italian culture, much to his friends' and parents' annoyance.

7.1

MagicScore

The Flying Scotsman

2006

Based on the incredible true story of amateur cyclist Graeme Obree, who breaks the world one-hour record on a bike he made out of washing machine parts.

6.6

MagicScore

BMX Bandits

1983

Teens P.J. and Goose get their thrills on BMX bikes, performing hair-raising tricks all across Sydney, Australia. Along with their new friend Judy, they discover a box of walkie-talkies -- and find out that a gang of criminals intends to use them to monitor police signals during a bank robbery. When the young trio snatches the devices, it propels them on a hair-raising adventure in which their pedaling skills might just save their necks.

5.5

MagicScore

And Soon the Darkness

1970

Two young English women go on a cycling tour of the French countryside. When one of them goes missing, the other begins to search for her. But who can she trust?

6.5

MagicScore

To The Fore

2015

In the world of professional cycling, where teamwork demands individual sacrifice, the three leading sprinters of Team Radiant must confront their own egos and aspirations as the competition becomes increasingly tough. Arrogant cyclist Ming cares more about personal glory than the good of the team. His shy teammate Tian is unlucky in both love and sports. Finally, the third teammate, Korean Ji-won, is forced to confront the ethics of his manager.

6.5

MagicScore

The Program

2015

An Irish sports journalist becomes convinced that Lance Armstrong's performances during the Tour de France victories are fueled by banned substances. With this conviction, he starts hunting for evidence that will expose Armstrong.

6.4

MagicScore

Half Nelson

2006

Despite his dedication to the junior-high students who fill his classroom, idealistic teacher Dan Dunne leads a secret life of addiction that the majority of his students will never know. But things change when a troubled student Drey makes a startling discovery of his secret life, causing a tenuous bond between the two that could either end disastrously or provide a catalyst of hope.

6.6

MagicScore

The Winning Season

2009

A comedy centered on a has-been coach who is given a shot at redemption when he's asked to run his local high school's girls basketball team

6.3

MagicScore

Life Cycles

2010

Life Cycles tells a spectacular story of the bike, from its creation to its eventual demise. A visually stunning journey, with thought provoking narration, Life Cycles uses Ultra HD to document the many stories surrounding the mountain bike and its culture. Ride along into breath taking natural settings, as we battle the elements, showcase the progression of riding, take a road trip, fix the bike, and show the destruction and eventual creation of trails. Semenuk, Hopkins, Schwartz, McIntosh, McCaul Agassiz, Hunter and Vanderham guide you through this wonderful story. Life Cycles is a celebration of the bicycle, and is sure to entertain anyone who has ever ridden one.

8.3

MagicScore

#10

Nasu: Summer in Andalusia

2003

Pepe Benengeli is a second-class cyclist, only there to support the star member of the team. This summer he is participating in the Tour of Spain, which passes through the streets of his hometown of Andalusia. In a coincidence, his brother and ex-girlfriend are getting married on the same day as the climax of the race. Pepe, who left his hometown after suffering a breakdown, is determined to achieve something special on this day.

7.1

MagicScore

#11

Lance

2020

A personal examination of the rise and fall of Lance Armstrong.

7.0

MagicScore

#12

Return to Earth

2019

A cinematic mountain-bike film. Featuring some of the sports biggest athletes. The ninth feature from award-winning adventure filmmakers Anthill Films. Return to Earth proves that when we lose track of time, we can make the most of it.

6.8

MagicScore

#13

Bicyclist

1896

Francis Doublier does bicycle tricks in the street.

6.0

MagicScore

#14

Where the Trail Ends

2012

"Where the Trail Ends..." is a film following the worlds' top freeride mountain bikers as they search for un-ridden terrain around the globe, ultimately shaping the future of big mountain freeriding. This unparalleled story documents man's challenge of mother nature and himself showcased through a cast of colorful characters. This is the most progressive and ambitious mountain biking ever attempted resulting in an entertainment adventure unlike anything experienced before.

7.6

MagicScore

#15

The Little Queen

2014

Julie, star cyclist, is two races away from winning the World Cup. It is the culmination of years of effort. Julie loves the spotlight. Her entourage too. Encouraged by her coach and doctor, she has been doping since the age of 14. When her doctor denounces her, she manages to hush up the case, but the extent of the mess leads to abuse, lies, and treason. Caught in a gear that goes beyond her, will she succeed in finding a way out?

6.1

MagicScore

#16

Buffalo Dreams

2005

Josh Townsend finds himself living in New Mexico after his father's new job requires the family to move from their home in Utah. While acclimating to his new surroundings, Josh becomes involved with a group of teens attempting to preserve the buffalo and Navajo traditions. Along the way he makes friends and learns important lessons about life in this Disney Channel Original movie.

5.5

MagicScore

#17

Quicksilver

1986

Jack Casey used to be a hot-shot stock market whiz kid. After a disastrous professional decision, his life in the fast lane is over. He loses his nerve and joins a speed delivery firm which relies on bicycles to avoid traffic jams of San Francisco, is attracted to a fellow bicycler, Terri, and befriends Hector, a budding entrepreneur. Can Jack regain his nerve and his self-respect, and rebuild his life on a more sound basis?

5.5

MagicScore

#18

A Matter of Life and Death

1946

A British wartime aviator who cheats death must argue for his life before a celestial court, hoping to prolong his fledgling romance with an American girl.

7.7

MagicScore

#19

Turtles Can Fly

2005

Turtles Can Fly tells the story of a group of young children near the Turkey-Iraq border. They clean up mines and wait for the Saddam regime to fall.

7.7

MagicScore

#20

Father and Daughter

2001

A father says goodbye to his young daughter. In time the daughter grows old, but within her there is always a deep longing for her father.

7.5

MagicScore

Frequently asked

What are the best movies like American Flyers?

The top films similar to American Flyers by MovieMagicScore are Breaking Away (7.1), The Flying Scotsman (6.6), BMX Bandits (5.5). Each shares drama themes and is ranked by real viewer ratings, not critics or studios.

Is American Flyers worth watching?

American Flyers holds a MovieMagicScore of 6.1/10 from 123 viewer ratings.

What kind of movie is American Flyers?

American Flyers (1985) is a drama film directed by John Badham, starring Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong.

Where can I find more recommendations like American Flyers?

Browse the full ranked list above, or explore more drama recommendations on MovieMagicScore, where every list is ordered by genuine viewer ratings.

Keep exploring

Movies like Breaking Away Movies like The Flying Scotsman Movies like BMX Bandits Movies like And Soon the Darkness Movies like To The Fore Movies like The Program

About movies like American Flyers

This ranked list pairs American Flyers (1985), a drama film from John Badham, with similar titles by genre, theme and cast overlap (fans of Kevin Costner take note). Unlike critic-driven sites, every position here is ordered by MovieMagicScore — a rating built only from real viewers, with no studio marketing or paid placement. Scores update as more people rate, so the list stays current.

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