To say Martin Scorsese is the greatest director of all time could well be seen as a bold claim. To say he's the greatest living director, however, might not be. He's been working steadily since the late 1960s, and continues to push cinema forward with every new film he makes. Age doesn't seem to slow him down either, and since turning 70 in 2012, he's made several films that stand among his greatest works.

His most recent movie, Killers of the Flower Moon, is his 27th feature film, with its 2023 release making now the perfect time to look back on his previous 26. The 80-year-old director has made almost nothing but hits, making a definitive ranking difficult, given how Scorsese's films tend to be pretty good at worst, and genuine classics at best. The following can be considered a ranking of good to greatest, because when all's said and done, just about everything Scorsese's done is worth watching.

27 'Boxcar Bertha' (1972)

Starring Barbara Hershey, David Carradine, and Barry Primus

When ranking the films of Martin Scorsese, one has to be at the bottom, and Boxcar Bertha serves as the sacrificial lamb here, so to speak. It's a low-budget mash-up of the crime and romance genres, set in the 1930s and following a woman, Boxcar Bertha (Barbara Hershey), and a member of a union, Big Bill Shelly (David Carradine), teaming up to take down a corrupt railroad organization. They fall in love along the way but also face several violent encounters.

It's a scrappy and gritty film, potentially reflecting small aspects of Scorsese's style here and there, but it ultimately ends up pretty forgettable. It's certainly not awful by the standards of an early 1970s B-movie-type film, but it only represents a fraction of what Scorsese ended up being capable of.

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26 'New York Stories' (1989)

Starring Woody Allen, Rosanna Arquette, and Mia Farrow

New York Stories is an interesting outlier of sorts in Scorsese's filmography because he wasn't the only director. It's an anthology film made up of three short stories belonging to the dramedy/romance genres (all of them taking place in - you guessed it - New York), with Francis Ford Coppola and Woody Allen directing the other two segments.

The film as a whole is really brought down by Coppola's contribution, which is well below his usual standards. Allen's and Scorsese's segments are decent, but still not outstanding. Scorsese's segment titled "Life Lessons" follows an abstract artist struggling to create anything right before a big show, but then finding inspiration in unusual places. Overall, New York Stories is a worthwhile curiosity for fans of these directors, but hard to recommend to more casual viewers. At least Wes Anderson likes it (apparently), for what that's worth.

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25 'Who's That Knocking at My Door' (1967)

Starring Harvey Keitel and Zina Bethune

For a feature film debut, Who's That Knocking at My Door certainly isn't bad. It's also notable for being the first collaboration between Scorsese and Harvey Keitel, who would go on to star in several more Scorsese features, including most recently in 2019's The Irishman. Despite being released before Boxcar Bertha, it feels more in line with Scorsese's later films that would better define his style.

The plot here is simple, following a Catholic Italian-American young man, J.R. (Keitel), who struggles with his faith and a sudden romance. When the local girl he meets turns out to have a painful past that apparently contradicts his faith, the protagonist is faced with a tough decision. Overall, Who's That Knocking at My Door is pretty good for a down-to-earth, low-budget 1960s movie.

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24 'New York, New York' (1977)

Starring Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro

By 1977, Scorsese and Robert De Niro had already done two successful collaborations together, with both being well suited to the crime genre they'd been exploring. But it was 1977 that saw them trying to shake things up, because that was the year they did a musical (of sorts) together: New York, New York. To anyone who's seen La La Land, it's basically the same premise, only not as comedic and also not quite as satisfying or direct. It's centered on jazz saxophonist Jimmy Doyle (De Niro) and USO singer Francine Evans (Minnelli), whose marriage is negatively affected by their careers that begin to take different paths.

Admittedly, Scorsese's film came first, and was certainly ambitious, but it's a slightly messy movie that begins strong, but does start to become a little exhausting by the final hour of its 163-minute runtime. Nowadays, its title song (sung here by Liza Minnelli) is likely more well-known than the film itself.

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23 'Kundun' (1997)

Starring Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong, Gyurme Tethong, and Tulku Jamyang Kunga Tenzin

Martin Scorsese may have a reputation for being a gangster movie director, but he's broken away from the genre on multiple occasions. Few films represent as drastic a change of pace as 1997's Kundun, which focuses on the life story of the 14th Dalai Lama, particularly centering on his life as a child and then a young adult.

