Martin Scorsese-directed Taxi Driver was released in 1976. The American neo-noir psychological drama film was about a disturbed protagonist named Travis Bickle (Robert De Niro) plotting to assassinate a presidential candidate. The film explored the thinking of the mentally unstable man turning to violence. After its release, John Hinckley Jr. claimed he was inspired by the film’s protagonist, when he attempted to assassinate US President Ronald Reagan to impress actress Jodie Foster.
Was Martin Scorsese responsible for Hinckley’s actions? Most critics and legal authorities said no, given that the film merely depicted violence. It didn't endorse violence as such.
Taxi Driver is considered one of the greatest films ever made, and one of the most culturally significant and inspirational of its time.
By the way, before the release of Joker in 2019, there was widespread media anxiety that the film might incite violence. But no such incidents occurred.
