20 Worst To Best Robert De Niro Films
Robert De Niro's legacy is bulletproof and magical. He is the grandpa, the gangster, the GOAT
Could we just say Robert De Niro is one of the greatest actors of all time and call it a day? I mean the man was given us Vito Corleone, Jimmy Conway, Travis Buckle- characters so memorable that they have become shorthand for masculinity, madness, and meticulous violence. And then there are other unexpected characters that De Niro delivered that count...remember Dirty Grandpa?
Anyone who thought De Niro would quit acting, they're downright wrong. He is 81 and still serving us gold. So, him heading to the 78th Cannes Film Festival to collect an honorary Palme d'Or for a lifetime achievement award- a cinematic knighthood is about damn time!
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While Cannes rolls out the red carpet as it is scheduled for May 13- May 24, we decided to roll out our own—a no-nonsense list of best to worst performances. In the name of art, we ranked the good, the bad, and the downright what-were-you-thinking of Robert De Niro's cinematic roles. Sorry for the spoiler: Raging Bull is terrific, Dirty Grandpa terrible.
Forgettable?
Dirty Grandpa (2016)
Ok, I am gonna say it and get it off my chest, Dirty Grandpa was chaotic and unnecessary. Too much pretense of being horny. Honestly, whose idea was it!
Last Vegas (2013)
Hangover but for geriatrics, the film with Freeman, Douglas, Kline and of course De Niro was unfortunately a forgettable film. Sorry!
The War With Grandpa (2020)
Terrible.
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The Watchable
Awakening (1990)
A tear-jerk, the film starring Robert De Niro and Robin Williams is a sentimental film. In the film, De Niro plays the character of a catatonic patient— a victim of sleeping epidemic in America in the 1920s. The role got him nominated for Oscars again!
Jackie Brown (1997)
An ex-con Louis Gara in Quentin Tarantino's film, De Niro plays it passive to the point of being unconscious, perking up momentarily to smoke pot and sleep with house bunny Melanie. He is so good in the film that you end up wondering how he ever lead a criminal life before his prison time.
Meet The Parents (2000)
Love the serious De Niro and more the comedic De Niro, in Meet The Parents that starred Ben Stiller and Teri Polo in Jay Roach’s screwy domestic comedy and earned him a Golden Globe nomination as Best Comedy/Musical Actor. He returned to the role in the sequels “Meet the Fockers” and “Little Fockers.”
The Intern (2015)
Yes, the Intern is that film with Anne Hathaway where, Robert De Niro plays her intern.
The Irishman (2019)
De Niro's and Scorsese's 10th collaboration takes us back to the old gangster flicks they created in the 90s, De Niro's performance in the film while it got snubbed at the Oscars was a reminder to all of the powerhouse that he is. (We didn't really need one, but thank you anyway.) However, it was a little to long, a little too slow for modern audience taste.
Cape Fear (1991)
Based on the novel 'The Executioner', the film depicts De Niro as a bone-chilling villain in Martin Scorsese’s remake. He turns Max Cady, a convicted rapist stalking the lawyer (Nick Nolte) who sent him to prison, into an almost Biblical baddie, replete with tattoos and a wrathful rage.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Written and directed by David O. Russell, based on the novel by Matthew Quick, the film depicts De Niro as Pat Solitano, Sr.,(Bradley Cooper's father) an obsessive compulsive Philadelphia Eagles fan caring for his bipolar son (Bradley Cooper) after he’s released from a mental institution.
The scene where the elder Pat tearfully reaches out to his son is as powerful as anything the performer has ever done, and undoubtedly lead to his Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor.
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The Untouchables
Taxi Driver (1976)
'Are you talking' to me' post Taxi Driver has never been just a line- it carries a certain gravitas with it. De Niro unfolded the effects of urban alienation into a cinematic brilliance.
Godfather Part II (1974)
As Young Vito Corleone, De Niro had less dialogue but his presence far more impactful so much so that it won him his first Oscar for more stabbings and less speaking.
Casino (1995)
Starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak, James Woods, Martin Scorsese film is gloriously entertaining. As the real life mafia Frank Rosenthal, De Niro as Sam 'Ace' Rothstein is completely menacing.
Killers Of the Sunflower Moon (2023)
Directed by Martin Scorsese, the film was the 10th collaboration with De Niro who plays the real-life William “King” Hale, a 1920s Oklahoma crime kingpin King. A late-career performance, its one the best we have got recently, although his role in the 2024 film Joker as called for praise.
Heat (1995)
The cafe scene with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as Neil McCauley is pure cinema. Chef's kisses only!
Raging Bull (1980)
To act as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, De Niro gained 60 pounds, trained like a professional fighter, delivered a performance so raw that it infuriated one to throw a punch. He embodied the body, soul, mind and the breakdowns of the character fabulously.
The Deer Hunter (1978)
Let's just say that the film was nominated for six Oscars and went home with five.
The King Of Comedy (1983)
Another Martin Scorsese film, The King Of Comedy depicts the darkly funny life of a stand-up comedian Rupert Pupkin.
Goodfellas (1990)
Do we really need to say anything about this gangster flick inspired by the book 'Wiseguy' starring De Niro, Joe Pesci, Ray Liotta film? Its a masterpiece.