The actor Robert De Niro is one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood for his iconic portrayal of a variety of memorable characters. But what is the best Robert De Niro movie?
This article will explore some of the top films that have made Robert De Niro stand out as one of America’s greatest actors, and share with you our opinion on which ones are among his best performances.
Robert De Niro has starred in many iconic movies such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and The Deer Hunter.
But which of these films is the best? In all honesty, De Niro is such an accomplished talent who’s been involved in some of the best movies of all time. So we won’t rank these in order, but will instead list them in no particular order.
Let’s take a look!
Best Robert De Niro Movies
Let’s start with one of the all-time great films in the history of cinema!
The Godfather, Part II (1974)
In 1972, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather was released to both acclaim and criticism.
A sequel was in order, and so the first film’s success was repeated when Part II came out in 1974.
This second installment of the series is still hailed as one of the greatest films ever made, with an Academy Award-winning screenplay by Coppola himself.
Francis Ford Coppola has called his masterpiece “a family story about a gangster who wants it all.”
It follows Michael Corleone (played by Al Pacino) as he tries to keep the peace between rival gangs while dealing with a new enemy on his turf: Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg). After surviving an assassination attempt orchestrated by Roth, Corl.
It is considered one of the best sequels in cinema history because it provides more insight into Michael’s character.
The Godfather, Part II won six Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Taxi Driver (1976)
In 1970, a taxi driver in New York City named Travis Bickle takes an interest in saving the world of violence and corruption. He spends days driving around the city and nights watching movies to find his calling.
When he meets presidential candidate Charles Palantine, he finds that what he’s been looking for all along may be closer than he thinks.
The story follows the title character’s descent into insanity while working as a taxi driver with violent tendencies who becomes disillusioned…
Considered one of the greatest films ever made, the film received numerous accolades including the 1976 Cannes Film Festival’s Palme d’Or, and four nominations at the 49th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor (for De Niro), and Best Supporting Actress (for Foster).
The Deer Hunter (1978)
The Deer Hunter (1978) is a film that has been lauded for its depiction of the Vietnam War and its effects on an American small town.
Directed by Michael Cimino, it starred Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Cazale.
The movie is about three friends who are drafted to fight in the Vietnam War after graduating from high school and how their lives change when they return home.
It was filmed outside Pittsburgh with many local residents as extras, including some who were veterans of World War II or Korea.
The Deer Hunter won five Academy Awards: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Cinematography; Best Film Editing; and Best Sound Mixing, plus four Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Drama.
This is not your typical war movie; rather than glorifying violence or showing victory, director Michael Cimino focuses on the emotional toll that war takes on soldiers and civilians alike.
Raging Bull (1980)
In 1980, Martin Scorsese released his dark and visceral masterpiece Raging Bull. It is a biographical film about the life of boxer Jake La Motta.
The film chronicles the highs and lows of his career as well as personal relationships with family members, friends, and women.
The movie was nominated for eight Oscars in 1981 including Best Picture but it only won two awards for editing and sound mixing. In 1990 it was selected by the Library of Congress to be preserved in the United States National Film Registry due to its cultural significance.
The film is a true-to-life story about boxer Jake LaMotta and his life.
The movie has been heralded as one of the best boxing films to date, for its raw portrayal of LaMotta’s personal life.
It begins with LaMotta taking on Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951. From then on, we see him struggling through relationships with his family, wives, and friends while continuing to box throughout the years.
As time goes by, he becomes more aggressive inside and outside of the ring – but what would you expect from a man who lives like this.
The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin, and Leonard Schrader.
The actors in the film include Robert DeNiro as Jake LaMotta, Cathy Moriarty as Vickie LaMotta (LaMotta’s wife), Joe Pesci as Joey LaMotto (Jake’s brother), Tony Sirico as Nicky Santoro (a mobster), Nicholas Colasanto as Salvy Batts (a mobster).
