When was Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver released?

Taxi Driver was released in US cinemas on February 8, 1976.

What is Taxi Driver remembered for?

The film is often remembered for Robert De Niro's iconic line, "Are you talking to me?"

What struggles does Travis Bickle face in Taxi Driver?

Travis Bickle struggles with post-Vietnam War adjustment, insomnia, alcoholism, and the harsh realities of 1970s New York City.

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Taxi Driver: 50 Years On, Beyond the Famous Line

7 Feb

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Summary

Released February 8, 1976, the film is now 50 years old.
Robert De Niro's iconic "Are you talking to me?" line overshadows plot.
Travis Bickle struggles with Vietnam trauma, insomnia, and urban decay.

Taxi Driver: 50 Years On, Beyond the Famous Line

Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, a seminal New York thriller, marks its 50th anniversary this week, having been released in US cinemas on February 8, 1976. The film, starring Robert De Niro as the troubled Travis Bickle, is a powerful portrait of a Vietnam War veteran navigating his return to civilian life.

Bickle's post-war adjustment is plagued by insomnia and alcoholism, set against the backdrop of a decaying, crime-ridden 1970s New York. His fascination with Betsy, a campaign aide, ends in rejection.

This rejection, coupled with his encounters with a young prostitute named Iris, intensifies Bickle's violent fantasies. He begins to meticulously prepare for a violent confrontation.