Robert De Niro earned an Oscar nomination for his role in the 1976 film directed by Martin Scorsese.

Robert De Niro reveals he was surprised Taxi Driver became a classic

Robert De Niro earned an Oscar nomination for his role in the 1976 film directed by Martin Scorsese.

By Sharareh Drury

May 25, 2026 5:21 p.m. ET

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Robert De Niro in 'Taxi Driver'. Credit:

FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty

- Robert De Niro reflected on his iconic role in 1976's *Taxi Driver*, saying the success of any film is "out of your control."

- Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film also starred Jodie Foster and Cybill Shepherd.

- De Niro and Foster both earned Oscar nominations for their roles in the neo-noir film.

Even though Robert De Niro earned an Oscar nomination for his role in 1976's *Taxi Driver*, the legendary actor admits when making the film, he never thought it would become a cinematic classic.

Directed by Martin Scorsese, the neo-noir psychological drama follows De Niro as a taxi driver whose mental state deteriorates while working night shifts in New York City. The film also starred Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd, Harvey Keitel, Peter Boyle, and Albert Brooks.

Considered one of the most culturally significant films ever made, *Taxi Driver *earned several accolades including the Palme d'Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival and four nominations at the 1977 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for De Niro and Best Supporting Actress for Foster.

"You never can think that you’re doing something that's going to have an impact," the 82-year-old actor told Page Six. "You just never look at it that way."

De Niro added that the success of any film is "out of your control"

Robert De Niro as Travis Bickle in 'Taxi Driver'.

Screen Archives/Getty

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One of the most iconic lines from the film is when De Niro's Travis Bickle, all alone in his apartment, points a gun at his reflection in the mirror and talks to an invisible enemy: "You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me? Then who the hell else are you talkin’ to?"

During an appearance on *Live with Kelly and Mark* in 2025, the* Killers of the Flower Moon* actor discussed how the memorable scene was partially improvised.

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"Some of the best stuff, not always, is when it's improvised and it's done spontaneously," he shared with hosts Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, adding the experience was made all the better because he worked on the project with a director as impactful as Scorsese.

De Niro will next appear in *Focker-in-Law** *this November, reuniting with *Meet the Fockers *cast members Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Blythe Danner, and Owen Wilson and starring alongside newcomer Ariana Grande.**

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Source: “EW Thriller”