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Martin Scorsese, the legendary filmmaker known for his kinetic camera work and intense storytelling, is an absolute giant of cinema. His name has been synonymous with visceral, groundbreaking filmmaking. Birthing his masterpieces from the New Hollywood era of the 1970s, he fundamentally redefined how movies were made.
He didn't just tell stories; with films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and Goodfellas (and more), he captured the heart of modern human existence. His themes were complex, yet so authentic that they left an undeniable impact on the viewers.
In his directorial vision, gripping tales found place, like the lives of Italian-American people, the effects of religious guilt, the gritty underbelly of modern masculinity and organized crime.
It is no wonder that Martin Scorsese owns most Oscar nominations in the Best Director segment (living). Even in his eighties, he is continuing his legacy uninterrupted with his recent films like the Killers of the Flower Moon or The Irishman.
These 8 Martin Scorsese films represent his craft and are must-watch for those who love truly brilliant, impactful movies.
8 best Martin Scorsese movies every film lover should see
1. Goodfellas (1990)
This 1990 gangster drama featuring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci and Lorraine Bracco was nominated for six Academy Awards. This film earned Joe Pesci the Oscar award for Best Supporting Actor and earned wide critical acclaim.
The film narrates the magnificent rise and spectacular fall of Henry Hill, who is mesmerized by the mob life of New York. Focusing on this Irish-Italian mob associate, the story of Goodfellas has been detailing through three decades of his life within a notorious New York crime family.
Why it's a must-watch for film buffs:
Forget your average mob movie, this Martin Scorsese gangster film lands a gut punch with its signature jump cuts, iconic tracking shot through the Copacabana, and unforgettable classic rock scores.
Who can forget the signature long shot where Henry Hill takes Karen (Lorraine Bracco) through the back entrance of the club, past kitchens and hallways, to finally halt at the table for them. It’s nearly three minutes of brilliant cinema without a cut.
2. Taxi Driver (1976)
This 1976 crime-noir features powerful performances by star-studded cast like Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd and Harvey Keitel. The film won Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Robert De Niro).
Taxi Driver is hailed as one of the greatest yet most controversial psychological films ever made. The film centers on a psychologically disturbed Vietnam veteran, Travis Bickle, who now drives a taxi in New York City.
He believes "you're only as healthy as you feel" but the growing crimes in the NY nightscape slowly takes a toll on him. He begins to descend into paranoia and plans a violent act of "cleansing".
Why It's a Must-Watch for Film Buffs:
The film upholds a mirror into the urban decay of society that quietly suffers from loneliness, paranoia, and the festering sickness beneath the glowing nightscape. Hailed as one of the best from the New Hollywood era films, the film offers raw, subjective camera work and De Niro’s chilling performance.
3. Raging Bull (1980)
Raging Bull is a 1980 biographical drama that follows the rise and fall in the life of Jake LaMotta. LaMotta was a middleweight boxing champion whose explosive rage and obsessive jealousy shattered his most valued relations and destroyed his career.
The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning two for Best Actor (Robert De Niro) and Best Film Editing.
Why It's a Must-Watch for Film Buffs:
If you want to see the pure cinematic brilliance of Martin Scorsese, this one cannot be missed. Shot in gorgeous, expressionistic black-and-white, the editing in the boxing scenes is both innovative and revolutionary.
The visionary director closely portrays the character's soul. De Niro's famous physical transformation is awe-inducing and the time-tested collaboration reign supreme again.
4. The Departed (2006)
Featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg, this 2006 film centers on moles planted in both the police and the Irish Mob. With this film Scorsese won his Best Director Oscar, alongside three others, including Best Picture, solidifying its status as a top crime film of modern cinema.
Why it's a must-watch for film buffs:
The Departed captures the heart of a true Martin Scorsese film like no other. It is his most mainstream and most thrilling addition to an already brilliant filmography. If you crave movies that deliver an eclectic mix of twists and tension, ensemble cast and breathtaking performances, you go nowhere else.
The masterclass storytelling with its commentary on how hard it is to maintain any moral ground, leaves with you even after the credits roll.
5. Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
The visionary director and producer delivered another masterpiece in 2023, bringing together Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone, to tell the twisted and dark take of murders within the wealthy Osage Nation in the 1920s.
The film earned a solid ten Oscar nominations and was hailed as a powerful historical statement, with Lily Gladstone winning the Golden Globe for Best Actress.
Why it's a must-watch for film buffs:
This film is a majestic, unflinching deep dive into one of the hidden corners of American history. Martin Scorsese reunites his two biggest muses for a sprawling, classic slow-burn. It gives you both the glamour of his old crime movies with a touch of freshness for the audience of 2023.
6. The King of Comedy (1982)
In this 1982 satirical black comedy Robert De Niro shines as the delusional Rupert Pupkin, who is mad for fame. This is one of those different attempts by Martin Scorsese, usually known for mob life portrayals and serious themes.
This brilliant, uncomfortable satire that was decades ahead of its time in predicting modern celebrity culture and toxic fandom. What makes this a must watch is its unapologetic weirdness.
Why it's a must-watch for film buffs:
It’s Martin Scorsese’s cynical take on the American Dream of instant fame where De Niro plays an painfully unbearable anti-hero. The film’s ending holds a signature ambiguity that forces you to question what is real and what is just fantasy in the age of televised media.
7. Shutter Island (2010)
If there is one film that screams Martin Scorsese like no other, it is Shutter Island. The film follows the U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) journeying through sea to reach an asylum and investigate the case of a missing patient.
Widely hailed for its cinematic style, the intense psychological thriller saw box office success proving Scorsese a master storyteller of any form or shape.
Why it's a must-watch for film buffs:
You watch this movie for its pure, visual suspense. Taking a return route into neo-noir and blending Gothic horror, the film’s atmosphere, jarring hallucinations, and constant tension stays with you even after it ends.
If it feels like you need to understand the final reveal to understand the twisted ending of the story, worry not, its signature Martin Scorsese for you!
8. Hugo (2011)
This 2011 film walks a different path than most of Scorsese's creations. It is an adventure film featuring Asa Butterfield and Ben Kingsley in 1930s Paris train station, who have become part of a magical quest.
This beautiful, family-friendly tale was the year’s most Oscar-nominated picture with 11 nods, winning five technical Oscars, and was praised as a beautiful, heartfelt family film.
Why it's a must-watch for film buffs:
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This one is often hailed as the director's love letter to cinema itself. The film is a technical marvel, featuring breathtaking 3D and a magical story. It is a wonderful introduction to the pioneering French filmmaker Georges Méliès, reminding that even the smallest piece of magic must be protected at all costs.
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