Martin Scorsese has been a critical player in the film industry from the early days of the New Hollywood movement. An Oscar, four BAFTAs, three Emmys, a Grammy, three Golden Globes, and two Directors Guild of America awards are just a few of the numerous prestigious honors he has garnered throughout the years. Scorsese’s illustrious career has included some of the most celebrated films in cinema history, including the 1976 psychological thriller Taxi Driver, which won him the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
Several of the director’s signature filming tics appear in several of his works. He has developed a filmography with decades-long partnerships with actors, screenwriters, film editors, and cinematographers, including Robert De Niro and Leonardo Di Caprio. Scorsese’s preference for lengthy film productions also stands out in addition to his brilliant works and frequent partnerships. The longer the director, now 80, remains in the business, the longer his films become. His latest, Killers of the Flower Moon, is close to four hours long. So, here’s a look at Martin Scorsese’s ten longest films and what makes them so memorable.
10. The Departed (2 hrs 31 mins)
The Departed, an adaptation of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs, was released in 2006 to widespread acclaim. Two guys, one working undercover for the police and the other for a criminal organization, are at the center of this crime thriller set in Boston. In addition to Leonardo DiCaprio and Matt Damon, the picture also stars Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, and a slew of other A-listers.
The film examines questions of self-identity, allegiance, and the moral ambiguities of the criminal justice system. The Departed was nominated for and won several Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director (for Scorsese), Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing. The film’s plot twists, dramatic performances, and realistic depiction of the criminal underworld have earned it rave reviews.
9. Silence (2 hrs 41 mins)
Based on Shsaku Endo’s 1966 novel of the same name, the 2016 film Silence follows two young Jesuit priests as they journey to Japan during the harsh persecution of Christians in the 17th century to track down their mentor and preach the gospel. In addition to Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, and Tadanobu Asano, the historical drama has an impressive ensemble cast. Driver portrays Father Francisco Garrpe, while Andrew Garfield plays Father Sebastio Rodrigues. Father Cristóvo Ferreira, played by Neeson, is their guide.
Some critics praised Scorsese’s direction, while others were less enthusiastic. Peter Debruge, writing for Variety, criticized the picture saying, “Though undeniably gorgeous, it is punishingly long, frequently boring, and woefully unengaging at some of its most critical moments. It is too subdued for Scorsese-philes, too violent for the most devout, and too abstruse for the great many moviegoers who such an expensive undertaking hopes to attract”.
8. The Last Temptation of Christ (2 hrs 43 mins)
The Last Temptation of Christ, a religious drama film released in 1988 and based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis of the same name, provides an unusual and divisive picture of the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus (Willem Dafoe) struggles with his divine calling and human impulses and fears, and the film delves into these inner conflicts. It reimagines Jesus’s story, in which he’s shown a more realistic human existence as he goes through typical human temptations and uncertainties.
There was a lot of controversy around the release of The Last Temptation of Christ due to the humanization of Jesus and the inclusion of the dramatized “last temptation” scene. However, the film received praise for its visual qualities by critics. Also, Scorsese’s direction, Dafoe’s performance as Jesus, and the film’s probing exploration of spirituality were all lauded. The criticism was harsh, but Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ still stands as a landmark in his body of work.
7. New York, New York (2 hrs 43 mins)
In New York, New York, saxophonist Jimmy Doyle (Robert De Niro) and vocalist Francine Evans (Liza Minnelli) go through a rocky romance in 1940s and 1950s New York City. Like the classic Hollywood musicals it pays homage to, New York, New York features elaborate musical sequences and sleek set design.
Scorsese’s direction and the impressive cast and crew didn’t save New York, New York, from poor reviews and disappointing box office returns. However, although the film initially failed to find an audience, its performances, visual flare, and Scorsese’s signature style have earned it a cult following over time. Scorsese’s flexibility as a filmmaker is on display here, as the film is a departure from the crime and drama films for which he is well known.
6. Gangs of New York (2 hrs 48 mins)
Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York occurs in the Five Points neighborhood of 19th-century New York City and centers on rival gangs vying for district control. Released in 2002, Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Amsterdam Vallon, a young Irish-American immigrant out for revenge against Bill “The Butcher” Cutting (Daniel Day-Lewis), the man responsible for his father’s death. By joining Bill’s team, Amsterdam is drawn deeper into gang warfare’s dirty and violent underworld.
