Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Martin Scorsese
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Martin Scorsese made an impact.
Martin Scorsese is a highly acclaimed American filmmaker, considered one of cinema's greatest and most influential directors. A key figure in the New Hollywood era, he has garnered numerous awards, including an Academy Award, multiple BAFTAs, Emmys, Golden Globes, and a Grammy. He has received lifetime achievement awards from prestigious institutions like the AFI, Film Society of Lincoln Center, and Kennedy Center. Five of his films have been recognized for their cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance by inclusion in the National Film Registry.
1948: Film restoration of The Red Shoes
Martin Scorsese and The Film Foundation spearheaded fundraising for the film restoration of Michael Powell, and Emeric Pressburger's The Red Shoes which came out in 1948.
1955: Publication of The Last Temptation of Christ
In 1983, Scorsese began work on "The Last Temptation of Christ", based on the 1955 novel by Nikos Kazantzakis.
1955: Inspiration from 'The Night of the Hunter'
In 1991, Scorsese's Cape Fear took inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock and Charles Laughton's 1955 film, "The Night of the Hunter".
1956: Influence of 'The Searchers'
In 1976, Paul Schrader, writer of Taxi Driver, drew influence from John Ford's "The Searchers" released in 1956, as well as Arthur Bremer's diary and Robert Bresson's Pickpocket.
1959: Influence of 'Pickpocket'
In 1976, Paul Schrader, writer of Taxi Driver, drew influence from Robert Bresson's "Pickpocket" released in 1959, as well as Arthur Bremer's diary and John Ford's The Searchers.
1961: Influence of Robert Rossen's The Hustler
In 1986, The Color of Money, which Scorsese directed, was a sequel to Robert Rossen's The Hustler from 1961.
1961: Influence of West Side Story
In December 1986, Scorsese directed the music video "Bad" and the direction and choreography was heavily influenced by West Side Story from 1961.
1962: Cape Fear Remake
In 1991, Scorsese released Cape Fear, a remake of the cult 1962 movie of the same name.
1966: Black Girl Released
Ousmane Sembène's Black Girl was released in 1966 and is included in the World Cinema Project.
1969: End of the coverage period in the documentary A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
In 1969, Scorsese ended the coverage period of his documentary "A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies". Scorsese only covers the silent era up until 1969, a year after which Scorsese began his feature career.
1973: Touki Bouki Released
Djibril Diop Mambéty's Touki Bouki was released in 1973 and is included in the World Cinema Project.
1975: Retrospective at Edinburgh International Film Festival
In 1975, Lynda Myles organized a retrospective of Martin Scorsese's work at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
1976: Palme d'Or for Taxi Driver
In 1976, "Taxi Driver" won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and received four Oscar nominations. Following the film's success, Scorsese started working on "New York, New York," a musical tribute to his hometown.
1976: The Last Waltz Concert
On Thanksgiving Day, 1976, The Band held their final concert, "The Last Waltz," at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. The concert featured a lineup of guest performers, including Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Muddy Waters, and Eric Clapton. Martin Scorsese documented the concert in a film, but its release was delayed until 1978.
1977: Directing the Broadway Musical "The Act"
In 1977, Martin Scorsese directed the Broadway musical "The Act", starring Liza Minnelli.
1978: Release of The Last Waltz and American Boy
In 1978, Scorsese-directed films were released: "The Last Waltz," documenting the final concert by The Band, and "American Boy," a documentary focusing on Steven Prince, Scorsese's personal assistant.
1982: Release of The King of Comedy
In 1982, Scorsese released "The King of Comedy", a satire on media and celebrity. The film, starring Robert De Niro, was a departure from his previous style and failed at the box office initially, but has gained recognition over the years.
1983: Initial Work on The Last Temptation of Christ
In 1983, Scorsese began work on "The Last Temptation of Christ", based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis. Paramount Pictures initially backed the project but later pulled out.
