Taxi Driver turned 50 in 2026, and the anniversary has brought Martin Scorsese's classic back to the big screen, with a 4K re-release playing at the BFI and cinemas across the UK. Half a century on, Robert De Niro's portrait of lonely New York cabbie Travis Bickle remains one of the most talked-about performances in film history.
Here's the story of how a low-budget film shot in a sweltering New York summer won the Palme d'Or. You'll find tribute designs for it in our movies collection.
Taxi Driver Fact File
| Released | 8 February 1976 (US) |
|---|---|
| Director | Martin Scorsese |
| Writer | Paul Schrader |
| Producers | Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips |
| Studio | Columbia Pictures |
| Main cast | Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, Albert Brooks |
| Music | Bernard Herrmann |
| Budget | About $1.9 million |
| Setting | New York City, mid-1970s |
Key Cast
| Actor | Role | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Robert De Niro | Travis Bickle | Oscar-nominated for Best Actor |
| Jodie Foster | Iris | Oscar-nominated; won two BAFTAs |
| Cybill Shepherd | Betsy | A campaign worker Travis becomes fixated on |
| Harvey Keitel | Sport | Part of Scorsese's regular company of actors |
| Albert Brooks | Tom | Betsy's colleague at the campaign office |
Taxi Driver earned four Academy Award nominations in 1977, including Best Picture, but did not win any.
Schrader's Script and Scorsese's Vision
Paul Schrader wrote the screenplay about a sleepless Vietnam veteran who drives a cab through the night. Producers Michael and Julia Phillips brought it to Columbia Pictures, with Scorsese directing on a budget of around $1.9 million.
Filming took place in New York in the summer of 1975, largely on Manhattan's West Side, during a heatwave and a sanitation strike that gave the city the gritty look you see on screen.
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De Niro and Foster
De Niro threw himself into the role of Travis Bickle, and his improvised mirror scene became one of the most quoted moments in cinema. Jodie Foster, who was just 12 during filming, earned an Oscar nomination for her performance as Iris and won two BAFTAs.
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Herrmann's Final Score
The brooding jazz score was composed by Bernard Herrmann, famous for his work with Alfred Hitchcock. He finished recording it only hours before he died on 24 December 1975, and the film is dedicated to his memory. At Cannes in 1976, Taxi Driver won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize.
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Awards
Festivals
- Palme d'Or, Cannes Film Festival (1976)
Academy Award Nominations (1977)
- Best Picture
- Best Actor: Robert De Niro
- Best Supporting Actress: Jodie Foster
- Best Original Score: Bernard Herrmann
BAFTA and Honours
- Jodie Foster: Best Supporting Actress and Most Promising Newcomer
- US National Film Registry (1994)
Behind the Scenes
The film was shot quickly and cheaply on real New York streets. It took around $28 million at the US box office, a huge return on its modest budget, and a 4K restoration first premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2011 for its 35th anniversary.
FAQs
When did Taxi Driver come out?
It was released in the US on 8 February 1976, so it celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2026.
Who directed Taxi Driver?
Martin Scorsese, from a screenplay by Paul Schrader.
Where was Taxi Driver filmed?
On location in New York City in the summer of 1975, mainly on Manhattan's West Side.
Did Taxi Driver win an Oscar?
No. It was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor, but won none. It did win the Palme d'Or at Cannes.
How old was Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver?
She was 12 during filming and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Who composed the music for Taxi Driver?
Bernard Herrmann. It was his final score, completed shortly before his death in December 1975.
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Taxi Driver Men's Hoodie
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Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Rocky: The Story of the Films, the Cast and the Oscars and Scarface (1983): The Story, the Cast and the Legacy.
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