Actor

Paul Schrader

Born: 15 July 1946, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Estimated net worth: $20 million

Paul Schrader: best films and shows

About Paul Schrader

Paul Schrader is an acclaimed American screenwriter, director, and film critic known for his work in the independent film sector. He gained recognition for writing screenplays for films like 'Taxi Driver' and 'Raging Bull'. Schrader's directorial style often explores themes of existentialism and morality, with a distinctive narrative approach and character-driven storytelling.

Born: 15 July 1946, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Known for: Writing
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Spouses: Mary Beth Hurt (1984-present)
Children: 1 child, Justin Schrader
Parents: Paul Schrader Sr., Helen Schrader
Estimated net worth: $20 million

Fun facts about Paul Schrader

Paul Schrader was deeply influenced by his upbringing in a strict Calvinist household, which often reflects in his films.
He originally trained as a theologian before pursuing a career in film, which informs the spiritual themes in his work.

Famous Paul Schrader quotes

“You talk about a man who's got nothing to lose.”

Taxi Driver, 1976

“I think the best films are the ones that have a sense of mystery.”

First Reformed, 2017

“I’m a man of faith, and I believe in redemption.”

Light Sleeper, 1992

Paul Schrader filmography

Cast (50)

Year	Title	Character	Rating
2026	Best Served Cold: How a Revenge Film was Buried for Decades Movie	Himself
2025	Masterclass di Paul Schrader al Laceno d'Oro 48 Movie	Self - filmmaker, guest	6.0
2025	Ritratti di cinema Movie	Self
2025	Mr. Scorsese TV	Self	8.1
2022	The Book of Harth Movie	Self	8.5
2022	The Last Movie Stars TV	Self	7.0
2020	The Beauty of Horror: Paul Schrader on The Comfort of Strangers Movie	Self
2020	Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business Movie	Self	3.0
2020	Paul Schrader: Man in a Room Movie	Self	6.0
2019	What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael Movie	Self	6.7

Show 40 more credits

Year	Title	Character	Rating
2017	We Blew It Movie	Self	5.2
2016	Taxi Driver: 40th Anniversary Cast Q&A Movie	Self
2016	Dog Eat Dog Movie	El Greco	5.1
2016	Ken San Movie	Self	6.7
2015	Hitchcock/Truffaut Movie	Self	7.2
2015	Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter TV	Self	6.2
2014	Late Night with Seth Meyers TV	Self - Guest	5.1
2013	Venice 70: Future Reloaded Movie	Self (segment Paul Schrader)	5.0
2013	Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic Movie	Self	7.1
2013	Milius Movie	Self	7.1
2011	Eames: The Architect and the Painter Movie	Self	7.0
2011	The Story of Film: An Odyssey TV	Self	7.7
2010	Godard Made in USA Movie	Self
2009	The Rules of Film Noir Movie	Self	6.1
2009	Tales from the Script Movie	Self	6.6
2008	Murnau, Borzage and Fox Movie	Self	7.0
2008	Schrader's Exorcism Movie	Self	8.0
2007	Influence And Appreciation: A Martin Scorsese Tribute Movie	Self	5.0
2007	God's Lonely Man Movie	Self	6.0
2007	Producing 'Taxi Driver' Movie	Himself	5.0
2006	Film Noir: Bringing Darkness to Light Movie	Self	7.1
2005	Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That Movie	Self	7.0
2005	Raging Bull: Before the Fight Movie	Self	10.0
2004	Männer im Trenchcoat, Frauen im Pelz Movie	Self	9.0
2004	Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade Movie	Self	8.0
2003	Playboy: Sex at 24 Frames Per Second Movie	Self	5.3
2003	A Decade Under the Influence Movie	Self	7.9
2003	Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood Movie	Self	7.1
2002	Cat People: An Intimate Portrait by Paul Schrader Movie	Self	8.0
1999	Making 'Taxi Driver' Movie	Self	7.0
1997	Birth of a Nation Movie	Self	7.0
1997	Scene by Scene TV	Self	6.0
1995	Untitled: New Blue Movie	Himself (uncredited)	4.7
1993	Talking with Ozu Movie	Self	6.5
1990	Hollywood Mavericks Movie	Self	7.3
1990	Preston Sturges: The Rise and Fall of an American Dreamer Movie	Self	5.7
1990	Pictures of Europe Movie	Self
1985	Inside Mishima Movie	Self
1984	The Road to Bresson Movie	Self	7.0
1978	The South Bank Show TV	Unknown character	5.6

Crew (74)

Year	Title	Role	Rating
2026	The Basics of Philosophy Movie	Writer · Writing	5.8
2026	The Basics of Philosophy Movie	Director · Directing	5.8
2025	Vulcanizadora Movie	Thanks · Crew	6.2
2024	Oh, Canada Movie	Director · Directing	5.7
2024	Oh, Canada Movie	Screenplay · Writing	5.7