The events depicted in Gangs of New York occurred at a pivotal time in the city’s history, and the film explores issues of authority, immigration, and social discontent at that time. Scorsese’s direction is a prime example of his meticulous research, bringing 1850s New York’s harsh streets and fascinating characters to life. At 2 hours and 48 minutes, it’s also one of Scorsese’s longest. Gangs of New York was widely praised by critics, with many hailing Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as Bill “The Butcher.” There were a lot of award nominations for the picture, including 10 for the Academy Awards.
5. The Aviator (2 hrs 50 mins)
The Aviator, a biopic movie released in 2004, is based on the life of Howard Hughes, an eccentric but groundbreaking pilot, director, and industrialist. The film follows Hughes as he works his way up the entertainment industry while chronicling his mental illness battles. Leonardo DiCaprio gives a compelling performance as Howard Hughes, illuminating the character’s drive, brilliance, and spiral into OCD. This film examines Hughes’s contributions to the aviation industry, from setting flight records to creating groundbreaking new aircraft designs.
The Aviator also delves into Hughes’s work in the film industry, mainly as a producer and director. His friendships with several Hollywood greats are dissected, including those of Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) and Ava Gardner (Kate Beckinsale). Film critics were unanimous in acclaim for The Aviator, and Cate Blanchett won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her depiction of Katharine Hepburn. This riveting biographical drama demonstrates Scorsese’s ability to create believable on-screen personas for complex real-life figures.
4. Casino (2 hrs 58 mins)
The 1995 crime thriller Casino stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci, with Nicholas Pileggi’s non-fiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas as inspiration for Scorsese and Pileggi’s screenplay. It follows Jewish-American sports bettor Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) as the Italian-American mob recruits him to run the make-believe Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas in the 1970s and 1980s.
Ace is a highly competent professional who efficiently and successfully operates the casino. He faces various problems from his problematic wife, Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone), and his childhood buddy and mafia enforcer, Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci). The film is well-known for its dramatic performances, beautiful camerawork, and accurate depiction of Las Vegas’ glitter and glamor. Casino‘s narrative structure, which includes narrators speaking from several characters’ points of view, was also lauded.
3. The Wolf of Wall Street (3 hrs)
Based on the biography of the same name by disgraced former stockbroker Jordan Belfort, Martin Scorsese’s The Wolf of Wall Street is a biographical black comedy film released in 2013. Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, and Matthew McConaughey are among the supporting cast members in this film starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort. At the beginning of his career, Belfort works for a brokerage business on Wall Street, where he swiftly becomes entangled in illegal activities.
Belfort and his associates, one of whom is Donnie Azoff (Jonah Hill), found a prosperous corporation that quickly gained a reputation for shady dealings and attracted the attention of the wealthy. In the film, Belfort’s crazy social life, drug usage, and wasteful spending are all portrayed.
2. Killers of the Flower Moon (3 hrs 26 mins)
Killers of the Flower Moon is a 2023 American Western murder drama film directed and co-produced by Martin Scorsese, based on the 2017 book of the same name by David Grann, and written by Scorsese and Eric Roth. It is Scorsese’s second-longest film ever. The story revolves around a string of murders in the Osage Nation of Oklahoma in the 1920s, shortly after the discovery of oil on tribe grounds.
The cast includes Robert De Niro, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, and John Lithgow, in addition to Leonardo DiCaprio (who also serves as an executive producer). Killers of the Flower Moon is the eleventh time Scorsese has worked with De Niro and the seventh time he has worked with DiCaprio. The film premiered globally at the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 20, 2023, and received a nine-minute standing ovation.
1. The Irishman (3 hrs 29 mins)
The Irishman, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel, was released in 2019 and is Martin Scorsese’s longest-running film. The film is an adaptation of Charles Brandt’s 2004 book I Heard You Paint Houses, which follows truck driver Frank Sheeran as he gets mixed up with the Bufalino crime family and later claims responsibility for the disappearance of labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa.
The film takes place over several decades, and the protagonists are shown at various times in their lives through the application of de-aging technology. Al Pacino portrays Jimmy Hoffa, the flamboyant union leader who meets an untimely end, and Robert De Niro plays the primary character of Frank Sheeran. The Irishman received ten Academy Award nominations and five nods at the 77th Golden Globes, where it was up for Best Motion Picture, Drama, among other honors.
