Breaking Away is a 1979 English-language Comedy Drama film written by Steve Tesich and directed by Peter Yates and produced by Peter Yates. The film was shot in and around Bloomington and on the university's campus. Breaking away stars Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley, Barbara Barrie, Paul Dooley and John Vande Velde. The music was composed by Patrick Williams. Cinematography was done by Matthew F. Leonetti and editing by Cynthia Scheider. The movie has a running time of 101 minutes. It was released on 20th July 1979 and it received positive reviews from critics when it was released and became successful at box office. Breaking Away was made on a budget of $2 million and it was a super hit at box office gross of $16 million. Distribution rights for the film were acquired by 20th Century Fox. At the 1980 Oscar Awards It won an award for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. The film was shot in and around Bloomington and on the university's campus.