Leonardo Dicaprio Reveals His Favorite Martin Scorsese Film and Fans Did Not Expect It

Martin Scorsese has a unique level of trust when it comes to Leonardo DiCaprio, and the two are now as closely linked as the director is with his other frequent collaborator, Robert De Niro. Over the years.

Scorsese has produced several masterpieces with both men, and he doesn’t hold back when praising DiCaprio’s talent. During a conversation with Deadline, Scorsese went so far as to describe DiCaprio as a naturally gifted film actor who brings something special to every frame.

Scorsese explained that the reason they work together so frequently is that DiCaprio is willing to push himself into difficult and messy places. He noted that the actor has a way of finding clarity even in the most complicated characters.

According to the director, there is a specific quality in DiCaprio’s face and eyes that the camera simply locks onto, allowing the audience to understand exactly what he is thinking with even the smallest movement.

DiCaprio is just as much a fan of Scorsese, and he has often shared his deep admiration for the director’s work. When asked to pick his favorite movie from Scorsese’s long career, he pointed to the 1976 classic Taxi Driver, which stars De Niro.

Speaking with Scorsese and Charlie Rose, the actor recalled watching the film when he was only fifteen and feeling completely mesmerized by the character of Travis Bickle. He explained that he felt a deep sense of empathy for the character’s loneliness at first, but then felt deceived as the story went on.

DiCaprio found himself identifying with Travis throughout the journey, only to realize that the man on the screen was not at all who he thought he was. He ultimately called the movie the greatest independent film ever made, a comment that seemed to make Scorsese a little shy as he quickly gave credit to the writer, Paul Schrader.

As of this year, Leonardo DiCaprio is coming off a massive year after being named TIME‘s 2025 Entertainer of the Year. His most recent film, One Battle After Another, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, was released in late 2025 and has been sweeping the awards circuit. The movie, a dystopian crime thriller based on a Thomas Pynchon novel, won Best Picture at the Critics’ Choice Awards and earned DiCaprio a Best Actor nomination at the upcoming Oscars.

Looking ahead, the star is reuniting with Scorsese for their seventh feature film together, titled What Happens at Night. The psychological ghost story, which also stars Jennifer Lawrence, is scheduled to begin filming this February in Europe.

Do you think Leonardo DiCaprio is the only modern actor who can truly match the legendary energy of a young Robert De Niro, or is it time for Scorsese to find a new “natural” talent to mentor? Share your thoughts in the comments!