The film stars Tenzin Thuthob Tsarong as the exiled political and spiritual leader of Tibet, and he also happens to be a grandnephew of the Dalai Lama. Telling the events in chronological order, Kundun is certainly not a bad film, and works pretty decently as a biopic/historical drama. It's possible to feel as though he is a little out of his element, as it's not quite as captivating or consistent as some of Scorsese's better historical movies, but it's certainly quite good for what it is.

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22 'Shutter Island' (2010)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Ben Kingsley

Scorsese's take on a psychological thriller with Shutter Island makes for a good watch, though it ultimately isn't among his very best works. The less said about the plot the better, but the central premise involves a detective, U.S. Marshal Edward "Teddy" Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), investigating a patient's disappearance from a high-security psychiatric facility. He's joined by his new partner Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) who helps him navigate the titular island.

The protagonist's dark history and some interesting plot twists certainly make the film more interesting than it initially appears to be, though Shutter Island is certainly a slow-burn, with an emphasis on the "slow." It's all worthwhile by the end, because the film does have a very effective conclusion, but it doesn't quite hit the heights of Scorsese's greatest efforts.

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21 'The Color of Money' (1986)

Starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, and Mary Elizabeth

The Color of Money stands out for being a Martin Scorsese-directed sequel, and a sequel to a movie he didn't direct, to boot. It's a follow-up to 1961's The Hustler, centering on Paul Newman's character, Fast Eddie, taking on a young pupil of sorts, here played by Tom Cruise. Eddie identifies Vincent's (Cruise) talent immediately one night and invites him to go on a road trip where they hit up different games and learn "the art of hustling."

As far as distant sequels go, it's surprisingly good, with Newman returning to the role with ease (and winning an Oscar in the process). It's worth it for the acting prowess on display, especially because the film's screenplay isn't anything spectacular, though at least it finds a decent enough hook to place a sequel to The Hustler on.

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20 'Cape Fear' (1991)

Starring Robert De Niro, Nick Nolte, and Jessica Lange

Five years after directing a sequel with The Color of Money, Scorsese made a remake: Cape Fear (1991). He goes for broke, with Cape Fear being a wild and unpredictable horror/thriller movie that keeps the tension high all throughout its 128-minute runtime. Scorsese also directs Robert De Niro in one of the most menacing and over-the-top performances of his career.

It centers on De Niro's character, Max Cady, a recently released prisoner, targeting and tormenting a lawyer who let him down 14 years previously. The reign of terror he enacts also extends to the lawyer's family, and it escalates in an expected – but also very nerve-wracking – fashion throughout. It's Scorsese making a clear, old-fashioned thriller, but doing it in a way that's mostly entertaining, and consistently suspenseful.

19 'The Aviator' (2004)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, and Kate Beckinsale

Martin Scorsese's favorite lead actor throughout the 20th century was Robert De Niro, but in the 21st century, it's arguably been Leonardo DiCaprio. The Aviator is one of their numerous successful collaborations, with the film being a biopic of Howard Hughes, who was a film producer, pilot, and philanthropist. Based on Hughes' 1993 non-fiction book The Secret Life by Charles Higham, the film depicts the protagonist's experiences from 1927 to 1947, which includes his meteoric rise, which is soon complicated by his severe obsessive–compulsive disorder.

The Aviator is extremely well-made from a technical perspective and has an impressive cast all doing some of their best work. It adheres quite rigidly to the biopic formula and feels a tad overlong at 170 minutes, but there are a ton of things to appreciate in The Aviator, making it a worthwhile mid-tier Scorsese movie.

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18 'Hugo' (2011)

Starring Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Asa Butterfield

Hugo is the rare Scorsese movie that could be classified as a family film... though it helps if viewers have an interest in the history of silent cinema, because that's what the film is largely about. It centers on the titular character – 12-year-old Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) – who lives alone in Paris' Gare Montparnasse railway station. He soon befriends Georges Méliès (played by Ben Kingsley), a pioneering director in cinema's early days.

