Martin Scorsese Shares His Picks for Cinematic Masterpieces

Martin Scorsese has always been known for his intense and detailed films, but his work is deeply personal and shaped by his own life. His storytelling reflects his love for cinema and the way he experienced the world as a child.

Growing up in New York in the late 1940s, Scorsese was surrounded by his Italian-American family. He spent Friday nights watching films on a small 16-inch television with his parents, grandparents, and uncles, often in Italian. “Those films spoke to my family in the way we spoke at home,” he once explained, recalling how important it was for him to see his own world reflected on screen.

A major influence was Vittorio De Sica’s 1948 film Bicycle Thieves. Watching the neorealist story as a young boy had a lasting impact. “It wasn’t just about movies,” Scorsese said. “It was the way people lived, the reality of life. It made me feel understood.” This early exposure shaped his approach to filmmaking, focusing on emotion and authenticity rather than just technical style.

Scorsese’s films often show the struggles of Italian-American life, from his first feature, Who’s That Knocking at My Door in 1967, to his 1974 documentary Italianamerican. He has explained that his goal isn’t to copy what he saw as a child, but to capture the same emotional power. “I want people to feel what I felt, sitting in that room with my family,” he said.

At 83, Scorsese shows no signs of slowing down. He recently arrived in Prague to begin shooting his new psychological thriller, What Happens at Night. The movie will star Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Mads Mikkelsen, and Patricia Clarkson. “It’s a story about an American couple adopting a child in a mysterious town,” Scorsese shared. Fans are excited to see his collaboration with Lawrence for the first time.

He also has projects in television. Scorsese is executive producing a Cape Fear limited series for Apple TV+ starring Javier Bardem, set to premiere in June. He continues to host his docuseries Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints on FOX Nation, exploring the lives of figures like Saint Mary and Saint Patrick.

Even as he works on multiple projects, Scorsese remains committed to bringing his personal experiences and cultural background to the screen. He has often said that his films are more than entertainment—they are a reflection of life as he knows it. “Cinema is my way of showing the world what I see and feel,” he explained.

Whether he is directing a thriller in Europe or narrating the history of saints, Scorsese continues to put his personal truth into his work. His dedication to storytelling proves that even after decades in Hollywood, his vision remains unique and deeply connected to his roots.

Have something to add? Share your thoughts in the comments.