10 essential films by Martin Scorsese you must watch

Martin Scorsese’s period drama ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead, released on October 20. Scorsese, one of the most influential and acclaimed directors in the history of cinema, is known for his distinctive visual style and a penchant for exploring complex characters, has created numerous iconic films throughout his career. Here are 10 essential films by the auteur:

1. Mean Streets (1973): Set in New York City’s Little Italy, where Scorsese grew up, it revolves around Charlie Cappa (Harvey Keitel), a small-time hoodlum, and his conflicted relationship with his reckless, unstable friend Johnny Boy (Robert De Niro). As Charlie tries to navigate the dangerous and morally complex world of the local mafia, he grapples with his own Catholic guilt and desire to escape the criminal life. An intimate and gritty look at the struggles and moral dilemmas faced by the characters in an unforgiving urban environment, this was Scorsese’s first feature film of his own design, after his first actual feature, Who’s That Knocking at My Door (1967), and a directing project given to him by early independent filmmaker Roger Corman, Boxcar Bertha (1972). The film was also the first of several collaborations between Scorsese and De Niro.

2. Taxi Driver (1976): A neo-noir psychological thriller written by Paul Schrader, this dark and haunting film is widely regarded as one of the greatest American movies ever made. It follows Travis Bickle (De Niro), a mentally unstable Vietnam War veteran, who becomes a taxi driver in the seedy underbelly of the decaying and morally bankrupt New York City in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Disillusioned with the city’s decadence and depravity, and plagued by insomnia, he descends into madness, becoming increasingly obsessed with the idea of cleaning up the streets and saving a young prostitute, Iris (Jodie Foster), from her life of exploitation. The film explores themes of loneliness, alienation, and the blurred line between hero and anti-hero. The film boasts a career-defining performance by Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle, and is considered a classic of 1970s American cinema.

3. Raging Bull (1980): A biographical sports drama and an adaptation of former boxing champion Jake LaMotta’s 1970 memoir Raging Bull: My Story, it chronicles the life of LaMotta (De Niro), the volatile and self-destructive middleweight boxer from the Bronx. It follows his rise through the boxing ranks, culminating in his middleweight championship win, and his turbulent personal life beset by rage and jealousy, including his complex relationship with his wife, Vickie (Cathy Moriarty). A harrowing exploration of one man’s inner turmoil, it explores LaMotta’s descent into paranoia, both in and out of the boxing ring. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, it fetched De Niro the Best Actor Oscar. To Scorsese, the boxing ring in the film became ‘an allegory for whatever you do in life’. Six years later, he would direct another sports drama, The Color of Money (based on a novel of the same name by Walter Tevis), a sequel to the 1961 film The Hustler, with Paul Newman reprising his Oscar-winning role as ‘Fast Eddie’ Felson.

4. Goodfellas (1990): Adapted from Nicholas Pileggi’s Wiseguy (1985), and written by Pileggi and Scorsese, it narrates the rise and fall of mafia associate Henry Hill and his friends and family, in Brooklyn’s working class neighbourhood, from 1955 to 1980. Celebrated for its frenetic pacing, unforgettable characters, and deft use of voiceover narration, it revolves around Hill (Ray Liotta), a young man of Italian-American descent who is drawn into the world of organised crime. Alongside his friends Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) and Jimmy Conway (De Niro), Henry becomes involved in various criminal activities, from petty theft to drug dealing. Often cited as one of the greatest gangster films ever made, it traces their careers replete with risks and betrayals, creating a gripping and darkly humorous portrayal of the mafia lifestyle. Five years later, Scorsese returned to crime after a psychological thriller (Cape Fear, 1991) and a romantic drama, The Age of Innocence: his 1995 film Casino explores the world of organised crime, with his signature style, compelling characters, and an emphasis on the destructive power of ambition and greed.

