Driving a taxi comes with a lot of stories, with passengers and situations whose tales could be turned into a movie. That’s why we decided to write an article about some of the best movies about taxis. They may not be based on real events, but they are sure to entertain you and perhaps even make you say “Hey! That’s happened in my cab!”.
Ready for an exciting ride? Let’s start the list!
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Best Movies About Taxis
Taxi Driver
We cannot start a list of the best movies about taxis without immediately naming Taxi Driver. This 1976 Martin Scorsese’s movie is undoubtedly the most notorious among cinephiles, who can’t help but picture Robert De Niro behind the wheel of the famous yellow vehicle. The movie tells the story of Travis Bickle, a deeply troubled war veteran working as a New York taxi driver. One of De Niro’s most famous roles, it earned the actor his second Oscar nomination, after being nominated – and winning – the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for playing Vito Corleone.
Taxi Tehran
Not to be confused with the 1998 movie produced by Luc Besson, this 2015 movie by Jafar Panahi has the director posing as a taxi driver driving through the streets of Tehran. The movie is categorised as “docufiction”, with non-professional actors playing passengers who Panahi picks up along the day, and with whom he has a variety of conversations. Taxi is an important movie that represents a triumph over an oppressive regime’s ban on filmmaking, with Panahi using a dashcam to film it, and having it smuggled out of the country to be shown in art-house cinemas around the world.
Collateral
Tom Cruise doesn’t often play the part of the villain, but he does so brilliantly in director Michael Mann’s movie Collateral. In this tense thriller, Cruise dons a sharp grey suit as he climbs into the back of a taxi driven by Jamie Foxx’s character Max. What should be a regular ride across the city of Los Angeles quickly turns into Max’s worst nightmare, as his passenger Vincent reveals himself to be a contract killer. Making the driver his hostage, Vincent forces him to drive to each location where he has to eliminate a target. The movie also stars Jada Pinkett Smith as Annie, Vincent’s final target, who Max will try to save.
Taxi
Directed by Gérard Pirès, this action-packed French movie takes viewers on a wild ride with Daniel Morales, a taxi driver with a modified Peugeot 406. Equipped with powerful racing modifications, the vehicle is the perfect choice for Émilien Coutant-Kerbalec, a down-on-his-luck police inspector who needs to catch members of a German gang. Unaware of the taxi’s power (and the driver’s insane skills), the inspector jumps on the back of the vehicle, ordering Morales to chase after the criminals. What follows is a riotous, adrenaline-filled ride that will have your heart pumping fast until the end credits roll.
Taxi (US)
Gérard Pirès’ comedy was so successful (it spawned three sequels!) that Luc Besson – who wrote the original French movie – decided to collaborate with director Tim Story to bring it to America. The English version has Queen Latifah playing the part of Belle Williams, the highly skilled taxi driver, while Jimmy Fallon plays the bumbling police inspector, Andy, who needs to commandeer the vehicle to chase after a gang of Brazilian bank robbers. The lead robber, Vanessa, is played by supermodel Gisele Bündchen. While the original movie is far superior, the US version also provides a hilarious ride, perfect for fans of the two starring comedians.
Conspiracy Theory
While the action doesn’t fully take place inside a taxi, Conspiracy Theory still deserves a spot on our list of the best movies about taxis. Starring Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts, the movie tells the story of a taxi driver (Gibson) who publishes a conspiracy newsletter with a very small number of subscribers. With theories about a variety of topics, Jerry (the driver) finds himself in mortal danger when one of his published pieces seems to be turning out to actually be true. Accompanied by lawyer Alice Sutton (played by Roberts), Jerry has to find a way to survive while the government tries to silence him for good.
Bonus – Best TV Series About Taxis
Taxi
Running from 1978 to 1983, Taxi is a classic of American television. The sitcom followed the stories of a group of taxi drivers working for the Sunshine Cab Company in New York City. The 30-minute episodes take place mostly inside taxis and at the company central, where an unpleasant dispatcher played by Danny DeVito, and a variety of characters, meet daily. The series, which had both humour and heart, was nominated for a number of awards, winning Emmys and Golden Globes for Best Comedy Series. Besides Danny DeVito, the cast of Taxi includes the likes of Tony Danza, Christopher Lloyd, Andy Kaufman, and Rhea Perlman.
Final Thoughts
Whether you prefer intense psychological drama, edgy crime thrillers, or adrenaline-pumping car chases, these films showcase taxis and drivers in ways that are integral to the story. Watch them, enjoy the thrills, but remember to always drive safely to make sure every day on the road goes smoothly.