Martin Scorseseis often regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all-time, and it is easy to see why. Scorsese may be best known for hiswork making gangster movies, but his extensive filmography includes several biographical films, epics about different cultures, claustrophobic genre movies, documentaries about great artists, and even a 3D family film about the history of cinema.
Scorsese is known for his ability to work with actors, as several acclaimed performers have earned Academy Awards basedon the work that they did in his films.Although Scorsese certainly has a few veteran stars that he has worked with several times over the course of his career, he is also generous in giving parts to younger, up-and-coming actors who are just starting off with their filmographies. Here are the ten best Martin Scorsese movies with great acting, ranked.
10‘Silence’ (2016)
Starring Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, and Liam Neeson
Silencewas a longstanding passion project for Scorsese, ashe had not made a film about his Catholic faithsinceThe Last Temptation of Christwas released under controversial circumstances in 1988.SilencestarsAndrew GarfiledandAdam Driveras two Jesuit priests who travel deep into Imperial Japan to find their mentor (Liam Neeson), who is rumored to have apostatized and given up his belief in God.
Garfield gives what may be the most heartbreaking performance of his careeras a man whose faith is tested at every corner, forcing him to question if the fundamentals that he has based his entire life on are justified. While Neeson does not appear until the last act of the film,Silenceserved as a reminder that he was still a great actor, and had not lost his way making trash likeBattleshipandWrath of the Titans.
In the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.
Rent on Amazon
9‘The Color of Money’ (1986)
Starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, and John Turturro
The Color of Moneyisone of the greatest “legacy sequels” ever made,as it allowedPaul Newmanto reprise the role of “Fast Eddie” from the iconic 1967 gambling classicThe Hustler. Newman did a great job at showing an older, if not necessarily wiser version of Eddie who is inspired to return to the world of competitive pool after a young shark (Tom Cruise) goads him into a partnership.
Newman finally won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance inThe Color of Money, and it was more than just as “career award” given in recognition of his entire filmography; Newman showed the grace and sensitivity of an aging man who is forced by his own ego to do something he knows he might regret, delivering a performance that was worthy of the work that he had already done inThe Hustler.
The Color of Money
Fast Eddie Felson teaches a cocky but immensely talented protégé the ropes of pool hustling, which in turn inspires him to make an unlikely comeback.
8‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (2013)
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Margot Robbie
The Wolf of Wall Streetis one of Scorsese’s wildest movies in years, as it wasbased on a true story so strangethat it would have felt like fiction otherwise. Although Scorsese had been working withLeonardo DiCaprioever since he appeared alongsideDaniel Day-LewisinGangs of New York,The Wolf of Wall Streetcreated an all-time great anti-hero that the audience simply loved to hate. DiCaprio earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, as the role of the real con artist Jordan Belfort completely embodied the spirit of a character that represented the worst of both capitalism and toxic masculinity.
Jonah Hill also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, proving once again that he was a far more talented dramatic actor than more outrageous comedies likeSuperbadand21 Jump Streetwould have led audiences to believe.
The Wolf of Wall Street
Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.
Watch on Paramount Plus
7‘The Irishman’ (2019)
Starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci
The Irishmanserved as a reflection on Scorsese’s career making gangster films, as it centered on older criminals who come to regret the decisions that they have made towards the end of their careers.Robert De Nirohas been a staple of Scorsese’s filmography ever since they first worked together inMean Streets, but his performance inThe Irishmanas Frank Sheeran is easily one of the most heartbreaking roles that he has ever had.
The Irishmanmarked Scorsese’s first collaboration with the great Al Pacino,even though he had already worked with De Niro several times. Pacino gave a larger-than-life performance as the infamous teamsters leader Jimmy Hoffa, but it was the amazing comeback performance byJoe Pescias the ruthless Italian gangster Russell Bufalino that may have providedThe Irishmanwith its most memorable source of true villainy.
The Irishman
Watch on Netflix
6‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ (2023)
Starring Lily Gladstone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Robert De Niro
Killers of the Flower Moonis arguably one of Scorsese’s most important films, as it shed a spotlight on the systematic murder of Native Americans in Oklahoma that were covered up and ignored by authorities for years. While DiCaprio is terrific in one of his nastiest roles to date, it wasLily Gladstonethat providedKillers of the Flower Moonwith its largest emotional impact, as the character of Mollie has a quiet strength to her that was sadlyoverlooked of an Academy Awards victory.
De Niro is also quite strong as “King Schultz,”a supposed “ally” of the Native American community that is secretly plotting to steal their land and take their oil. While there has been some speculation that De Niro had lost his way after appearing in reviled films likeLast VegasandDirty Grandpa,Killers of the Flower Moonserved as a reminder that he is one of the greatest actors of all-time.
Killers of the Flower Moon
When oil is discovered in 1920s Oklahoma under Osage Nation land, the Osage people are murdered one by one - until the FBI steps in to unravel the mystery.