1983: Cameo Appearances in Anna Pavlova and Round Midnight
In 1983, Scorsese made a brief cameo appearance in "Anna Pavlova", and had a more significant acting role in Bertrand Tavernier's jazz film "Round Midnight". He also directed an episode of Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories.
1985: Directing After Hours
In 1985, Scorsese directed "After Hours", a black comedy filmed on a low budget in SoHo, Manhattan. Scorsese also won Best Director Award at Cannes for this film.
December 1986: Filming of Michael Jackson's "Bad" Short Film
In December 1986, Scorsese directed the 18-minute short film "Bad" featuring Michael Jackson and Wesley Snipes. Filming took place over 6 weeks in Brooklyn. The music video drew influence from West Side Story and Taxi Driver.
1986: Release of The Color of Money
In 1986, Scorsese directed "The Color of Money", a sequel to "The Hustler" starring Paul Newman and Tom Cruise.
1987: Scorsese and Steel reconnect professionally
In 1987, Martin Scorsese and Dawn Steel reconnected professionally, jump-starting the restoration of Lawrence of Arabia shortly after Steel's installation as president at Columbia Pictures.
1987: Michael Jackson music video "Bad" release
In 1987, Martin Scorsese directed the Michael Jackson music video "Bad".
1988: Release and Controversy of The Last Temptation of Christ
In 1988, "The Last Temptation of Christ" was released, causing controversy due to its depiction of Christ. Despite the controversy, the film was critically acclaimed and marked a return to personal filmmaking for Scorsese.
1989: Directing "Life Lessons" for New York Stories
In 1989, Scorsese directed "Life Lessons", one of three segments in the anthology film "New York Stories".
1990: Scorsese creates The Film Foundation
In 1990, Martin Scorsese created The Film Foundation, a non-profit film organization which collaborates with film studios to restore prints of old or damaged films.
1990: Release of Made in Milan
In 1990, Martin Scorsese released "Made in Milan", a short-form documentary about fashion designer Giorgio Armani.
1990: Acting role as Vincent van Gogh in Dreams
In 1990, Scorsese acted in a small role as Vincent van Gogh in the film "Dreams" by Japanese director Akira Kurosawa.
1990: Release and Acclaim of Goodfellas
In 1990, Scorsese released "Goodfellas", considered a return to form. The film received critical acclaim and several awards, including an Academy Award for Joe Pesci. Scorsese also earned his third Best Director nomination. Roger Ebert named Goodfellas the best mob movie ever.
1990: Comparisons of The Departed to Goodfellas
In 2006, upon the release of Scorsese's film "The Departed", some proclaimed it as one of the best efforts Scorsese had brought to the screen since 1990's "Goodfellas", and still others putting it at the same level as Scorsese's most celebrated classics Taxi Driver and Raging Bull.
1993: Release of The Age of Innocence
In 1993, Scorsese released "The Age of Innocence", an adaptation of the Edith Wharton novel. The film was praised by critics but was a box office failure.
1994: Formation of De Fina-Cappa production company
In 1994, Scorsese and producer Barbara De Fina formed the production company De Fina-Cappa.
1994: Cameo appearance in Quiz Show
In 1994, Scorsese had a cameo appearance in the Robert Redford film Quiz Show.
1995: Release of Casino
In 1995, Martin Scorsese released "Casino", a violent gangster film which focused on a tightly wound male character whose well-ordered life is disrupted. The film was a box office success, drawing comparisons to his earlier work, "Goodfellas". Sharon Stone received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role.
1995: Release of A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies
In 1995, Scorsese released a four-hour documentary titled "A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies". The documentary offered an overview of American cinema from the silent era to 1969, covering the director's role as a storyteller, illusionist, smuggler, and iconoclast.
