Top 10 Martin Scorsese Movies in 2027

1. Goodfellas

Goodfellas ranks first because it is the definitive distillation of Scorsese's signature style, blending voiceover, needle-drop soundtrack, and kinetic tracking shots into a flawless whole. Joe Pesci won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his volcanic Tommy DeVito, and the Copacabana single-take tracking shot remains a landmark in cinema. The film's propulsive, decades-spanning narrative of mob associate Henry Hill is endlessly quotable and infinitely rewatchable.

Goodfellas is for anyone seeking the purest expression of Scorsese's craft, but it trades away breathing room for relentless energy. The breakneck pace and brutal violence give little space for reflection, unlike the more somber The Irishman. It is more accessible than Taxi Driver's bleak character study, offering a thrilling ride rather than a harrowing descent. This is the complete Scorsese package, a film that rewards repeat viewings with new details.

2. Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver ranks second for its searing, unflinching character study of urban alienation, anchored by Robert De Niro's iconic performance as Travis Bickle. The film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and earned Oscar nominations including Best Picture, cementing its cultural footprint with the immortal "You talkin' to me?" scene. Bernard Herrmann's final, haunting score adds a layer of dread that amplifies the nightmarish 1970s New York atmosphere. It is routinely named one of the greatest films of its decade.

Taxi Driver is for viewers who want a harrowing psychological portrait rather than pure entertainment, trading away the kinetic fun of Goodfellas for a bleak, disturbing tone. The shocking violence of its climax is a deliberate payoff, not spectacle. It demands emotional investment and offers little comfort, unlike the more accessible The Wolf of Wall Street. This is essential viewing for serious film fans who appreciate character-driven darkness.

3. The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street ranks third as the most flat-out entertaining film in Scorsese's catalog, a three-hour rocket of debauched excess that needs no film-history homework to enjoy. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers his funniest, most committed performance as corrupt stockbroker Jordan Belfort, with Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie co-starring in a savage satire of greed.

This is the best value pick for maximum entertainment with zero effort, but it trades away the thematic weight of Taxi Driver for relentless, morally slippery fun. The three-hour runtime of excess can exhaust, and the extreme content may alienate some viewers. It is far more accessible than Raging Bull's punishing bleakness, offering laughter over anguish. For a casual movie night, this delivers the most laughs per minute of any Scorsese film.

4. Raging Bull

Raging Bull ranks fourth for its towering, brutal masterpiece status as the definitive boxing film, with Robert De Niro winning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his total physical transformation. Thelma Schoonmaker's Oscar-winning editing creates savage, balletic fight sequences that are unmatched in cinema. Shot in stark black-and-white, the film chronicles Jake LaMotta's self-destruction with uncompromising intensity. It is frequently called one of the greatest films of the 1980s and draws near-unanimous critical acclaim.

Raging Bull is for viewers who appreciate uncompromising character studies, but it trades away any sense of fun for a punishingly bleak and violent portrait. LaMotta is a deeply unlikable subject, making it a harder watch than The Wolf of Wall Street's charismatic antihero. It offers a profound artistic experience rather than entertainment, demanding patience and emotional fortitude. This is a peak of acting and editing, but not a casual pick.

5. The Departed

The Departed ranks fifth because it finally won Scorsese his long-overdue Academy Award for Best Director, along with Best Picture, after decades of nominations. This twisty Boston crime thriller about a cop embedded in the mob and a mole in the police features a stacked cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, and Mark Wahlberg. It earned multiple Oscars and remains his most purely propulsive thriller, with an expertly paced narrative that keeps tension high.

The Departed is for viewers who want a crowd-pleasing, twisty thriller without the moral ambiguity of Raging Bull. It trades away the artistic austerity of his earlier work for a heightened, almost operatic violence and a famously divisive final shot. It is more accessible than The Irishman's slow-burn elegy, offering immediate gratification. This is an endlessly rewatchable Oscar breakthrough that balances entertainment with craft.

6. The Irishman

The Irishman ranks sixth as a late-career elegy, a mournful meditation on mortality and regret that reunites Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci for the first time together. The film earned numerous Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, and supporting nods for Pacino and Pesci, with Pesci's restrained comeback being a standout. Its groundbreaking digital de-aging spans decades of hitman Frank Sheeran's life, though the effects can distract early on.

