Taxi Driver is a 1976 psychological thriller directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader. The movie follows the story of Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro), a Vietnam War veteran who takes a job as a taxi driver in New York City. As he becomes more and more disillusioned with the city’s seedy underbelly, he becomes increasingly unstable and develops an obsession with a young prostitute named Iris (Jodie Foster).
One of the primary themes of Taxi Driver is the search for identity and purpose in a society that has lost its way. The movie explores the isolation and alienation of urban life, as well as the darker side of human nature.
People love Taxi Driver for its bold and uncompromising vision of a society in decline, and for its unforgettable characters and performances. Robert De Niro’s portrayal of Travis Bickle is widely regarded as one of the greatest performances in movie history, and the movie’s portrayal of the seedy underbelly of New York City has become iconic.
Taxi Driver has remained popular over the years for its gritty and realistic portrayal of urban life, and for its exploration of important themes such as mental illness, violence, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
It’s interesting to note that the movie was controversial upon its release for its depiction of violence, and was briefly banned in some countries. However, it has since been widely recognized as a masterpiece of American cinema, and has influenced countless other movies in the years since its release.
Overall, Taxi Driver is a perplexing and bursty psychological thriller that explores important themes and challenges viewers to think critically about the nature of identity and purpose in a society that has lost its way. Its bold vision, unforgettable characters, and uncompromising style have made it a timeless classic in the history of American cinema.
Here are some movies that share similar themes and style to Taxi Driver:
- The King of Comedy (1982) – Directed by Martin Scorsese, this dark comedy follows the story of a wannabe comedian (Robert De Niro) who becomes increasingly obsessed with a talk show host (Jerry Lewis) and will do whatever it takes to get on his show.
- Network (1976) – Directed by Sidney Lumet, this satirical black comedy follows the story of a television network and the moral corruption of the media as it sensationalizes the news to boost ratings.
- A Clockwork Orange (1971) – Directed by Stanley Kubrick, this dystopian film explores the darker side of human nature and follows the story of a violent young man (Malcolm McDowell) who undergoes an experimental conditioning program to cure his criminal tendencies.
- The French Connection (1971) – Directed by William Friedkin, this crime thriller follows the story of two New York City detectives (Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider) as they try to bust a major heroin smuggling operation.
- American Psycho (2000) – Directed by Mary Harron, this satirical horror film follows the story of a wealthy investment banker (Christian Bale) who is also a sociopathic serial killer.
- Joker (2019) – Directed by Todd Phillips and starring Joaquin Phoenix, this psychological thriller is a character study of Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian who turns to violence and becomes the infamous Joker in Gotham City.
- Nightcrawler (2014) – Directed by Dan Gilroy and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, this crime thriller follows the story of a freelance videographer who films crime scenes and accidents to sell to the local news stations, and becomes increasingly obsessed with getting the most gruesome footage at any cost.
These movies share some similar themes and style to Taxi Driver, such as exploring the darker side of human nature, the isolation and alienation of urban life, and the pursuit of identity and purpose. They also feature memorable characters, unique and striking visual style, and an uncompromising vision that challenges viewers to think critically about the world around them.
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1. The King of Comedy (1982)
The King of Comedy is a black comedy directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, and Sandra Bernhard. The movie follows the story of Rupert Pupkin (De Niro), a wannabe comedian who idolizes a late-night talk show host, Jerry Langford (Lewis), and will stop at nothing to get his big break.
Similar to Taxi Driver, The King of Comedy explores themes of obsession, isolation, and the darker side of human nature. Both movies feature a protagonist who becomes increasingly unstable as they struggle to find their place in a society that has lost its way. The King of Comedy also features a striking visual style and a biting satire of celebrity culture, similar to the social commentary found in Taxi Driver.
2. Network (1976)
Network is a satirical drama directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway, and William Holden. The movie follows the story of a television network that exploits the news for ratings and becomes increasingly corrupt and sensationalist.
Similar to Taxi Driver, Network explores themes of the corruption of the media and the darker side of human nature. Both movies challenge viewers to question their own beliefs and assumptions about the world around them, and feature an uncompromising vision and biting social commentary. Network also features memorable and complex characters, similar to the unforgettable characters found in Taxi Driver.
3. A Clockwork Orange (1971)
A Clockwork Orange is a dystopian crime film directed by Stanley Kubrick, based on a novel by Anthony Burgess. The movie follows the story of a young man named Alex (Malcolm McDowell) who indulges in extreme violence and is subjected to an experimental conditioning program to cure his criminal tendencies.
Similar to Taxi Driver, A Clockwork Orange explores themes of violence, isolation, and the darker side of human nature. Both movies challenge viewers to question their own beliefs and assumptions about morality and the nature of humanity, and feature an uncompromising and sometimes unsettling vision. A Clockwork Orange also features a unique visual style and memorable characters, similar to the unforgettable characters found in Taxi Driver.
4. The French Connection (1971)
The French Connection is a crime thriller directed by William Friedkin, starring Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider. The movie follows the story of two New York City detectives, Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle (Hackman) and Buddy Russo (Scheider), as they try to bust a major heroin smuggling operation.
Similar to Taxi Driver, The French Connection explores themes of violence, corruption, and the darker side of human nature. Both movies feature gritty and realistic portrayals of urban life, and challenge viewers to think critically about the society in which they live. The French Connection also features intense and memorable action scenes, similar to the tense and violent scenes found in Taxi Driver.
5. American Psycho (2000)
American Psycho is a satirical horror film directed by Mary Harron, starring Christian Bale. The movie follows the story of Patrick Bateman, a wealthy investment banker who is also a sociopathic serial killer.
Similar to Taxi Driver, American Psycho explores themes of violence, isolation, and the darker side of human nature. Both movies challenge viewers to question their own beliefs and assumptions about morality and the nature of humanity, and feature an uncompromising and sometimes unsettling vision. American Psycho also features a unique visual style and a biting satire of consumer culture, similar to the social commentary found in Taxi Driver.
6. Joker (2019)
Joker is a psychological thriller directed by Todd Phillips, starring Joaquin Phoenix. The movie is a character study of Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian who turns to violence and becomes the infamous Joker in Gotham City.
IMDb ratings and Rotten Tomatoes scores for the movies:
Similar to Taxi Driver, Joker explores themes of mental illness, violence, and the darker side of human nature. Both movies feature a protagonist who becomes increasingly unstable and violent as they struggle to find their place in a society that has lost its way. Joker also features a striking visual style and a commentary on social inequality, similar to the social commentary found in Taxi Driver.
| Movie | IMDb Rating | Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|---|---|---|
| The King of Comedy (1982) | 7.8 | 89% |
| Network (1976) | 8.1 | 93% |
| A Clockwork Orange (1971) | 8.3 | 90% |
| The French Connection (1971) | 7.7 | 96% |
| American Psycho (2000) | 7.6 | 69% |
| Joker (2019) | 8.4 | 68% |
| Nightcrawler (2014) | 7.8 | 95% |
