Scorsese, De Niro Reunite for Taxi Driver's 50th Anniversary as Tribeca Marks 25 Years
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 6
Scorsese, De Niro Reunite for Taxi Driver's 50th Anniversary as Tribeca Marks 25 Years
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 6
Summary
Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster and Paul Schrader gathered at Tribeca for a screening and discussion marking 50 years since Taxi Driver’s 1976 release.
Scorsese and De Niro said the film’s enduring pull lies in its portrait of loneliness and alienation, themes they argued still resonate with young audiences shaped by the internet and the pandemic.
Jodie Foster and Schrader linked Travis Bickle’s unraveling to modern antihero culture and online extremism, arguing the film keeps “redoing its contract” with each new generation.
The reunion also revisited 1970s New York — then broke and crime-ridden during filming — in contrast with today’s city, where the NYPD says gun violence is at a record low this year.
Released in 1976, Taxi Driver won the Palme d’Or and earned four Oscar nominations, cementing a legacy that its creators said remains unusually alive half a century later.
As Scorsese champions AI in filmmaking, what becomes of the 'make it your own' originality celebrated in *Taxi Driver*?
The creators miss 1970s NYC's 'raw vitality,' but was this dangerous reality essential for the film's authentic power?
Taxi Driver at 50: Tribeca Festival’s Historic Reunion and the Film’s Lasting Impact
Overview
The 2026 Tribeca Festival marks its 25th anniversary with a special 50th-anniversary reunion of Martin Scorsese’s classic film, Taxi Driver. This event brings together Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, and Paul Schrader to reflect on the film’s lasting impact, from its dark portrayal of loneliness and violence in 1970s New York to its relevance in today’s digital age. The reunion features personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and highlights how Taxi Driver’s themes still resonate. Tribeca’s growth as a cultural force is also celebrated, showing its commitment to both film history and social change.