 The film was released in cinemas in the United States on 11 January 2002 and over its 24 days on screen, earned a meager US$66,131 in box office.Many reviewers see "Beijing Bicycle" as having similar themes as Vittorio De Sica's 1948 classic "Bicycle Thieves".The film board of the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television decided to ban the screening of "Beijing Bicycle" in China after the film was sent to the Berlin International Film Festival without first acquiring the board's approval.