BMX Bandits
By Tracy Moore,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
1980s teen bike adventure with sustained menace, peril.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Good 80s fun
Report this review
Watched it with my 5yo and we both LOVED it!
Report this review
What's the Story?
When two BMX riders bust up their bikes in a grocery store parking lot mishap, simultaneously costing a young woman, Judy (Nicole Kidman), her job, the trio take off on a fishing trip. But plans change when they stumble upon a stash of stolen walkie talkies and realize they can hawk them for the cash to repair their bikes. The scheme backfires when a band of bank robbers discover the whereabouts of their missing loot and are determined to reclaim it.
Is It Any Good?
BMX BANDITS offers an amusing return to '80s freestyle bike culture with some bawdy humor and adventure. Kids may enjoy those bike tricks woven throughout the film's action-driven plot, and some of those chase sequences -- particularly in a creepy cemetery setting -- are good for a thrill.
Parents may like the nostalgia rush, not to mention watching a very young Nicole Kidman in her first feature role. And the movie deserves a thumbs-up for portraying a teen girl character who's considered an equal in adventure, not to mention bike-riding, with her male peers, even if it's totally obvious she has a stunt double for all her best moves. But with endless pursuit sequences that quickly tire, it's a high price of admission just to see neon bikes and feathery hair.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how movies often portray teenagers taking the reins of a mystery or crime and solving it ably without the help of adults. Is this realistic? Have you ever ignored advice from your parents or an authority figure about how to handle something? What were the consequences?
The BMX bike riders pull some extremely risky moves in the film. Go online to read more about how much work, training, and safety precautions go into performing stunt tricks on bicycle in movies.
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 29, 1983
- On DVD or streaming: March 15, 2011
- Cast: David Argue, John Ley, Nicole Kidman
- Director: Brian Trenchard Smith
- Studio: Severin Films
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- Topics: Adventures
- Run time: 88 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: January 15, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Excellent Adventure Movies for Family Fun
Movies for Girls Who Love Sports
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate