Robert De Niro has put an end to a long-standing urban legend about his iconic "You talkin' to me?"
line from "Taxi Driver."
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The actor spoke during a 50th anniversary screening of the 1976 film at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 5, 2026.
Screenwriter Paul Schrader confirmed the dialogue was entirely unscripted, leaving the exact wording up to De Niro.
Moderator W. Kamau Bell raised a rumor claiming De Niro borrowed the phrase from a Bruce Springsteen concert.
"I came up with it," De Niro said, dismissing the myth.
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Director Martin Scorsese added that De Niro entered a trance-like state while filming the mirror scene.
Scorsese explained that the film's enduring appeal comes from its themes of loneliness, which De Niro noted remain relevant due to the internet and the pandemic.
Jodie Foster, who was 12 during production, said De Niro's improvisation made her fall in love with acting.
"It was like a lightbulb went off in my head," Foster recalled.
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She described the set as cheerful despite the dark subject matter, noting the technical execution of violent effects was amusing to Scorsese.