Once Upon A Time In America (1984)
The story of America is told through the eyes of a gangster in this true-to-life film. The movie follows an Italian immigrant, who we later find out is named Michael Sullivan (played by Robert De Niro), as he starts his life in New York City during the Great Depression.
We follow him throughout his rise to the top of organized crime while simultaneously experiencing his downfall and eventual deportation back to Italy.
The film was directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Leonard Schrader, with cinematography done by Michael Chapman. Overall it sets up American history through its lens and tells us what happens when you go too far for your own good.
The film starts with Michael (Robert De Niro) and his best friend Nicky (James Woods) as they hustle their way up through the criminal underworld during prohibition.
Midnight Run (1988)
The 1988 film, Midnight Run is a crime-action comedy that follows the story of an accountant who has to transport a mobster from Los Angeles to New York.
While on this journey, he discovers that not only does the gangster have information about the whereabouts of his ex-wife and son but also there are two other criminals in pursuit.
If you’re looking for a film to watch this holiday season that will not only keep you on the edge of your seat but also give you some much-needed laughs, look no further.
Midnight Run is one of those rare films where the comedic moments are just as suspenseful and exciting as the action.
With two great actors in Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, it’s hard not to get swept away in their shenanigans, which makes Midnight Run an entertaining movie from start to finish.
This is a review of the 1988 movie Midnight Run, starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin.
This film has an interesting plot, great characters, and fantastic action sequences. It is not to be missed by anyone who enjoys movies from this era or any time period for that matter.
Goodfellas (1990)
Goodfellas is a 1990 American crime film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese.
The movie is about mobsters in the 1970s, who were not afraid to kill people to rise up the ranks of organized crime. Set in New York City, it follows Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) from childhood to adulthood as he becomes part of a criminal organization led by Jimmy Burke (Robert De Niro).
The film also stars Lorraine Bracco as Hill’s wife Karen Hill and Paul Sorvino as his father-in-law Tommy DeVito.
Henry starts as a small-time gangster with dreams of being respected in the mob community.
A Bronx Tale (1993)
A Bronx Tale (1993) is a film based on the book of the same name by author, Nicholas Pileggi. It tells the story of Sonny and his childhood in New York City’s infamous borough.
The movie was directed by Robert De Niro who also starred as Sonny, alongside Chazz Palminteri as Lorenzo “Larry” Loria and Joe Pesci as Nicky Santoro.
This film shows life in poverty-stricken areas where crime is commonplace; it also highlights how people from these environments are often forced into criminal lifestyles or become victims to other criminals.
The movie is packed with memorable scenes and quotable lines that have been repeated in pop culture ever since.
Though it’s not quite an accurate portrayal of life in the Bronx, this classic tells a story that will remain ingrained in our memories for years to come.
The movie’s cast includes Robert De Niro as Sonny, Chazz Palminteri as Lorenzo, Lenny Veneziano as Calogero (C), Sterling Hayden as Johnny Boy, Nicholas Turturro as Spider Mikey, John Leguizamo in his first major film role as Cesar., Vincent Pastore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero) as Benny Blanco.
Heat (1995)
The 1995 film Heat is one of the most iconic crime dramas of all time. The movie was directed by Michael Mann and stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Tom Sizemore, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Ashley Judd, and Diane Venora.
It tells a story about two rival gangs in Los Angeles who are trying to control the drug trade for cocaine across the city.
The movie starts with an armored truck heist led by master thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) that goes horribly wrong when they have to kill a guard during their escape.
This leads them into conflict with Lieutenant Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino), an LAPD officer who is determined to bring down McCauley’s crew no matter
James McBride’s novel, Heat (1995) is a fictionalized account of the real-life 1964 kidnapping of Charles David “Chuck” Alfred.
In this book, McBride tells the story from multiple perspectives to reveal that Chuck was not treated as an individual but rather viewed as a black man who was “easy prey.”