The Irishman is for viewers who want a reflective, slower film, but it trades away the kinetic energy of The Departed for a somber, patient pace. The demanding runtime requires real commitment, and the de-aging effects are a minor flaw in an otherwise masterful work. It is best savored in one sitting, offering a capstone to his crime saga. This is a more mature, contemplative pick than Casino's spectacle.

7. Casino

Casino ranks seventh as a lavish companion piece to Goodfellas, dramatizing the mob's grip on 1970s-80s Las Vegas with opulent detail. Sharon Stone earned a Best Actress Oscar nomination and won the Golden Globe for her ferocious performance as the unraveling wife of casino boss Sam "Ace" Rothstein. Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci reunite at full power, with dense voiceover and a stellar period soundtrack.

Casino is for fans of Scorsese's crime saga who want more spectacle, but it trades away the freshness of Goodfellas by covering similar ground. The 178-minute runtime and extreme violence in the final act can be exhausting. It is more opulent than Mean Streets but less innovative, offering a dazzling but familiar experience. This is essential for completists, though not a starting point.

8. The Aviator

The Aviator ranks eighth as Scorsese's most glamorous epic, a sweeping biopic of Howard Hughes that won multiple Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett's Katharine Hepburn. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a compelling, layered lead performance as the aviation tycoon, with spectacular period detail and thrilling flight sequences. The film earned nominations including Best Picture and Best Director, showcasing Scorsese's range beyond crime. It stands as his most polished, award-laden production.

The Aviator is for viewers who want a conventional biopic structure with lush craft, but it trades away the raw energy of his crime films for a more traditional narrative. The 170-minute runtime feels expansive, and the story follows a predictable arc. It is more accessible than Killers of the Flower Moon's somber pacing, offering glamour over grit. This is a strong pick for fans of DiCaprio or period epics.

9. Mean Streets

Mean Streets ranks ninth as the breakthrough that announced Scorsese's voice, establishing the Catholic guilt, jittery camera, and music-driven energy of everything to come. Harvey Keitel leads as small-time hood Charlie, with Robert De Niro in his first Scorsese collaboration as the reckless Johnny Boy. Shot raw on the streets of Little Italy with a jukebox soundtrack, it is preserved in the National Film Registry. It draws strong critical acclaim as a landmark of 1970s American independent cinema.

Mean Streets is for serious fans who want to see where Scorsese's style began, but it trades away the polish of later work for a rougher, lower-budget look. The loose, plot-light structure may frustrate those expecting a tight narrative. It is more authentic than The Aviator's glamour, offering a raw blueprint. This is essential viewing for understanding his evolution, though not his best.

10. Killers of the Flower Moon

Killers of the Flower Moon ranks tenth as a monumental late-career masterpiece, dramatizing the 1920s murders of Osage Nation members for their oil wealth. Lily Gladstone earned a historic Best Actress Oscar nomination, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro co-starring in a patient, mournful reckoning with American greed and racism. The film received numerous Academy Award nominations including Best Picture and Best Director, drawing wide critical acclaim. It stands among his finest late works.

Killers of the Flower Moon is for viewers who want a heavy, important historical epic, but it trades away entertainment for a slow, somber pacing that tests patience. The 206-minute runtime is demanding, and the subject matter is brutal. It is more meaningful than Casino's spectacle, offering a powerful reckoning. This is a challenging but essential watch for those committed to Scorsese's full range.

How we ranked these

We measured each film against six weighted criteria: story and screenplay, direction and craft, performances, rewatchability, cultural impact, and where-to-watch access. Scores were synthesized from Rotten Tomatoes, Metacritic, IMDb, Letterboxd, Roger Ebert's archive, and Academy Award records, with screenplay and direction weighted most heavily. Only narrative features Scorsese directed were eligible, excluding documentaries and concert films.

We deliberately ignored runtime and body count as negative factors, since Scorsese's longer films earn their length through character development and his violence always carries thematic weight. We also disregarded marketing hype and awards buzz in favor of honest viewer reactions and enduring critical consensus. This approach ensures the ranking reflects artistic merit and lasting significance rather than superficial metrics.

Related questions

What is the best Martin Scorsese movie?

Goodfellas (1990) is widely considered his best—a perfect distillation of his kinetic style, voiceover narration, and cultural impact. It features Joe Pesci's Oscar-winning performance and the legendary Copacabana tracking shot, and it consistently tops lists of the greatest mob movies and American films ever made.

Did Martin Scorsese ever win an Oscar?

