Robert De Niro Reveals His All-Time Favorite Films
Robert De Niro is often called one of the greatest actors of all time. He has appeared in some of the most famous films ever, including Goodfellas, The Godfather Part II, and Taxi Driver. His longtime collaborator, Martin Scorsese, has praised him highly, calling De Niro “the greatest actor of his generation.”
Scorsese added, “His creative impact in acting will always be felt so long as there are actors to express their art,” showing how much he values their decades of work together.
On screen, De Niro is known for strong, bold characters, but in real life he is quieter and more reserved.
Despite his private nature, he has shared some of his favorite actors and films. In an interview with Kenneth Branagh, he named Marlon Brando, James Dean, and Kim Stanley as actors he admired the most.
De Niro also revealed his favorite movies in an interview with The Golden Globes. His choices all feature Brando and Dean: East of Eden, On the Waterfront, and Rebel Without a Cause.
De Niro said of these actors, “When you saw James Dean do East of Eden, he was great, but you can’t do what he could do. Brando with On the Waterfront or A Streetcar Named Desire are considered the great performances of that time and still are.”
East of Eden, directed by Elia Kazan in 1955, stars James Dean as Cal Trask, the son of a California farmer. Cal struggles to win his father’s approval while dealing with family tensions and falling for his brother’s girlfriend. Dean’s performance showed a young man wrestling with emotions and expectations, leaving a lasting impression on audiences.
On the Waterfront, also directed by Kazan in 1954, features Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy, a dockworker and former boxer.
Terry gets involved in standing up to the local mob after a longshoreman is killed. Brando’s performance is considered one of the most powerful of the 20th century, inspiring a generation of actors with his intensity and style.
Rebel Without a Cause, directed by Nicholas Ray in 1955, follows Jim Stark, played by James Dean, a troubled teen starting at a new school.
Jim struggles with friendships, romance, and neighborhood bullies, leading to dramatic conflicts that highlight the challenges of youth. Dean’s portrayal became iconic and defined his short but influential career before his tragic death at 24.
De Niro’s choices reveal the actors and performances that influenced him the most. They highlight the importance of Brando and Dean in shaping modern acting and show the films that De Niro still admires for their power and impact.
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