Paul Schrader's Highest-Ranked Films by Critical Consensus
Critics consistently rank "Taxi Driver" (1976) and "Raging Bull" (1980) at the top of Paul Schrader's filmography. "Taxi Driver," starring Robert De Niro and written by Schrader, holds a 94% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and is preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. "Raging Bull," directed by Martin Scorsese with a screenplay by Schrader and Mardik Martin, holds a 96% critics score and is frequently cited in top-10 lists for the 1980s. Schrader's directorial work "First Reformed" (2017) also ranks highly, holding an 88% critics score and winning the National Society of Film Critics award for best screenplay. These rankings are derived from aggregate critic data on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, which compile thousands of reviews from professional outlets. For more on the National Film Registry, visit the Library of Congress registry page.
Public data from box office tracking services shows that "First Reformed" earned approximately $5.4 million in North American box office revenue, a strong return for an independent drama. The film was produced by Film Science and distributed by A24, a company known for releasing critically acclaimed independent films. Schrader's "The Card Counter" (2021), starring Oscar Isaac, was produced by Focus Features and earned approximately $4.5 million domestically. These figures are based on publicly reported data from studio financial disclosures and tracking services like The Numbers. For more on A24's release strategy, visit this Forbes analysis.
Paul Schrader's Highest-Grossing Films by Box Office
Schrader's highest-grossing film is "American Gigolo" (1980), which earned approximately $100 million worldwide against a $15 million budget, according to publicly reported box office data. The film starred Richard Gere and was distributed by Paramount Pictures. "Cat People" (1982), a remake produced by Universal Pictures, earned approximately $40 million worldwide. "Blue Collar" (1978), starring Richard Pryor and directed by Schrader, earned approximately $17 million on a $3 million budget, making it one of his most profitable films relative to cost. These figures are based on public box office tracking data from sources like Box Office Mojo and The Numbers. For more on box office reporting, visit Box Office Mojo.
Schrader's later directorial works have seen more modest box office returns, consistent with the independent film market. "First Reformed" and "The Card Counter" both earned under $6 million domestically, a standard range for adult dramas distributed by specialty labels. The production companies behind these films include Film Science, Focus Features, and IFC Films, which specialize in limited theatrical releases and streaming partnerships. Public financial data for these companies is often disclosed in annual reports or press releases. For more on Focus Features' parent company structure, visit the SEC's EDGAR database for NBCUniversal.