The film is at its best when looking at the power that cinema has, and as a love letter to the medium that Scorsese himself clearly adores, it can be a passionate and moving film. Some of the more kid-friendly elements - like an awkward comic relief character played by Sacha Baron Cohen – make it sometimes feel tonally inconsistent, but the emotional center and awe-inspiring visuals generally deliver.

17 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore' (1974)

Starring Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, and Alfred Lutter

Most of the time, Martin Scorsese makes movies with male protagonists, but his earlier films were sometimes a departure from or clashed with that trend. Boxcar Bertha was one example, but Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is an even better example, and also generally just a much better film than Scorsese's 1972 effort.

The film follows the titular Alice (Ellen Burstyn), a single mother who's trying to care for her son while also chasing her dreams of becoming a singer, however unlikely those dreams might be. Moving away from home towards Arizona, Alice hopes her job as a server in a small town is temporary, but unexpectedly falls in love with a local rancher. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore is a grounded but compelling drama, and a perfect showcase for how Scorsese has always been excellent at making films that contain a great deal of empathy.

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16 'Casino' (1995)

Starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci

Of all Scorsese's gangster epics, Casino is arguably the most violent, gritty, and difficult to watch. It pulls no punches in depicting the brutality of the mobsters who ruled Las Vegas during the 1970s, largely because most of the city's lucrative casinos were run – either partially or completely – by the mob. It mostly follows Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro) and the kinds of trouble he runs into while managing the hotel operations at the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas.

It's a relentless, even exhausting movie at a point, clocking in at three hours while also never slowing down for a second when it comes to pacing. It's arguably not one of Scorsese's best crime movies as a result, but it still features flashy editing, great music, compelling performances, and memorably profane dialogue. All the ingredients here have been used to better effect in other Scorsese crime films, but Casino is still more than solid.

15 'Gangs of New York' (2002)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Cameron Diaz

Gangs of New York is a potentially divisive movie in Scorsese's filmography. It's an ambitious and explosive revenge-themed historical epic, with many high points contrasting against some odd creative decisions. It is far from a seamless, easy watch, but it's undeniably fascinating. Set in 1863, the film tells the story of Amsterdam Vallon (DiCaprio), recently released from prison and wanting retribution for his father's murder. He goes after the powerful gang leader responsible for the crime, William Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis).

The 2002 film is elevated immensely by Daniel Day Lewis' over-the-top villainous performance as Bill the Butcher, with the movie being fantastic whenever he's on-screen. DiCaprio isn't as strong in the lead role, but would come into his own in later Scorsese movies. The film might be messy, but so is the concept of revenge, and overall, there's much more good in Gangs of New York than bad.

14 'The Age of Innocence' (1993)

Starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Winona Ryder

Believe it or not, one of Martin Scorsese's historical dramas is also a romance and an unapologetically big-hearted and old-fashioned one at that. The Age of Innocence is unique among Scorsese movies and effectively tells the story of a young man in New York's high society, Newland Archer (Day-Lewis), being torn between two women, May Welland (Winona Ryder) and Countess Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer), during the 19th century.

It was the first collaboration between Scorsese and Day-Lewis, though he plays a very different character here to who he played in Gangs of New York. Michelle Pfeiffer and Winona Ryder are also both very good, with The Age of Innocence additionally benefiting from fantastic production design and its overall subtle storytelling and emotional impact.

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13 'Killers of the Flower Moon' (2023)

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone

Scorsese's latest film tells the harrowing true story of a string of murders among members of the Osage tribe in northeastern Oklahoma. Based on a non-fiction book by David Grann, it follows Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) who becomes involved with his uncle William "Bill" Hale's (De Niro) crimes against the Osage people. Ernest also marries Mollie (Lily Gladstone), an Osage woman who begins to experience inexplicable symptoms.