Show 69 more credits

Year	Title	Role	Rating
2023	Master Gardener Movie	Director · Directing	6.0
2023	Master Gardener Movie	Writer · Writing	6.0
2022	American Gigolo TV	Executive Consultant · Production	6.8
2022	American Gigolo TV	Characters · Writing	6.8
2022	There Are No Saints Movie	Executive Producer · Production	5.1
2022	There Are No Saints Movie	Screenplay · Writing	5.1
2021	The Card Counter Movie	Director · Directing	6.1
2021	The Card Counter Movie	Writer · Writing	6.1
2020	Paul Schrader: Man in a Room Movie	Thanks · Crew	6.0
2018	First Reformed Movie	Director · Directing	7.0
2018	First Reformed Movie	Writer · Writing	7.0
2016	Dog Eat Dog Movie	Director · Directing	5.1
2015	American Johns Movie	Thanks · Crew	5.0
2014	Dying of the Light Movie	Screenplay · Writing	4.7
2014	Dying of the Light Movie	Director · Directing	4.7
2013	Venice 70: Future Reloaded Movie	Director · Directing	5.0
2013	The Canyons Movie	Director · Directing	4.4
2012	Walk of Fame Movie	Thanks · Crew	2.0
2008	Adam Resurrected Movie	Director · Directing	6.1
2007	The Walker Movie	Screenplay · Writing	5.3
2007	The Walker Movie	Director · Directing	5.3
2005	Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist Movie	Director · Directing	5.3
2002	Auto Focus Movie	Director · Directing	6.4
1999	Bringing Out the Dead Movie	Screenplay · Writing	6.6
1999	Forever Mine Movie	Writer · Writing	5.3
1999	Forever Mine Movie	Director · Directing	5.3
1998	Affliction Movie	Director · Directing	6.3
1998	Affliction Movie	Screenplay · Writing	6.3
1997	Touch Movie	Screenplay · Writing	5.6
1997	Touch Movie	Director · Directing	5.6
1996	City Hall Movie	Writer · Writing	6.0
1995	Untitled: New Blue Movie	Director · Directing	4.7
1995	Untitled: New Blue Movie	Writer · Writing	4.7
1994	Witch Hunt Movie	Director · Directing	5.1
1992	Light Sleeper Movie	Director · Directing	6.7
1992	Light Sleeper Movie	Writer · Writing	6.7
1990	The Comfort of Strangers Movie	Director · Directing	5.9
1988	Patty Hearst Movie	Director · Directing	5.7
1988	The Last Temptation of Christ Movie	Screenplay · Writing	7.2
1987	Light of Day Movie	Director · Directing	5.5
1987	Light of Day Movie	Screenplay · Writing	5.5
1986	The Mosquito Coast Movie	Screenplay · Writing	6.4
1985	Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters Movie	Director · Directing	7.8
1985	Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters Movie	Writer · Writing	7.8
1982	Cat People Movie	Director · Directing	6.0
1982	Cat People Movie	Screenplay · Writing	6.0
1980	Raging Bull Movie	Screenplay · Writing	7.9
1980	American Gigolo Movie	Director · Directing	6.2
1980	American Gigolo Movie	Writer · Writing	6.2
1979	Old Boyfriends Movie	Executive Producer · Production	5.1
1979	Old Boyfriends Movie	Writer · Writing	5.1
1979	Hardcore Movie	Writer · Writing	6.8
1979	Hardcore Movie	Director · Directing	6.8
1978	Blue Collar Movie	Screenplay · Writing	7.3
1978	Blue Collar Movie	Director · Directing	7.3
1977	Rolling Thunder Movie	Original Story · Writing	6.8
1977	Rolling Thunder Movie	Screenplay · Writing	6.8
1976	Obsession Movie	Story · Writing	6.7
1976	Obsession Movie	Screenplay · Writing	6.7
1976	Taxi Driver Movie	Writer · Writing	8.1
1974	The Yakuza Movie	Screenplay · Writing	7.1
TBA	Amber Light Movie	Writer · Writing
TBA	Non Compos Mentis Movie	Director · Directing
TBA	Non Compos Mentis Movie	Writer · Writing
TBA	Life from the Other Side Movie	Screenplay · Writing
TBA	Three Guns at Dawn Movie	Writer · Writing
TBA	The Doors of Perception Movie	Director · Directing
TBA	The Doors of Perception Movie	Writer · Writing
TBA	Clang Movie	Writer · Writing

Latest releases

Best Served Cold: How a Revenge Film was Buried for Decades2026
Ritratti di cinema2025
The Book of Harth2022 / TMDB 8.5
The Beauty of Horror: Paul Schrader on The Comfort of Strangers2020
Clapboard Jungle: Surviving the Independent Film Business2020 / TMDB 3.0

Paul Schrader in the news

How to watch The Card Counter in Australia
Chris Smith30 May 2022

Questions about Paul Schrader

What are some of Paul Schrader's most famous films?

Paul Schrader is best known for films like 'Taxi Driver', 'Raging Bull', and 'American Gigolo', which have become classics in American cinema.

Has Paul Schrader won any major awards?

While Schrader has not won an Oscar, he has received several nominations and accolades, including a Best Original Screenplay nomination for 'Taxi Driver'.

What was Paul Schrader's first film?

Paul Schrader's first film as a director was 'Blue Collar' released in 1978, which he also co-wrote.

What themes are common in Paul Schrader's films?

Schrader's films often explore themes of isolation, redemption, and the human condition, reflecting his background in theology.

How did Paul Schrader start his career in film?

Schrader began his career as a film critic and later transitioned to screenwriting, gaining prominence with his scripts for Martin Scorsese.

What is Paul Schrader's estimated net worth?

Paul Schrader's estimated net worth is around $20 million, reflecting his successful career in filmmaking and writing.

What is a notable milestone in Paul Schrader's filmography?

A notable milestone in Schrader's career was the release of 'First Reformed' in 2017, which received critical acclaim and several award nominations.

What is Paul Schrader's contribution to the film industry?

Schrader's contribution includes redefining narrative structures and character studies in cinema, influencing a generation of filmmakers with his unique storytelling style.