1997: Release of Kundun
In 1997, Scorsese released "Kundun", a film about the early life of the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, the People's Liberation Army's entry into Tibet, and the Dalai Lama's subsequent exile to India. The film was a departure in subject matter, employing a fresh narrative and visual approach. The film was a source of turmoil for its distributor, Buena Vista Pictures.
1999: Release of Il Mio Viaggio in Italia (My Voyage to Italy)
In 1999, Martin Scorsese directed the documentary "Il Mio Viaggio in Italia", also known as "My Voyage to Italy", about Italian filmmakers.
1999: Release of Bringing Out the Dead
In 1999, Scorsese released "Bringing Out the Dead", a film that revisited familiar territory with writer Paul Schrader. The film stars Nicolas Cage, Ving Rhames, John Goodman, Tom Sizemore, and Patricia Arquette. The film received generally positive reviews.
1999: Guest co-host for Siskel & Ebert
In 1999, following Gene Siskel's death, Martin Scorsese co-hosted an episode of Siskel & Ebert with Roger Ebert. During the show, both Scorsese and Ebert shared their lists of their top 10 favorite films from the 1990s.
2001: Initial planned release of Gangs of New York
In 2001, Martin Scorsese originally filmed "Gangs of New York" with the intention of releasing it in the winter, in order to qualify for Academy Award nominations.
2002: Release of Gangs of New York
In 2002, Scorsese released "Gangs of New York", filmed at Rome's Cinecittà film studios. The film marked the first collaboration between Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio. The production was highly troubled, with rumors referring to conflict with Miramax Films boss Harvey Weinstein.
2003: Scorsese Completes Production of The Blues
In 2003, Scorsese completed production of "The Blues", a seven-part documentary tracing the history of blues music. Scorsese's entry was titled "Feel Like Going Home". Also in 2003, producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff joined Sikelia Productions.
2004: The Aviator
In 1991, the release of Cape Fear was Scorsese's most commercially successful until "The Aviator" in 2004.
2005: Release of No Direction Home
In 2005, Scorsese released "No Direction Home", a documentary about Bob Dylan's life and his impact on American popular music and culture. The film was presented on television in the United States and the United Kingdom. The film won a Peabody Award and the Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video.
2006: The Departed
In 1991, the release of Cape Fear was Scorsese's most commercially successful until "The Departed" in 2006.
2006: New directors join The Film Foundation board
In 2006, Paul Thomas Anderson, Wes Anderson, Curtis Hanson, Peter Jackson, Ang Lee and Alexander Payne joined the board of directors of Martin Scorsese's The Film Foundation.
October 22, 2007: Scorsese to reunite with DiCaprio on Shutter Island
On October 22, 2007, Daily Variety reported that Martin Scorsese would reunite with Leonardo DiCaprio for their fourth film, "Shutter Island", which is based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane.
December 2007: Casting for Shutter Island
In December 2007, Mark Ruffalo, Max von Sydow, Ben Kingsley, and Michelle Williams were added to the cast of "Shutter Island", marking the first collaboration between these actors and Martin Scorsese.
2007: Scorsese establishes the World Cinema Project
In 2007, Martin Scorsese established the World Cinema Project with the mission to preserve and present marginalized and infrequently screened films from regions generally ill-equipped to preserve their own cinema history.
March 2008: Principal photography begins for Shutter Island
In March 2008, principal photography commenced in Massachusetts for "Shutter Island", which is based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane, and has a screenplay written by Laeta Kalogridis.
August 25, 2010: Bleu de Chanel commercial debut
On August 25, 2010, Martin Scorsese's television commercial for Chanel's new men's fragrance, "Bleu de Chanel", starring French actor Gaspard Ulliel, debuted online, after being filmed in New York City.
September 2010: Bleu de Chanel commercial released on TV
In September 2010, Martin Scorsese's commercial for Chanel's men's fragrance, "Bleu de Chanel", was released on TV, starring Gaspard Ulliel.
