Review published 15th February 2026

Watch the official trailer.

From BMX Races to Unexpected Danger

Young teenagers, P.J. (played by Angelo D’Angelo) and Goose (played by James Lugton), spend their time racing each other through public spaces around Sydney, Australia, pulling off stunts and cool tricks along the way.  During one of their rides, one of the boys crashes into a shopping trolley at a grocery store. Although it was not her fault, a young staff member named Judy, portrayed by Nicole Kidman, is immediately fired.  Feeling that Judy’s dismissal is completely unfair, P.J. and Goose strike up a friendship with her. Before long, the trio forms a close bond, and Judy is gifted a brand-new BMX bike. But while the trio only intend on spending their days having fun, they find themselves caught up in serious danger.

High-Stakes Heist Meets BMX Brilliance

A crime boss and his crew are planning a major heist, acquiring the latest walkie-talkie technology so they can eavesdrop on police communications and pull off their crime undetected. However, when P.J., Goose and Judy stumble upon where the walkie-talkies are hidden, they decide to keep them and have a bit of fun with their discovery. It does not take long for the gang to realise who has their equipment, and once they do, they will stop at nothing to get it back, no matter the cost.  Can P.J., Goose and Judy outsmart and outrun this dangerous crew using their quick thinking, cool tricks and lightning-fast BMX bikes?

Family-Friendly Thrills from a Cult Director

BMX Bandits is an Australian action crime adventure with a light touch of drama. It was directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith, who is well known for a string of memorable titles including Dead End Drive-In, Turkey Shoot, The Man from Hong Kong and Frog Dreaming, also known as The Quest.  It is also worth noting that Trenchard-Smith has ventured into horror territory with films such as Leprechaun 3 and Leprechaun 4: In Space.  Interestingly, BMX Bandits is quite different from much of his earlier work, as it is far more family-friendly and clearly aimed at younger audiences.

High-Flying Stunts and a Star in the Making

BMX Bandits is pure, harmless entertainment. Given Brian Trenchard-Smith’s past work, it is no surprise that the movie delivers plenty of energetic action sequences packed with jumps, stunts and thrilling chases, especially in the third act.  Whenever a stunt unfolds, it is hard to criticise anything because it is simply so impressive and exciting to watch. For its time, it was fresh and even groundbreaking, not just for cinema in general, but for Australian cinema as well. It clearly paved the way for later BMX-themed films, such as Rad, which arrived a few years later.  In terms of performances, it is easy to see why this was considered a breakout role for Nicole Kidman. She delivers the strongest performance among the young leads and does so with a natural, effortless charm.

Cheesy Lines, Clumsy Villains, and Unintended Laughs

The dialogue is, unfortunately, hit or miss at times, particularly when P.J. and Goose trade one-liners or gags, which often come across as cheesy and induce eye rolls. While the idea of the leads racing around on BMX bikes and performing cool stunts is undeniably fun, the villains are portrayed as clumsy and dim-witted. This may work for a teenage audience, but it can be painful to watch at times.  Rewatching the film today, I also noticed some obvious recurring errors that are distracting. For example, the same locations are reused with slight alterations, seemingly in the hope that viewers won’t notice. However, the same actors and background characters appear in both setups, making the differences obvious—and, in some cases, unintentionally humorous.

Iconic Stunts and Timeless Family Fun

Overall, BMX Bandits was groundbreaking for its time, particularly for its BMX stunt work and the standout introduction of Nicole Kidman. Even today, the stunts still hold up, and the film’s playful, slightly cheesy charm remains intact. It also stands out among Brian Trenchard-Smith’s work, as BMX Bandits is far more family-friendly and suited to younger audiences.  For those looking to relive some epic nostalgia, BMX Bandits remains iconic and memorable. While it may not be perfect in every way, new audiences will still be impressed and entertained by the daring stunts and the film’s light-hearted, playful tone.

BMX Bandits (1983) is Coming Soon to 4K UHD, thanks to Umbrella!

About the Reviewer

Peter Walkden

Film writer and curator with a deep passion for cinema, genre filmmaking, and physical media. Exploring new releases, cult favourites, and overlooked films, with a strong focus on atmosphere, storytelling, and the theatrical experience.

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