Martin Scorsese’s extensive career features 52 directed projects, including 26 feature films and 16 documentaries, with the latter often focusing on legendary rock musicians such as Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones. This article ranks all of Scorsese’s feature films, highlighting the critical and audience reception they received, based on Rotten Tomatoes scores to provide an informed Martin Scorsese Films Ranking.
Low-Budget Beginnings: ‘Boxcar Bertha’ (1972)
Boxcar Bertha, Scorsese’s second feature, tells a gritty, romantic crime story set during the Great Depression. Produced by Roger Corman and starring Barbara Hershey and David Carradine, the film follows an orphan girl who becomes a freighthopper and train robber alongside a man she falls in love with. While critics often dismiss it as a mere training exercise or exploitation film, it still showcases the filmmaker’s early narrative and stylistic tendencies. This movie holds a 54% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting its mixed reception.
Blending Musical Traditions in ‘New York, New York’ (1977)
New York, New York explores the lives of jazz musicians in 1940s New York City, aiming for a hybrid between classic Hollywood musicals and documentary realism. The film stars Robert De Niro as saxophonist Jimmy Doyle and Liza Minnelli as singer Francine Evans, who form a passionate but tempestuous musical and romantic partnership. Although innovative, the film’s ambition divided critics, resulting in a 57% Rotten Tomatoes score, yet it remains important for the performances of De Niro and Minnelli and their early collaborations with Scorsese.
The Psychological Maze of ‘Shutter Island’ (2010)
In Shutter Island, Scorsese delivers a complex psychological thriller based on Dennis Lehane’s novel. With Leonardo DiCaprio as US Marshal Teddy Daniels and Mark Ruffalo as his partner Chuck Aule, the story centers on a mysterious disappearance at a remote psychiatric hospital. The film’s dark and twisty narrative divides opinion; critics rate it at 69%, but audiences appreciate its rewatchability and atmospheric tension. Its layered storytelling demands careful attention, which some viewers find rewarding while others find confusing.
Scorsese’s First Steps: ‘Who’s That Knocking at My Door?’ (1968)
Who’s That Knocking at My Door marked both Scorsese’s directorial debut and the first acting role for Harvey Keitel, beginning a long-standing artistic relationship. The film portrays J.R., a young Catholic Italian–American grappling with his faith and the temptations of youth. It bears thematic similarities to Mean Streets but is less violent, revolving around J.R.’s moral struggles after meeting a woman whose past challenges his values. The film was a deeply personal project for Scorsese, taking two years to complete, and carries a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Divisive Epic ‘Gangs of New York’ (2002)
Based on Herbert Asbury’s 1928 book, Gangs of New York is a sprawling crime drama set in the violent Five Points district of 19th-century Manhattan. The film features Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill the Butcher, leader of the Anglo-Protestant faction, and Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon, who returns to seek revenge for his father’s death. With a screenplay adapted by Kenneth Lonergan, the film’s mixture of historical epic and personal vengeance received varied reactions. Some critics praised it as a masterpiece, while others criticized aspects such as the accents of DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. Rotten Tomatoes reflects its split opinions with a 72% score.
Examining Burnout in ‘Bringing Out the Dead’ (1999)
Bringing Out the Dead focuses on Frank Pierce, a worn-out New York City paramedic played by Nicolas Cage, haunted by past failures and suffering under the strain of his job. The story, inspired by Scorsese’s observations of emergency responders, is a dark exploration of exhaustion, compassion, and redemption. Despite a misleading trailer that gave the wrong impression of the film’s tone, it earned appreciation from Cage, who considers it among his best work. Scorsese’s longtime editor, Telma Schoonmaker, stressed that the film is ultimately about compassion. The movie holds a 74% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
A Spiritual Portrait in ‘Kundun’ (1997)
Kundun is Scorsese’s intimate biopic of the 14th Dalai Lama, combining visual elegance with a meditative narrative. Screenwriter Melissa Mathison gained the Dalai Lama’s approval before collaborating with Scorsese, who also met the spiritual leader during production. The film chronicles the Dalai Lama’s childhood, spiritual succession, and exile, delving into themes of faith and resilience amid political turmoil. While the film was highly praised for its artistry and direction, some viewers found its storytelling episodic and emotionally distant. It earned 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Intense Thriller with ‘Cape Fear’ (1991)
In this remake of the 1962 thriller, Robert De Niro takes on the role of Max Cady, a dangerous ex-convict seeking revenge on his former public defender, Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte). The film explores the terrifying obsession Cady develops with Bowden’s family, amplifying tension and dread. This was the seventh collaboration between Scorsese and De Niro, with supporting performances from Joe Pesci and Gregory Peck, who both appeared in the original. Though mixed among critics, Cape Fear’s gritty realism and suspense secured it a 76% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
The Excess and Chaos of ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ (2013)
The Wolf of Wall Street is an unrestrained portrayal of greed and corruption in the financial world, focusing on Jordan Belfort’s rise and fall. Leonardo DiCaprio delivers a wild, manic performance as Belfort, capturing the reckless spirit of the era. Despite some criticism for its excessive content, the film highlights Belfort’s transformation from a stockbroker to a corrupt leader surrounded by companions who quickly become co-conspirators. It is considered one of Scorsese’s most dynamic and memorable works, earning a 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Fascination and Downfall in ‘Casino’ (1995)
Casino is a crime epic centered around Ace Rothstein, a gambling expert managing a Las Vegas casino for the Mafia. Played by Robert De Niro, Ace navigates the high-stakes world with his volatile friend and enforcer Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) and maintains a complicated relationship with his partner, Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone). The film portrays the rise and fall of casino power figures and the destructive forces within. While it remains a classic in gangster cinema, it is regarded by some as falling just short of Scorsese’s best in the genre. Casino has a 79% Rotten Tomatoes rating.