2010: The Departed Surpassed as Highest-Grossing Film
Prior to 2010, "The Departed" was Scorsese's highest-grossing film. In 2010, that record was surpassed by "Shutter Island".
2012: Mention of Taxi Driver's influence in Bad 25
In 1986, Scorsese directed the Michael Jackson music video "Bad". Scorsese noted the influence of Taxi Driver in Spike Lee's documentary Bad 25 released in 2012.
2012: Recommended Foreign Films
In 2012, Martin Scorsese recommended 39 foreign films to Colin Levy.
April 1, 2013: Delivered Jefferson Lecture
On April 1, 2013, Martin Scorsese delivered the Jefferson Lecture, titled "Persistence of Vision: Reading the Language of Cinema", at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
April 19, 2013: Financing Secured for Silence
On April 19, 2013, financing was secured for Martin Scorsese's film "Silence" by Emmett/Furla Films.
February 2014: The 50 Year Argument at Berlin International Film Festival
In February 2014, Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi's documentary, "The 50 Year Argument", about the history of The New York Review of Books, was screened as a work in progress at the Berlin International Film Festival.
June 2014: The 50 Year Argument Premiere at Sheffield DocFest
In June 2014, Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi's documentary, "The 50 Year Argument", about the history of The New York Review of Books, premiered at the Sheffield DocFest.
July 25, 2014: Filming Commences for Vinyl Pilot
On July 25, 2014, filming began for the pilot of "Vinyl", directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Terence Winter and George Mastras.
September 29, 2014: The 50 Year Argument Aired on HBO
On September 29, 2014, Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi's documentary, "The 50 Year Argument", was aired on HBO.
December 2, 2014: Vinyl picked up by HBO
On December 2, 2014, Martin Scorsese's TV show, "Vinyl" was picked up by HBO.
January 2015: Filming Begins for Silence
In January 2015, filming began for Martin Scorsese's adaptation of Shūsaku Endō's novel, "Silence", a drama about Portuguese Jesuit priests in 17th century Japan.
October 2015: The Audition Premiere
In October 2015, Martin Scorsese's short film, "The Audition", premiered in conjunction with the grand opening of Studio City. It featured Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, who played fictionalized versions of themselves.
2015: Christopher Nolan joins The Film Foundation board
In 2015, Christopher Nolan joined the board of directors of Martin Scorsese's The Film Foundation, which is dedicated to film preservation and restoration.
November 2016: Post-Production Completed for Silence
By November 2016, Martin Scorsese's film "Silence" had completed post-production.
August 2017: Principal Photography Begins for The Irishman
In August 2017, principal photography began for Martin Scorsese's crime film, "The Irishman", which is based on the book "I Heard You Paint Houses" by Charles Brandt, and stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino.
2017: Scorsese introduces The African Film Heritage Project
In 2017, Martin Scorsese introduced The African Film Heritage Project (AFHP), a joint initiative with UNESCO, Cineteca di Bologna, and the Pan African Federation of Filmmakers (FEPACI) to preserve classic African films.
2018: Scorsese discusses AFHP collaboration
In 2018, Martin Scorsese discussed the ambitious collaboration of The African Film Heritage Project (AFHP), stating the goal to locate and restore the best surviving elements of 50 classic African films.
January 10, 2019: Rolling Thunder Revue documentary release announced
On January 10, 2019, it was reported that Martin Scorsese's documentary of Bob Dylan's 1975 tour, "Rolling Thunder Revue", would be released by Netflix.
2019: Contributed Favorite Films to LaCinetek
In 2019, Martin Scorsese contributed his favorite film lists to LaCinetek, a streaming platform, including a list of 73 "founding" films and another list of 106 films. He also wrote a letter explaining his selections.
2019: AFHP to screen restorations of African films
In 2019, the AFHP announced that they would screen restorations of four African films on their home continent for the first time as part of the 50th anniversary of the Pan African Film Festival of Ouagadougou.