The novel also tackles the issue of racial injustice in America and how it played into the events leading up to Chuck’s death.
The book has been praised for its intense and insightful look at race relations during this time period in American history.
Casino (1995)
Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci star in director Martin Scorsese’s riveting look at how blind ambition, white-hot passion, and 24-karat greed toppled an empire.
Las Vegas, 1973, is the setting for this fact-based story about the Mob’s multimillion-dollar casino operation, where fortunes and lives were made and lost with a roll of the dice.
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
The film, Silver Linings Playbook (2012), is set in the Philadelphia area and follows a man named Pat Solitano Jr. who has been recently released from eight months of psychiatric care after an incident that left his wife’s sister died at his hand.
He goes to live with his parents and tries to get back into society by attending group therapy sessions, eating properly, taking medication, and going on dates.
The story chronicles Pat’s progress through this difficult time as he struggles to reconcile what happened with the person he once was or wants to be again.
He is struggling with his own anger, while also trying to deal with the death of his father and past issues with his mother. In an attempt to get back on track in life, he moves home to live with his parents where he meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), as well as Nikki (Brea Bee).
In order to combat this feeling, he begins to write down all the good things that happen in his day as silver linings.
This practice helps him find happiness again and slowly he starts rebuilding relationships with friends and family members who had grown distant since his initial diagnosis.
Silver Linings Playbook was nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Picture and won 4 out of those 8 nominations including Robert De Niro’s award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.
How Many Movies Has Robert De Niro Done With Martin Scorsese?
Their first film was “Mean Streets” in 1973, and their latest film was “The Irishman” in 2019.
They’ve both been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role five times, winning twice – once each with one other partner.
Their first collaboration was “Mean Streets” in 1973 followed by “Taxi Driver” (1976), “New York, New York” (1977), and then what became one of the most iconic films ever made: “Raging Bull.”
In 1980, they teamed up for another boxing film called “The King of Comedy,” which is widely considered to be a cult classic.
They then went on hiatus from working together until 1990 when they collaborated again on the crime drama remake of 1941’s The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.
Robert De Niro and Martin Scorsese have worked together on a total of fifteen films.
They are one of the most famous creative duos in Hollywood history!
Are Joe Pesci And Robert De Niro Friends?
In an interview with 60 Minutes, Pesci said he didn’t like De Niro because he was too “arrogant.” He also told Vanity Fair magazine: “I don’t care what anyone says,” he said. “DeNiro’s just not my cup of tea.” So it looks like this question will remain unanswered for now!
The two actors have had a long-standing feud that has been ongoing since the release of their film “Raging Bull” in 1980.
Do Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro know each other?
Can Robert De Niro Speak Italian?
Though he has spoken with Italian actors on screen and in interviews, there is no evidence that he can actually speak it himself.
There are a few reasons why this may be the case – one being that his parents never spoke to him in Italian when he was growing up.
Another reason may be because as an actor, it would be difficult for him to learn another language from scratch since most of his work takes place in English.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Robert De Niro was asked if he spoke Italian.
He said that he didn’t speak any of the languages in which his movies are dubbed, but did say “a few words” in Italian.
Who Is Better Al Pacino Or Robert De Niro?
Firstly, both actors have won Academy Awards so they must be doing something right!
However, it seems like Al Pacino has been nominated more times than Robert De Niro as well as being awarded more awards.
This would suggest that he may just edge out Robert De Niro when it comes down to the quality of their work too – after all, if you’re getting recognized with awards then you must be doing something good!
When it comes to comparing two legendary actors, it’s hard not to get emotional.
What can be said about Robert De Niro and Al Pacino? Both have won Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role. They have both been nominated multiple times.
They are both known for their iconic roles like Travis Bickle from “Taxi Driver” and Michael Corleone from “The Godfather.”
But who should come out on top? It seems like the answer is neither!
The truth is that there is no point in comparing these two acting legends because they belong in different categories of film history since they’ve had completely different careers.
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