Yes, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for The Departed (2006), after multiple prior nominations. The film also won Best Picture, marking his long-overdue recognition after decades of acclaimed work. His other films, including Raging Bull and Goodfellas, received numerous nominations but did not win in the top categories.

What order should I watch Scorsese's films in?

Start with Goodfellas or The Wolf of Wall Street for accessibility, as they are fast-paced and require no film-history background. Then explore by mood: Taxi Driver for a character study, The Departed for a thriller, and Mean Streets to see where his style began. Save The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon for when you have time to commit.

Which Scorsese movie is the most rewatchable?

The Wolf of Wall Street and Goodfellas are the most rewatchable due to their pace, humor, and quotability. Taxi Driver rewards deeper repeat study with its layered themes, while The Departed offers a tightly plotted thriller that holds up on multiple viewings. The longer epics like The Irishman are best savored in one sitting.

How many films has Martin Scorsese directed?

Scorsese has directed over 25 narrative features across five decades, plus numerous acclaimed documentaries. This ranking focuses only on his narrative features, excluding works like The Last Waltz and other concert films. His filmography spans from early independent films like Mean Streets to recent epics like Killers of the Flower Moon.

Are documentaries included in this ranking?

No, this list ranks only Scorsese's narrative feature films. His documentaries and concert films, such as The Last Waltz and No Direction Home, are excluded because they represent a different facet of his work. The ranking criteria focus on screenplay, direction, and performances, which apply primarily to fictional storytelling.

Which Scorsese film won the most Oscars?

The Departed (2006) won four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. The Aviator (2004) won five Oscars across technical and acting categories, including Best Supporting Actress for Cate Blanchett. Raging Bull won two, and Goodfellas won one for Joe Pesci's supporting performance.

Is Killers of the Flower Moon based on a true story?

Yes, it is based on David Grann's nonfiction book about the Osage Indian murders in 1920s Oklahoma. The film dramatizes the systematic killings of Osage Nation members for their oil wealth, with Lily Gladstone earning a historic Best Actress Oscar nomination for her role.

FAQ

What is the best Martin Scorsese movie?

Goodfellas (1990) is widely considered his best—a perfect distillation of his style, performances, and cultural impact. It sits atop most greatest-films lists and features Joe Pesci's Oscar-winning turn as Tommy DeVito.

Did Martin Scorsese ever win an Oscar?

Yes, he won the Academy Award for Best Director for The Departed (2006) after multiple prior nominations. The film also won Best Picture, marking his long-overdue recognition.

What order should I watch Scorsese's films in?

Start with Goodfellas or The Wolf of Wall Street for accessibility, then explore by mood. Mean Streets and Taxi Driver show where his style began.

Which Scorsese movie is the most rewatchable?

The Wolf of Wall Street and Goodfellas are the most rewatchable for their pace, humor, and quotability. Taxi Driver rewards deeper repeat study.

How many films has Martin Scorsese directed?

Scorsese has directed over 25 narrative features across five decades, plus numerous documentaries. This list ranks the best narrative features.

Are documentaries included in this ranking?

No, this list ranks only Scorsese's narrative feature films. His documentaries and concert films, like The Last Waltz, are excluded.

Which Scorsese film won the most Oscars?

The Departed (2006) won four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. The Aviator (2004) also won five Oscars across technical and acting categories.

Is Killers of the Flower Moon based on a true story?

Yes, it is based on David Grann's nonfiction book about the Osage Indian murders in 1920s Oklahoma.

What makes a great Scorsese movie?

Restless camera work, voiceover narration, needle-drop soundtracks, Catholic guilt, and morally complex antiheroes. His collaborations with De Niro and DiCaprio yield career-defining performances.

Which Scorsese movie should I watch tonight?

If you want pure entertainment, choose The Wolf of Wall Street or Goodfellas. For a character study, pick Taxi Driver or Raging Bull. For a thriller, go with The Departed.

Sources

• https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/
• https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/martin_scorsese
• https://www.metacritic.com/person/martin-scorsese/
• https://letterboxd.com/director/martin-scorsese/
• https://www.rogerebert.com/cast-and-crew/martin-scorsese
• https://www.oscars.org/oscars/awards-databases
• https://www.criterion.com/explore/209-martin-scorsese

Related on PULSE

• [More martin scorsese movies rankings and buying guides](/knowledge)
• [PULSE Tools and calculators](/tools)
• [Everything on PULSE RevOps](/)