Watch on Apple TV+
5‘The King of Comedy’ (1983)
Starring Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, and Sandra Bernhard
The King of Comedyis one Scorsese film that was ahead of its time, as the film’s analysis ofwhat it means to be a struggling artistand the way that the media celebrates celebrity feel even more relevant today than it did when the film was initially released in 1983. De Niro gives one of his best performances ever as Rupert Pupkin, an aspiring standup comedian who kidnaps a famous television host (Jerry Lewis) in an attempt to finally “make it” in show business.
De Niro created a character that is both tragic and scary, as Pupkin is both highly motivated to succeed in his goals and completely ignorant of the effect that he has on others. While casting someone of Lewis’ fame in the role could have felt like a gimmick, the legendary comedian gives one of the best performances he’s had since his early days withDean Martin.
The King of Comedy
Rupert Pupkin is a passionate yet unsuccessful comic who craves nothing more than to be in the spotlight and to achieve this, he stalks and kidnaps his idol to take the spotlight for himself.
Rent on Apple TV
4‘Raging Bull’ (1980)
Starring Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Cathy Moriarty
Raging Bullmay feature the greatest performance that De Niro has ever given, and earned him an Academy Award for Best Actor. De Niro physically transformed himself into playing the real-life boxer Jake LeMotta, whose jealousy and rage destroyed his career before it got the chance to get started. It was a role that De Niro was clearly very passionate about, as he nearly got into a feud with screenwriterPaul Schraderdue to a disagreement about a critical scenethat ended up on the cutting room floor.
Pesci also gives one of his best performances inRaging Bull, proving that he was capable of taking on more subtle, sensitive roles than his work in more over-the-top comedies likeMy Cousin Vinnyand theHome Alonefranchise would leave people to think. Any scene between DeNiro and Pesci is simply a gift for cinephiles.
Raging Bull
Directed by Martin Scorsese, Raging Bull is a 1980 sports drama based on the rise and fall of real-life boxer Jake LaMotta as he strives for success while dealing with his inner demons and his violent temper. Robert De Niro stars as the middleweight champion, with Joe Pesci, Cathy Moriarty, and Nicholas Colasanto in supporting roles.
Watch on Max
3‘Taxi Driver’ (1976)
Starring Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, and Albert Brooks
Taxi Driveris easily one of themost intense movies ever made, and serves as one of the greatest films about loneliness, dissociation, and radical extremism. Travis Bickle became one of the most iconic characters of the “New Hollywood” era because of the sensitivity that De Niro brought to the role; while he is deeply troubled by his post traumatic stress disorder following his experiences in the Vietnam War, Travis also has a strange aura of charisma that somehow makes him more compelling.
A young Jodie Foster gave a breakout performanceas a child prostitute that Travis attempts to save, giving the film its most emotional storyline. While De Niro is arguably the reason to watch the film, the smaller performances by the late greatKris KristoffersonandAlbert Brookshelp make the world ofTaxi Driverfeel even more authentic.
Taxi Driver
A mentally unstable veteran works as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City, where the perceived decadence and sleaze fuels his urge for violent action.
Watch on Prime Video
2‘Goodfellas’ (1990)
Starring Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, and Robert De Niro
Goodfellasis one ofthe greatest gangster movies ever madebecause it finally showed why being in the mafia was such an alluring lifestyle.Ray Liotta’s performance as Henry Hill was perfect because he captured the excitement and charisma of a young man who was swept up in the life of crime, only to be met with the bitter reality of the situation when his fantasy comes crashing to the ground.
Pesci earned his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actorfor his performance as Tommy DeVito, a volatile member of the mafia who often gets into trouble because he is unable to stop himself from talking.Goodfellasis a very dark film that deals with serious issues about drug abuse, conspiracy, marital infidelity, and systematic corruption, but Pesci has an irreverent sense of humor that makes it even more entertaining.
Goodfellas
The story of Henry Hill and his life in the mafia, covering his relationship with his wife Karen and his mob partners Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito.
1‘The Departed’ (2006)
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Matt Damon
The Departedis the only Scorsese film to have won the Academy Award for Best Picture, but it is the amazing cast that makes it one of his most entertaining projects ever.Jack Nicholsonis perfectly cast as the legendary gangster Frank Costello, whose power is so immense that all of Boston bends to his will.
The Departedearned its only Academy Award nomination for Mark Wahlberg’s performanceas the foul-mouthed Sergeant Dignam, a character that grew so beloved that Warner Brothers briefly consideredmaking him the basis of a spinoff movie.That being said, the highlight of the film is the conflict between the corrupt cop Tommy Sullivan (Matt Damon) and the undercover police agent Billy Costigan Jr. (DiCaprio), two characters that have far more in common with one another than they ever would have been willing to admit.
The Departed
An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
