The Reason Martin Scorsese Avoids Rewatching His Own Movies

Martin Scorsese is widely regarded as one of the greatest directors to ever step behind a camera, having shaped the landscape of American cinema for over five decades. From the gritty streets of Taxi Driver to the high-stakes glitz of The Wolf of Wall Street, his work is defined by its intensity and deeply personal themes of faith, guilt, and the human condition. Yet, despite his incredible success, Scorsese admitted that he finds it almost impossible to sit down and watch his own movies once they are finished.

During a conversation with Conan O’Brien, the legendary filmmaker revealed that he avoids his past work because it feels far too intimate to revisit. No that’s it, I’ve had enough [of them], he exclaimed when asked if he ever spends time with his classics.

For Scorsese, looking back at films that are decades old isn’t a nostalgic trip; instead, it is an uncomfortable experience. I can’t take it; it’s too much, it’s too personal and too embarrassing, he shared, explaining that he sees the flaws and the personal emotions he poured into every frame.

This perspective is quite the opposite of other famous directors like Quentin Tarantino, who has often stated that he makes movies specifically because he wants to watch them over and over again.

Tarantino once mentioned that he feels sorry for directors who find their own work painful to watch, as he views his films as his greatest passion. Scorsese, however, seems to prefer looking forward rather than backward, keeping his focus entirely on the next story he wants to tell.

Even as he approaches his mid-80s, Scorsese shows no signs of slowing down his creative output. As of early 2026, the director is finally moving forward with his long-awaited project, What Happens At Night.

This psychological mystery, based on the novel by Peter Cameron, marks his seventh collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio and also stars Jennifer Lawrence. The film follows a couple who travel to a strange, snowy European town to adopt a child, only to find themselves trapped in a haunted, dream-like hotel where nothing is quite what it seems.

The director’s recent work, including the Oscar-nominated Killers of the Flower Moon, has been praised for its reflective and mature look at history and morality. Fans are also keeping an eye on his production company, Sikelia Productions, which is helping to develop a variety of new series and documentaries.

Whether he is producing for a new generation or directing his own original scripts, Scorsese’s influence remains a constant in Hollywood, even if he is the only person who won’t be attending his own retrospectives.

Do you think that a director being “embarrassed” by their older work is actually a sign that they are constantly evolving as an artist? Share your thoughts in the comments.