Taxi Driver (1976)

Crime Drama
→ Influenced 7 films ← Inspired by 5 films

A mentally unstable Vietnam War veteran works as a night-time taxi driver in New York City where the perceived decadence and sleaze feed his urge for violent action.

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Connections

← Inspired By

The Searchers
The Searchers (1956)1
 The Wrong Man
The Wrong Man (1956)2
 Pickpocket
Pickpocket (1959)3
 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her
2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (1967)4
 Le Samouraï
Le Samouraï (1967)5

→ Influenced

Joker
Joker (2019)6
 Falling Down
Falling Down (1993)7
 Collateral
Collateral (2004)8
 The King of Comedy
The King of Comedy (1983)9
 Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler (2014)10
 The Batman
The Batman (2022)11

Sources

Influenced By

  1. The Searchers (1956)
    "Directed by John Ford, this Western features John Wayne as Ethan Edwards, a war veteran on a mission to rescue his kidnapped niece. Both Ethan and Travis Bickle are isolated figures driven by a self-imposed moral quest to 'rescue' females who may not need saving." Bfi source
  2. The Wrong Man (1956)
    "Alfred Hitchcock's docudrama about a man wrongly accused of a crime influenced Scorsese's camera movements in *Taxi Driver*. Scorsese noted that the film's camera work contributed to the sense of guilt and paranoia he aimed to evoke." The Making Of Taxi Driver Nathan Ditum GamesRadar+
  3. Pickpocket (1959)
    "Robert Bresson's film follows a solitary man whose confessional voiceover and diary entries mirror Travis Bickle's introspective narration and journal writing, highlighting themes of isolation and existential angst." Bfi source
  4. 2 or 3 Things I Know About Her (1967)
    "Jean-Luc Godard's film includes a close-up shot of a cup of coffee, which Scorsese paid homage to with a similar shot of Travis watching an Alka-Seltzer dissolve, symbolizing his internal turmoil." Bfi source
  5. Le Samouraï (1967)
    "Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville, this film features Alain Delon as Jef Costello, a solitary hitman whose detached demeanor and meticulous habits influenced the creation of Travis Bickle." Taxi Driver Wikipedia

Influenced

  1. Joker (2019)
    "Todd Phillips' "Joker" pays homage to "Taxi Driver" through its portrayal of Arthur Fleck's descent into madness, reminiscent of Travis Bickle's character arc. Phillips has cited "Taxi Driver" as a significant influence on the film." Newsletter source
  2. Falling Down (1993)
    "This film follows William "D-Fens" Foster, played by Michael Douglas, whose journey through Los Angeles mirrors Travis Bickle's descent into violence and alienation. Both characters are disillusioned men who react violently to societal frustrations." Taxi Driver: 10 Movies That Are Unofficial Remakes Mike Reistetter ScreenRant
  3. Collateral (2004)
    "Martin Scorsese's film about a cab driver descending into violence and obsession shares thematic parallels with "Collateral," particularly in its exploration of urban isolation and moral ambiguity." Le Samoura%C3%AF Wikipedia
  4. The King of Comedy (1983)
    "Directed by Martin Scorsese, this film features Robert De Niro as Rupert Pupkin, a character whose obsessive tendencies parallel those of Travis Bickle. The film explores themes of loneliness and delusion similar to those in "Taxi Driver."" The King of Comedy %28film%29 Wikipedia
  5. Nightcrawler (2014)
    "Jake Gyllenhaal's portrayal of Lou Bloom, an ambitious yet morally ambiguous photojournalist, echoes Travis Bickle's character. Both characters navigate the underbelly of urban life, driven by isolation and a skewed moral compass." Entertainment Weekly source
  6. The Batman (2022)
    "Director Matt Reeves cited "Taxi Driver" as an influence on his portrayal of Bruce Wayne, emphasizing the character's reclusive nature and inner turmoil. Reeves aimed to depict a more grounded and humanized version of Batman, drawing parallels to Travis Bickle's character." 'The Batman': Matt Reeves Was Influenced by 'Taxi Driver' and 'Chinatown' for His Caped Crusader Aidan King Collider