Bicycle Thieves (1948): cast, story & where to watch
1948 · Film · ★ 8.2
Released in 1948, Bicycle Thieves is a drama film directed by Vittorio De Sica, running about 89 minutes. “The Prize Picture They Want to Censor!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Unemployed Antonio is elated when he finally finds work hanging posters around war-torn Rome. However on his first day, his bicycle—essential to his work—gets stolen. His job is doomed unless he can find the thief. With the help of his son, Antonio combs the city, becoming desperate for justice.
Who’s in it. Bicycle Thieves stars Lamberto Maggiorani as Antonio Ricci, Enzo Staiola as Bruno Ricci, Lianella Carell as Maria Ricci and Elena Altieri as The Charitable Lady, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 8.2/10, Bicycle Thieves sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue. It went on to earn $436.7K at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel, YouTube TV and Criterion Channel and rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Bicycle Thieves page.
If you liked it. Fans of Bicycle Thieves tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Bicycle Thieves (1948)?
- In US, Bicycle Thieves is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max Amazon Channel and YouTube TV, and rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Bicycle Thieves worth watching?
- Bicycle Thieves holds an audience score of 8.2 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Bicycle Thieves?
- Bicycle Thieves stars Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell, Elena Altieri and Gino Saltamerenda.
- When was Bicycle Thieves released?
- Bicycle Thieves was released in 1948, with a runtime of about 89 minutes.