Martin Scorsese Picks His Top Film in a Surprising Showdown

Martin Scorsese recently took part in a quick-fire game, whittling down a list of well-known films until he landed on his ultimate favourite. The legendary director, known for his sharp eye and long-standing collaborations, made some eyebrow-raising choices along the way—opting for a Leonardo DiCaprio feature over what many consider Gal Gadot’s standout Hollywood role.

Scorsese’s Rapid-Fire Film Choices

In the opening round, Scorsese picked Birdman over Clint Eastwood’s The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. He then favoured Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, starring DiCaprio, instead of Wonder Woman, which is often seen as Gadot’s best work. Next, he went with 2001: A Space Odyssey rather than Catch Me If You Can, and chose The Silence of the Lambs over Mystic River.

Moving into the next set, he selected Inside Out over Frozen, Parasite over Ratatouille, Dancer in the Dark over Twilight, and Pan’s Labyrinth over Lost in Translation. From there, Birdman edged out Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, A Space Odyssey beat The Silence of the Lambs, Parasite topped Inside Out, and Dancer in the Dark surpassed Pan’s Labyrinth.

As the choices narrowed, Scorsese picked A Space Odyssey over Birdman and Parasite over Dancer in the Dark. In the final head-to-head, he landed on A Space Odyssey as his top pick, all in under half a minute.

Why 2001: A Space Odyssey Stands Out

Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 epic, 2001: A Space Odyssey, co-written with Arthur C. Clarke, is often hailed as a landmark in science fiction. The film is celebrated for its realistic portrayal of space travel, groundbreaking effects, and open-ended themes. The story follows humanity’s discovery of a mysterious object beneath the moon’s surface, leading to a mission to Jupiter with the help of HAL 9000, a sentient computer.

The cast includes Keir Dullea, Gary Lockwood, William Sylvester, and Douglas Rain as the voice of HAL 9000. The film was a box office hit, earning nearly $70 million worldwide on a $10.5 million budget. It holds a 90% rating on the Tomatometer, 88% on the Popcornmeter, and an 8.3 on IMDb. Critics have praised its exploration of evolution, technology, artificial intelligence, and the search for life beyond Earth. Kubrick’s work on the film’s visual effects earned him his only Oscar.

Fans React to Scorsese’s Picks

Scorsese’s choices sparked plenty of chatter online, with punters weighing in on his taste. Some were surprised by his preference for Birdman, while others questioned his decision to pass over The Silence of the Lambs and Sergio Leone’s classic western. A few were chuffed to see Dancer in the Dark get a nod, and some reckoned his pick of Inside Out over Frozen was spot on for someone with his background.

Scorsese likes Birdman?? Based, that movies always gets shit on here

Over Silence of the Lambs!? I don’t think so.

I'm here for his Dancer in the Dark love

Only iffy one is inside out over frozen. But psychology over myth is on brand for him

Birdman over the good, the bad, the ugly? No way

Pans Labyrinth over Lost in Translation and Dancer in the Dark over Pans Labyrinth? Typical film student.

birdman over sergio leones masterpiece??? please dont let your father be this much online

Everyone’s got their own take, but Scorsese’s picks certainly got people talking. For those keen to revisit his final choice, 2001: A Space Odyssey is currently streaming on HBO Max Amazon Channel.