9 Films That Only Make Sense Thanks To Fan Theories

Here's the thing about Taxi Driver: the strangely upbeat ending where Travis saves the day and is hailed as a hero is at odds with the overt darkness of the rest of the film.

It feels completely incongruous, unless you buy into the theory which claims the movie's conclusion takes place in the mind of Robert De Niro's unhinged cabbie.

Apparently, the war vet did not survive the brothel shootout, which may explain why the final act is so dream-like. Those who support the idea also claim that weird overhead shot represents Travis's soul leaving his body.

While stopping short of fully endorsing the fan theory, Martin Scorsese himself has confirmed that Taxi Driver's ending is a cipher, so maybe you don't magically recover from the horrors of war overnight by turning vigilante and rescuing a prostitute.