Highlights
- Martin Scorsese is an iconic Hollywood director known for his collaborations with actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.
- His top-rated films according to IMDb include classics like Goodfellas, The Departed, and Taxi Driver.
- Scorsese continues to work on new projects, including the highly-anticipated film Killers of the Flower Moon, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro.
Today’s list examines the achievements of Hollywood director Martin Scorsese, who rose to fame in the 1970s with movies such as Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, and New York, New York. This talented Italian-American director quickly became a legend in the movie industry, and over the past five decades, he repeatedly worked on movies with some of his favorite Hollywood stars – such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci.
Martin Scorsese has made a lot of movies over the years, and today’s list takes a look at which ones are his top 10 most successful ones — according to the ever-changing rankings on IMDb. From The Irishman to The Wolf of Wall Street — keep on scrolling to find out which movie ranks at the top of the list!
Updated September 2023: At 80, iconic director Martin Scorsese isn’t resting on his laurels. With Scorcese’s ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ set for an October release, he provided interviews and discussed the highly-anticipated upcoming film.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro both signed on to work with Scorsese again. In September, the director said that he re-wrote aspects of ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, and explained: “After a certain point, I realized I was making a movie about all the white guys … Meaning I was taking the approach from the outside in, which concerned me.”
12 Cape Fear (1991) — IMDb Rating 7.3
First on the list is Scorsese’s 1991 psychological thriller Cape Fear, starring Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, Juliette Lewis, Jessica Lange, and Gregory Peck. Cape Fear tells the story of an embattled attorney, stalked and terrorized by a former client he failed to exonerate. Cape Fear currently has a rating of 7.3 out of 10 on IMDb.
11 Italianamerican (1974) — IMDb Rating 7.6
Next up is Scorsese’s Italianamerican, unique among Scorsese films for its cast — primarily the filmmaker and his Italian-American parents. In the course of the film, Martin Scorsese interviews his parents about his Sicilian roots, as well as living in New York City. It maintains a rating of 7.6 on IMDb, and provides a rare look at Scorsese on the other side of the camera lens.
10 After Hours (1985) — IMDb Rating 7.6
Tied with Italianamerican is Scorsese’s 1985 black comedy, After Hours. The movie follows Paul Hackett and his experiences during a night in New York City. Currently, After Hours — which stars Rosanna Arquette, Verna Bloom, Thomas Chong, Griffin Dunne, Linda Fiorentino, Teri Garr, John Heard, Richard Cheech Marin, and Catherine O’Hara — has a 7.6 rating on IMDb.
9 The King Of Comedy (1982) — IMDb Rating 7.8
Let’s move on to the 1982 satirical black comedy-drama The King of Comedy, which was also directed by Martin Scorsese.
The movie follows the story of an unsuccessful comic, and it stars Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, Sandra Bernhard, and Diahnne Abbott. Currently, The King of Comedy has a 7.8 rating on IMDb – landing it at number nine on the list.
8 The Irishman (2019) — IMDb Rating 7.8
The 2019 epic crime movie The Irishman is number eight, directed and produced by Martin Scorsese. The movie is based on the non-fiction book I Heard You Paint Houses, and it stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, Ray Romano, Bobby Cannavale, Anna Paquin, Stephen Graham, and Harvey Keitel. Currently, the movie — which tells the story of an old hitman who remembers the time he was working for his friend Jimmy Hoffa — has a 7.8 rating on IMDb.
7 Raging Bull (1980) — IMDb Rating 8.1
No “best of Scorsese” list would be complete without the iconic 1980 biographical sports drama Raging Bull based on the memoir Raging Bull: My Story. The movie stars Robert De Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, and Frank Vincent — and it tells the story of boxer Jake LaMotta. Currently, Raging Bull has an 8.1 rating on IMDb.
6 The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013) — IMDb Rating 8.2
Spot number six on the list of best Martin Scorsese movies is the 2013 biographical black comedy-crime movie The Wolf of Wall Street. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Rob Reiner, Jon Favreau, and Jean Dujardin — and it tells the true story of Jordan Belfort who became a wealthy stockbroker whose penchant for corruption and fraud lead to his downfall. Currently, The Wolf of Wall Street has an 8.2 rating on IMDb, just edging out the classic Raging Bull.
5 Casino (1995) — IMDb Rating 8.2
First in the top five on the list is the 1995 epic crime film Casino, which is based on the non-fiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas. The movie stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak, and James Woods — and it tells the story of two best friends who compete against each other over owning a gambling empire.
Currently, Casino has an 8.2 rating on IMDb, which means it shares spot number five with The Wolf of Wall Street.
4 Shutter Island (2010) — IMDb Rating 8.2
Fourth on the list of best Martin Scorsese movies is the 2010 neo-noir psychological thriller Shutter Island, which was based on a novel of the same name. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Patricia Clarkson, and Max von Sydow. It tells the story of a US Marshal who is investigating a hospital for the criminally insane after one of its patients goes missing. Currently, Shutter Island has an 8.2 rating on IMDb, tied with The Wolf of Wall Street and Casino.
3 Taxi Driver (1976) — IMDb Rating 8.2
Kicking off the top three best Martin Scorsese movies is the 1976 psychological thriller Taxi Driver. The film tells the story of an unstable and lonely veteran who becomes a taxi driver, and it stars Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Albert Brooks, Harvey Keitel, Leonard Harris, Peter Boyle, and Cybill Shepherd. Currently, Taxi Driver has an 8.2 rating on IMDb.
2 The Departed (2006) — IMDb Rating 8.5
The runner-up on the list of best Martin Scorsese movies is the 2006 crime thriller The Departed. The film — a remake of the Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs — stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Ray Winstone, Vera Farmiga, and Alec Baldwin. Currently, The Departed — a film about an undercover cop and a mole in the police force — has an 8.5 rating on IMDb.
1 Goodfellas (1990) — IMDb Rating 8.7
It may come as no surprise that the number one film on the list is Scorsese’s highly influential 1990 mafia epic Goodfellas – an adaptation of the non-fiction book Wiseguy. Goodfellas stars Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, and Paul Sorvino. It was based on the real-life story of mob associate Henry Hill as he rose through the ranks of organized crime in New York City. Goodfellas boasts an 8.7 rating on IMDb, which makes it Martin Scorsese’s most highly rated movie.
Source: NewsFinale