May 27, 2020: Apple Buys Production Rights for Killers of the Flower Moon
On May 27, 2020, Apple bought the production and distribution rights to Martin Scorsese's film, "Killers of the Flower Moon."
November 2020: Criterion Channel releases video on The Film Foundation
In November 2020, The Criterion Channel released a video titled, 30 Years of The Film Foundation: Martin Scorsese and Ari Aster in Conversation, celebrating the "mission, evolution, and ongoing work of The Film Foundation".
December 29, 2020: Pretend It's a City Trailer Released
On December 29, 2020, the trailer for Martin Scorsese's Netflix documentary series, "Pretend It's a City", featuring Fran Lebowitz, was released.
April 2021: Principal Photography Commences for Killers of the Flower Moon
In April 2021, principal photography commenced for Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon".
November 2021: Scorsese to direct Grateful Dead biopic
In November 2021, Martin Scorsese was set to direct a biopic feature about the rock band the Grateful Dead for Apple Studios, featuring Jonah Hill.
2021: Establishment of Martin Scorsese Institute
In 2021, George Lucas and his wife Mellody Hobson, through the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation, donated to NYU to establish the Martin Scorsese Institute of Global Cinematic Arts.
July 2022: Scorsese to direct "The Wager"
In July 2022, it was announced that Martin Scorsese would direct an adaptation of David Grann's non-fiction novel The Wager for Apple Studios, once again teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio.
October 2022: Personality Crisis: One Night Only Premieres
In October 2022, Martin Scorsese and David Tedeschi premiered their collaborative film "Personality Crisis: One Night Only", a documentary about David Johansen, at the New York Film Festival.
May 2023: Scorsese Considering Film About Jesus
In May 2023, Martin Scorsese said he was considering writing and directing a new film about Jesus after meeting with Pope Francis.
January 2024: Details Revealed for Scorsese's Jesus Film
In January 2024, more details about Martin Scorsese's potential film about Jesus were revealed. It could be Scorsese's next film, and he had co-written it with Kent Jones, based on the Shūsaku Endō novel A Life of Jesus.
April 20, 2024: Scorsese partners with Seth MacFarlane
On April 20, 2024, Martin Scorsese partnered with Seth MacFarlane to showcase Back From the Ink: Restored Animated Shorts at the 2024 TCM Classic Film Festival.
2024: Narration of Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger
In 2024, Martin Scorsese narrated the documentary film "Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger" directed by David Hinton.
February 2025: Scorsese to direct mob film in Hawaii
It was reported in February 2025 that Martin Scorsese would be directing a mob film set in Hawaii, starring and being co-produced by Dwayne Johnson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt.
March 2025: Scorsese to adapt 'Home' for Apple TV
In March 2025, it was reported that Martin Scorsese would adapt Marilynne Robinson's Home for Apple TV with Leonardo DiCaprio starring.
September 18, 2025: Scorsese to direct 'What Happens at Night'
On September 18, 2025, it was announced that Martin Scorsese would direct What Happens at Night, an adaptation of the Peter Cameron novel, as his next film, with Leonardo DiCaprio set to star alongside Jennifer Lawrence which started production in February 2026.
October 17, 2025: Premiere of "Mr. Scorsese" Documentary
On October 17, 2025, Apple TV premiered the five-part documentary series Mr. Scorsese, directed by Rebecca Miller.
February 2026: Production Starts for 'What Happens at Night'
Production started in February 2026 for Martin Scorsese's film 'What Happens at Night', starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence.
May 22, 2026: Scorsese Cameo in 'The Mandalorian and Grogu'
Martin Scorsese was announced to have a cameo in the next Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, which is scheduled to be released on May 22, 2026, as the voice of an Ardennian shopkeep.
2026: Scorsese's directorial achievements as of 2026
As of 2026, Martin Scorsese has directed 27 full-length narrative films and 16 full-length documentary films.
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