In post-war Rome, the pervasive poverty and unemployment have taken a toll on the population. Amidst this dire economic backdrop, Antonio Ricci, a desperate father, is elated when he lands a job plastering cinema advertisements around the city. The job offers a glimmer of hope to him and his family, promising a steady income to alleviate their hardships. However, the job has one crucial requirement: Antonio must have a bicycle. His wife, Maria, pawns their bedsheets to redeem Antonio's bicycle from the pawnshop, emphasizing the importance of this opportunity for their family's survival.

On his first day of work, disaster strikes when Antonio's bicycle is stolen. The bicycle, essential for his job, becomes the symbol of his family’s chance for a better life. Alongside his young son, Bruno, Antonio embarks on a quest through the streets of Rome to recover his stolen bike. This mission turns increasingly desperate as Antonio realizes the enormity of his challenge in a city teeming with bicycles and driven by the same desperation that plagues him. Each encounter with the underbelly of the city tests his resilience and morality, while his relationship with Bruno undergoes the strains of his growing frustration and the harsh realities they face together.