5. The Age of Innocence (1993): An adaptation of the 1920 novel of the same name by Edith Wharton, it is a visually stunning and emotionally charged period drama, set in 19th-century New York — steeped in traditions and the constraints of class. It recounts the courtship and marriage of Newland Archer (Day-Lewis), a wealthy New York high society attorney, to his cousin May Welland (Winona Ryder). However, Newland is also besotted with Ellen Olenseka (Michelle Pfeiffer), a divorced countess, but he keeps it a secret. The film, which captures the grandeur and decorum of the Gilded Age, underscores the contrast between the external facade of propriety and the tumultuous emotions bubbling just beneath the surface, and the sacrifices made for the sake of conformity. Scorsese dedicated the film to his father, Luciano Charles Scorsese, who had passed away a month before the film was released. Luciano and his wife, Catherine Scorsese, had small cameo appearances in the film.

6. Gangs of New York (2002): This historical drama, set in New York City, and epic in both its storytelling and scale depicts the violent conflicts between various immigrant groups, particularly Irish and nativist gangs, led by charismatic but ruthless figures, marked the first collaboration between Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. Yet another gritty portrait of the socio-political and criminal landscape of mid-19th century NYC, particularly the infamous Five Points neighbourhood, it explores themes of immigration, class struggle, and the corrupting influence of power. Set against the backdrop of the Civil War, it’s centred on Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio), a young Irish immigrant seeking revenge against Bill ‘The Butcher’ Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis), the man who killed his father. Vallon infiltrates Bill’s inner circle and becomes entangled in the gang warfare that defines the era, as well as a romantic relationship with Jenny Everdeane (Cameron Diaz).

7. The Departed (2006): A high-octane crime thriller written by William Monahan, and set in the underworld of Boston, it unravels a cat-and-mouse game between an undercover cop and a mole within the Massachusetts State Police, who are both working for a notorious Irish gangster. The film stands out for its taut, suspenseful storytelling, a stellar ensemble cast, and intense performances, especially by the three lead actors. The Irish-American mob is led by Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson). Both sides — Massachusetts State Police, and the mafia — have infiltrated the other, with Billy Costigan (DiCaprio) working undercover for the police and Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) serving as a mole for Costello. As tensions rise, trust wanes, loyalties are constantly tested, and betrayals become more frequent, a high-stakes game of survival begins. The Departed — steeped in moral ambiguity, like Scorsese’s’ most films — won the filmmaker his first Academy Award for Best Director.

8. Shutter Island (2010): A psychological thriller based on Dennis Lehane’s novel of the same name (adapted by Laeta Kalogridis), it will take you into a mind-bending journey into the depths of psychological trauma and suspense. Set in 1954, the story follows U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo), who are sent to Shutter Island, a remote and foreboding mental institution, to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a patient. As they delve deeper into the island’s eerie and unsettling atmosphere, Teddy’s own traumatic past resurfaces, and he becomes increasingly entangled in a web of secrets, paranoia, and delusion. The film — featuring Ben Kingsley as the facility’s lead psychiatrist, Max von Sydow as a German doctor, and Michelle Williams as Daniels’ wife — explores themes of guilt, mental illness, and the nature of reality.

9. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): A darkly comedic and audacious crime drama based on the 2007 memoir of the same name by Jordan Belfort, a stockbroker who engaged in rampant illegal activities on Wall Street, it chronicles the meteoric rise and spectacular fall of Belfort (DiCaprio), who, along with his partner Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), builds an empire fuelled by greed, debauchery, and criminal activity. Belfort’s unscrupulous brokerage firm, Stratton Oakmont, manipulates stocks and lures investors into high-risk schemes, amassing immense wealth and indulging in extravagant, hedonistic lifestyles. As the FBI and Securities and Exchange Commission close in on Belfort, his life unfolds like a whirlwind of corruption. A scathing examination of the excesses and moral bankruptcy of Wall Street during the 1980s and ’90s, it was nominated for five awards at the 86th Academy Awards.

10. The Irishman (2019): This monumental crime drama, based on I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt, which spans several decades, follows the life of Frank Sheeran (De Niro), a truck driver who becomes a hitman for the mafia and eventually becomes a trusted confidant of powerful Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa (played by Al Pacino). The Irishman, which reunites Scorsese with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci and marks his first collaboration with Al Pacino, is a reflection on loyalty, aging, and the consequences of a life in crime. It explores Frank’s involvement in organised crime, his relationships with other mobsters like Russell Bufalino (Pesci), and the political and criminal landscape of the mid-20th century. As the years pass, the consequences of Frank’s choices and the toll of a life rife with violence and deceit become increasingly evident.