"Taxi Driver" is a 1976 American neo-noir psychological drama film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. Set in a decaying New York City after the Vietnam War, the film follows Travis Bickle, a Vietnam War veteran and taxi driver whose mental state deteriorates as he navigates the city at night. The film explores themes of loneliness, urban decay, and psychological disintegration. It's known for its raw intensity and has been hailed as one of the greatest and most controversial films ever made. The movie was released on February 8, 1976. As of November 2025, "Taxi Driver" is available on Netflix and The Criterion Channel.
- Director: Martin Scorsese
- Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle
- Jodie Foster as Iris Steensma
- Cybill Shepherd as Betsy
- Harvey Keitel as Matthew "Sport" Higgins
- Albert Brooks as Tom
- Peter Boyle as Wizard
- Leonard Harris as Senator Charles Palantine
"Taxi Driver" has received widespread critical acclaim. It won the Palme d'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival. It was nominated for four Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert De Niro), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster), and Best Original Score (Bernard Herrmann).
- Rotten Tomatoes: 89% Tomatometer, 93% Audience Score
- The film had a budget of $1.9 million and grossed $28.6 million at the box office.
The official trailer for "Taxi Driver" (1976) can be found on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUxD4-dE4sk
Several films explore similar themes of urban alienation, psychological distress, and violence:
- Raging Bull (1980): Also directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, this film is another gritty character study of a self-destructive and violent man.
- You Were Never Really Here (2017): A dark and gritty psychological thriller starring Joaquin Phoenix as a troubled veteran turned hitman.
- Drive (2011): A neo-noir crime thriller following a Hollywood stunt driver who works as a getaway driver at night.
