Best known for his crime epics and gangster flicks, Martin Scorsese has established himself as one of the best directors of the 21st century. Among the likes of Akira Kurosawa, Steven Spielberg, and Stanley Kubrick, Scorsese was one of the provocateurs who shook cinema to its core during the Golden Age of filmmaking, when all conventional wisdom was tossed aside in place of personal style.

Throughout his career, Scorsese's films have accumulated a total of twenty wins and one hundred and one nominations at the Academy Awards. His reverence for the art of cinema has garnered him ample critical acclaim, and each of his movies is steeped in Hollywood history. Showing no signs of slowing down, Scorsese's latest crime-Western Killers of the Flower Moon added even more nominations under Scorsese's belt, furthering his legacy as one of the greatest filmmakers.

Updated April 7, 2024, by David Giatras: Martin Scorsese's legendary career has spanned over 50 years, and he has become the most prolific director of the modern era. With his recent Best Director nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon, Scorsese has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director a record 10 times, solidifying him as arguably the greatest director in the history of film.

15 Killers Of The Flower Moon Made Scorsese The Oldest Best Director Nominee

Scorsese’s latest film, Killers of the Flower Moon, takes place during the 1920s oil boom in Oklahoma. When oil is discovered on the Osage Nation land, the people of the tribe begin getting murdered one by one, forcing the FBI to begin an investigation. The film is based on the book of the same name by David Glenn.

Scorsese reunites with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro for this film, alongside Lily Gladstone who gave a tour de force performance. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 2024, including Scorsese’s 10th nomination for Best Director, but walked away with zero awards. Scorsese’s nomination made him the oldest nominee in the history of the category at 81 years old, as well as the most-nominated person in the Best Director category as well.

14 Mean Streets Was The First Collaboration Of Scorsese With Robert DeNiro

Mean Streets stars Harvey Keitel as Charlie Cappsa, a devout Catholic mobster who is torn between his responsibilities of working for the mafia and his religion. Charlie is also covering up a secret affair and dealing with his troublesome friend Johnny Boy, whose reckless behavior is getting both of them in trouble.

Mean Streets was the first of many collaborations between Scorsese and DeNiro, who received universal acclaim for his performance. It was also Scorsese’s first critical and commercial hit, which set him on the path for all the hits he has had since. Many critics at the time lauded Scorsese’s work as a triumph and the performances that he directed made it one of the most memorable films of the 1970s and has influenced several actors and filmmakers since.

13 The King Of Comedy Is A Deep Character Study That Descends Into Obsession

The King of Comedy stars Robert DeNiro as Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring stand-up comedian who is obsessed with famous comedian and late-night talk show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis). After Rupert meets Langford by chance, his obsession deepens to the point of stalking and kidnapping Langford.

Scorsese’s deep character study of Rupert proved to not have universal acclaim upon release. However, contemporary critics have placed it as one of his best movies and have pointed out the similarities between it and Taxi Driver, also starring DeNiro. The film’s ending has also been a source of debate over the years as viewers try to interpret if it was real or a fantasy in Rupert’s mind.

12 The Aviator Was Scorsese's First Movie To Gross Over $100 Million

The Aviator depicts the life of Howard Hughes, an aviation pioneer, over 20 years in the 20th century. Hughes also became a film director in his career and struggled with OCD, as well as mental illness. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the role of Hughes alongside a cast including Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin and Alan Alda.

The film received 11 Academy Award nominations in 2005, winning 5. Scorsese framed each period of Hughes’ life to a certain color scheme to how a movie from that time period would look, giving the film an overall distinct feel. It was the first Scorsese film to gross over $100 million, which is mind-boggling that none of his movies grossed over $100 million until 2004.

11 The Irishman Had Extensive VFX For Its Leads

The Irishman reunited Scorsese with many of his previous collaborators, including Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Harvey Keitel. The film tells the story of Frank Sheeran, a hitman who later works for Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino). Surprisingly, it was Scorsese’s first collaboration with Pacino. It currently stands as the longest movie Scorsese has ever made, at a staggering 209 minutes.

Scorsese has claimed that no major studios would back the film before making it for Netflix, who gave the film a $150 million budget. The film used extensive de-aging to allow DeNiro, Pacino and Pesci to play their characters in different time periods, utilizing a custom three-camera rig instead of motion-tracking markers. Despite the film’s critical acclaim, it won zero Academy Awards out of 10 nominations.

10 Silence Succeeds With Stellar Performances

Adapted from the 1966 novel of the same name, Silence stars Andrew Garfield in the leading role of a 17th-century Portuguese missionary who embarks on a journey to spread Catholic Christianity throughout Japan. Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, and Ciarán Hinds star in supporting performances.

Silence is an example of a film that possesses the power to draw viewers in, no matter their belief system. Scorsese tests the audience with a movie that maintains an uncompromising austerity throughout—incredibly forceful in its narrative while perfectly ambiguous in its purpose. Garfield and Driver's performances are deeply moving, leaving no questions about their talents in their wake, and Neeson's turn as a Jesuit priest is particularly powerful.

9 Shutter Island Lingers Long After The Credits Roll

Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Deputy Marshal Teddy Daniels in Shutter Island. The film follows an investigation at a psychiatric facility off the coast of Boston Harbour, situated on a remote, windswept island that poses the question of a patient's implausible disappearance. Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, and Max von Sydow star in supporting performances.

Shutter Island represents Martin Scorsese at his most unrestrained. It's unapologetically thrilling in its depiction of grief and tragedy, and the film maximizes every detail of the presumed truth for maximum psychic dread and confusion. Blending the neo-noir components of classic filmmaking with the psychological elements of modern cinema, Shutter Island is a masterfully made mystery/thriller.

