De Niro: Taxi Driver wasn't meant to be a classic

Robert De Niro, the acclaimed actor, recently shared that he never envisioned 'Taxi Driver,' the 1976 neo-noir psychological drama directed by Martin Scorsese, achieving its status as a cinematic classic. The film, which follows a mentally deteriorating taxi driver in New York City, garnered significant acclaim, including the prestigious Palme d'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival. It also earned four nominations at the 1977 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and acting nods for De Niro and Jodie Foster.

During a discussion, De Niro admitted that creators cannot predict a film's cultural impact. He highlighted that "You never can think that you're doing something that's going to have an impact." The legendary actor also revealed that one of the film's most iconic moments, Travis Bickle's confrontation with his reflection, was partially improvised. This spontaneous creation contributed to the memorable scene, a testament to the collaborative power of working with a director as influential as Scorsese.