In her review of Killers of the Flower Moon, Therese Lacson praises the 2023 film for being a "dedicated study of a horrific time in history," but rightly questions if Scorsese was the correct person to tell that story. It undoubtedly earns its runtime with the pace required to depict the events based on real life, with characters masterfully portrayed by De Niro, DiCaprio, and Gladstone. Despite a clear effort to show a balanced narrative, however, it still falls victim to romanticization and fails to tell a truly comprehensive story that champions Native American voices. – Hannah Saab

12 'Mean Streets' (1973)

Starring Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, and David Proval

Mean Streets was the first Martin Scorsese movie that established what a great filmmaker he could be. It's a gritty story set on the streets of New York (a city Scorsese loves to feature as a setting), particularly in Little Italy, and follows several small-time criminals – all low-level Mafiosos – who are all looking to make it in the mob as made guys. When one of them falls victim to a ruthless loan shark, he has to ask his other friends for help.

It might not be Scorsese's greatest movie, but there's an argument to be made that it was his first genuine classic. Its narrative is loose, but the characters and style of the movie are bold and distinctively Scorsese-esque. Aside from being the first of several collaborations between Scorsese and De Niro, Mean Streets is also notable for featuring a killer soundtrack.

11 'Bringing Out the Dead' (1999)

Starring Nicolas Cage, Patricia Arquette, and John Goodman

Featuring one of Nicolas Cage's best and most underrated performances, Bringing Out the Dead also functions as an underrated Scorsese film. It follows New York City paramedic, Frank Pierce (Cage), who has a particularly hectic few days spent on the job. After seeing so many people suffer and die, Frank struggles to deal with personal demons and visions of those he failed to save. In the next few days, he has conversations with his co-workers who stay with him as he deteriorates.

It's a dark and very intense movie and stands as one of the most in-depth psychological drama/thriller movies Scorsese ever directed. It also can't be overstated how good the cast is, especially Cage in the lead role, who delivers a memorable and very realistic performance that's a far cry from the sorts of goofy, bombastic roles he's best known for playing.

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10 'The King of Comedy' (1982)

Starring Robert De Niro, Jerry Lewis, and Tony Randall

Despite being called The King of Comedy, this 1982 film isn't really a comedy. Sure, it centers on a man who wants to do anything he can to become a famous stand-up comedian, but the story takes numerous dark turns to the point where this is a very dark comedy if one's feeling charitable, and a genuinely unnerving psychological crime/thriller by any other definition.

De Niro plays Rupert Pupkin, and his love of stand-up comedy drives him to stalk, annoy, and eventually kidnap his favorite comedian, Jerry Langford (played by Jerry Lewis). The only way Jerry can gain his freedom, according to Pupkin, is if the talk show host offers the unstable man a guest spot on his show. It's a deeply uncomfortable and awkward film by design, and that Scorsese can create such a visceral, tense movie without resorting to graphic violence or horrific visuals is a testament to his filmmaking skills.

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9 'Silence' (2016)

Starring Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, and Tadanobu Asano

All things considered, Silence is a little slept-on. Maybe a slow-paced film about two Jesuit priests, Father Sebastian Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Father Francisco Garupe (Adam Driver), searching for their mentor in Japan during the 17th century doesn't sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but the acting and the exploration of the characters make this a very compelling watch for patient viewers. While in Japan, they begin to secretly minister to Christian villagers, at the risk of being caught and killed by feudal lords or ruling samurai.

Adam Driver is good as always here, but it's Andrew Garfield who makes the movie his own, in the process delivering what might be the best performance of his career so far. Garfield shines in a movie that takes its time but emerges as a brilliant and thought-provoking work that thoroughly explores the nature of faith in a unique and compelling way.

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8 'After Hours' (1985)

Starring Rosanna Arquette, Verna Bloom, and Thomas Chong

If one were to rank Martin Scorsese's funniest movies, After Hours would undoubtedly have to appear near the top of the list. It's a movie that follows one of the unluckiest men in cinematic history, word processor Paul Hackett (Griffin Dunne), as he has a genuinely terrible night that starts with his $20 bill flying out of a cab. The protagonist is then thrust into a series of misadventures in a surreal – and even nightmarish – version of New York City,

Naturally, this means it's a dark comedy, given there's a ton of misfortune and tense moments throughout. But for those who like their surreal and absurd humor to also be kind of bleak, After Hours truly delivers, and it presents a distinct and modern take on what could otherwise be an old-fashioned farce/screwball comedy.

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