8 The Last Temptation Of Christ Is Powerful & Poignant

Based on the controversial 1955 novel of the same name, The Last Temptation of Christ depicts the life of Jesus Christ and his struggle with various forms of temptation. Starring Willem Dafoe in the titular role, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey, Paul Greco, Verna Bloom, and Roberts Blossom deliver supporting performances.

Profoundly moving in its depiction of Christianity, The Last Temptation of Christ works both as a drama and as a parable. Scorsese's clear passion for the subject shines through an oft-transcendent rumination on faith, crafting a water-into-wine miracle for the silver screen. Willem Dafoe's turn as Jesus Christ is charismatic, strong, and incredibly layered; his performance is every bit as brilliant as it is inspired.

7 Gangs Of New York Is Beautifully Photographed & Brutally Engaging

Based on Herbert Asbury's 1927 non-fiction novel of the same name, Gangs of New York stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis. Set in 1862, the film follows a group of Irish immigrants protesting against low wages amid a long-running Catholic-Protestant feud that erupts into violence.

Scorsese crafts a spectacular period piece, speckling fine political points along the way to demonstrate his mastery as a director. Every scene is laden with exquisite cinematography and production design, heightened by gritty performances from the entire cast. Daniel Day-Lewis gives an electrifying rendition of William Poole as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting, with equally enigmatic work from DiCaprio's young Irish immigrant, Amsterdam Vallon.

6 The Wolf Of Wall Street Wows With Excessiveness

The Wolf of Wall Street marks Martin Scorsese's fifth collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio. Following the true story of stockbroker Jordan Belfort (DiCaprio), The Wolf of Wall Street recounts how his empire comes crashing down at the hands of the FBI and the SEC, after partaking in a hedonistic brew of debauchery and excess.

Whether it's when he's high on a fistful of Quaaludes or training his cronies to steal from the rich, DiCaprio delivers a powerhouse performance in the role of Belfort, lacing the character with swagger and salacious one-liners. Scorsese styles a film that skates the fine line between deplorable and hysterical, with a star-making turn from Margot Robbie and a career-defining performance from Jonah Hill.

5 The Departed Plays A Game Of Cat-And-Mouse

Leonardo DiCaprio stars opposite Jack Nicholson in The Departed, following the story of a South Boston cop (DiCaprio) who goes undercover to infiltrate the organization of a gangland chief (Nicholson). Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Alec Baldwin, and Vera Farmiga star in supporting performances.

The Departed plays like an enthralling morality tale of cat-and-mouse. Nicholson steals the film in the set-up, but the second half belongs to DiCaprio and Damon, who battle it out in a psychologically taut game of wits and nerves. With a riveting narrative that escalates in tandem with the tensions generated by brilliant performances from the entire cast, The Departed continues Scorsese's trend of making at least one motion picture masterpiece per decade.

4 Casino Crafts An Electric Crime Epic

Starring Robert De Niro as Sam "Ace" Rothstein, Casino follows a Jewish-American gambling expert who's tasked by the Chicago Outfit to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone co-star as Nicky Santoro and Ginger McKenna, a "made man" friend of Ace and a streetwise chip hustler, respectively.

Scorsese conveys an element of nostalgia in Casino, crafting a passionate bravura of brute force. The decadence of both wealth and operatic violence are brought into sharp focus, amplified by an intoxicating level of garishness to deliver an epic story of vice and virtue. Vivid, cinematic, and impossible to look away from, Casino is a triumph from start to finish.

3 Raging Bull Delivers A Complex Character Study

Robert De Niro stars as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, which follows the life of an Italian-American middleweight boxer whose self-destructive rage and violence destroy his relationship with his wife and family. Joe Pesci co-stars as LaMotta's well-intentioned brother/manager, Joey, who aids Jake as he battles his inner demons.

Featuring one of cinema's greatest performances of all time, Raging Bull examines the character of an unsympathetic hero. Driven by jealousy and self-hatred, LaMotta comes to life through De Niro's endlessly compelling work. The film moves with a feverish rhythm and brandishes an obsessive style; Scorsese paints an enthralling picture that is deeply rewarding and episodically absorbing.

2 Taxi Driver Dramatizes A Tale Of Urban Indifference

Leading with a performance from Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, Taxi Driver co-stars Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, and Harvey Keitel. The film follows a Vietnam War veteran who roams around a decaying, morally bankrupt New York City in the mid-1970s. It is also famous for its "you talkin' to me?" scene, a classic monologue by DeNiro.

Shifting between moments of romance and violence, Taxi Driver paints a picture of a man in dire need of therapy. Through Bickle's warped perception of the world, he believes society can be cleansed by way of sheer ferocity and focus. Scorsese crafts a thriller that shows a man trying to rid his city of crime and corruption, where brutality bubbles beneath the surface of democracy.

1 GoodFellas Is Martin Scorsese's Magnum Opus

Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Martin Scorsese make for a cinematic trifecta with GoodFellas. Adapted from Nicholas Pileggi's 1985 non-fiction novel, the film follows the rise and fall of mob associate Henry Hill and his friends and family between the 1950s and 1970s. Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco, and Paul Sorvino round out the cast in supporting roles.

Complex, volatile, hard-hitting, and stylish, GoodFellas is the arguable high point of Scorsese's career and one of the finest films of all time. The performances—particularly from Pesci and De Niro—are superlative achievements in screen acting. The screenplay is nothing short of sublime, with dialogue as wonderful as it is profane. Orchestrating a fantastically-paced story with dynamic cinematography and exceptional music, this is Scorsese at the height of his talents.