Robert De Niro’s Best Roles

Robert De Niro is one of the most acclaimed and influential actors in cinema history, celebrated for his intense dedication and the remarkable depth he brings to his characters. As a master of method acting, he is famous for the meticulous research and physical transformations he undergoes for his roles, completely immersing himself in the lives of the people he portrays. His long and legendary collaboration with director Martin Scorsese has produced some of the most iconic films ever made.

From his early work that defined him as a powerful dramatic force to his later ventures into comedy, De Niro has consistently demonstrated incredible versatility. He has created a gallery of unforgettable characters, from menacing gangsters and troubled anti-heroes to endearing father figures. His ability to convey complex emotions with subtle gestures and raw intensity has cemented his status as a true giant of the screen, with a body of work that has left an indelible mark on filmmaking.

‘Mean Streets’ (1973)

This crime film marked a major early collaboration between Robert De Niro and director Martin Scorsese. De Niro plays John “Johnny Boy” Civello, a reckless and self-destructive small-time gambler in New York’s Little Italy. His character is the dangerously irresponsible best friend of the film’s protagonist, Charlie.

Johnny Boy’s erratic behavior and his refusal to pay back his debts to loan sharks create constant problems for Charlie, who feels a sense of duty to protect him. De Niro’s performance is explosive and unpredictable, capturing the chaotic energy of a man who lives for the moment without any thought for the consequences. It was a breakout role that showcased his immense talent.

‘Cape Fear’ (1991)

In this psychological thriller, De Niro gives a terrifying performance as Max Cady, a convicted criminal released from prison after serving a fourteen-year sentence. Cady seeks revenge on the public defender he blames for deliberately hiding evidence that would have lessened his sentence. The film is a remake of a classic thriller from the early sixties.

For the role, De Niro underwent a significant physical transformation, building muscle and covering his body with tattoos. His character is a menacing and intelligent predator who begins to systematically terrorize the lawyer and his family. The performance is a chilling portrayal of obsession and vengeance, creating one of cinema’s most memorable villains.

‘Midnight Run’ (1988)

This action-comedy showcases De Niro’s comedic timing and chemistry with his co-star. He plays Jack Walsh, a tough, no-nonsense bounty hunter hired to find and return a bail-jumping accountant to Los Angeles. The job seems simple at first, but it quickly becomes a chaotic cross-country chase.

Walsh’s journey is complicated by the FBI, the mob, and another rival bounty hunter, who are all after the same man. De Niro’s character is a world-weary ex-cop who forms an unlikely bond with his talkative and high-strung captive. The film is celebrated for its witty dialogue and the dynamic between its two lead characters.

‘Silver Linings Playbook’ (2012)

In this romantic comedy-drama, Robert De Niro plays Pat Solitano Sr., the superstitious and bookmaking father of a man struggling with bipolar disorder. His character is a passionate Philadelphia Eagles fan whose life revolves around the team’s fortunes and his own intricate betting schemes.

Pat Sr. has a strained but loving relationship with his son, and he struggles to understand and connect with him following a court-ordered stay in a mental health facility. De Niro’s performance earned him an Academy Award nomination and was praised for its blend of humor and heartfelt emotion, portraying a father trying his best to hold his family together.

‘The King of Comedy’ (1982)

De Niro portrays Rupert Pupkin, a delusional and aspiring stand-up comedian who is desperate for fame. Pupkin is obsessed with a successful late-night talk show host and believes that his big break is just one appearance on the show away. He lives in a fantasy world where he is already a celebrated star.

When his attempts to get on the show through normal channels fail, Pupkin’s obsession drives him to stalk the host and eventually escalate his actions to a criminal level. De Niro’s performance is a masterful and unsettling study of celebrity worship and the dark side of ambition, creating a character who is both pathetic and menacing.

‘The Untouchables’ (1987)

In this historical crime drama, Robert De Niro portrays the infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone. The film follows the efforts of federal agent Eliot Ness and his small team of incorruptible officers as they work to bring down Capone’s criminal empire during the Prohibition era.

Although his screen time is limited, De Niro’s presence looms large over the film. He physically transformed for the part, gaining weight to capture the powerful and imposing figure of the notorious crime boss. His performance embodies the arrogance, charisma, and brutality of a man who ruled a city through violence and fear.

‘The Irishman’ (2019)

This epic crime film reunited Robert De Niro with director Martin Scorsese. De Niro stars as Frank Sheeran, a truck driver who becomes a high-ranking official in the Teamsters Union and a hitman for the Bufalino crime family. The story is told from the perspective of an elderly Sheeran as he reflects on his life.

The film spans several decades and utilized digital de-aging technology to allow De Niro to portray Sheeran at different stages of his life. His performance is a quiet and contemplative look at a man’s journey through the world of organized crime, marked by loyalty, violence, and the profound personal cost of his choices.

‘The Deer Hunter’ (1978)

This epic war drama explores how the Vietnam War impacts the lives of three friends from a small industrial town in Pennsylvania. De Niro plays Michael Vronsky, a quiet and skilled steelworker who, along with his friends, enlists to fight in the war. The film is divided into three acts, before, during, and after their service.

De Niro’s character is a natural leader who tries to maintain his sense of self and protect his friends amidst the horrors of war and their traumatic experiences as prisoners. The performance is powerful and understated, capturing the deep psychological wounds left by the conflict and the difficulty of returning to a life that no longer feels the same.

‘Raging Bull’ (1980)

For this biographical film, Robert De Niro delivered one of his most iconic and physically demanding performances as middleweight boxer Jake LaMotta. The movie chronicles LaMotta’s life and career, focusing on the self-destructive rage and jealousy that fueled his success in the ring but destroyed his life outside of it.

De Niro won an Academy Award for his complete transformation into the character. He trained extensively to achieve a boxer’s physique for the scenes depicting LaMotta’s prime and then famously gained sixty pounds to portray the older, overweight LaMotta in his later years. The performance is a raw and uncompromising portrait of a man consumed by his own demons.

‘Taxi Driver’ (1976)

Robert De Niro created one of cinema’s most unforgettable characters as Travis Bickle, a lonely and mentally unstable Vietnam veteran working as a nighttime taxi driver in New York City. The film is a dark character study that follows Bickle’s descent into disgust with the city’s crime and moral decay.

As he drives through the city’s sordid streets, Bickle’s feelings of isolation and alienation intensify, leading him to plan an act of violence. De Niro’s haunting portrayal captures the character’s profound loneliness and deteriorating mental state, famously improvising the iconic “You talkin’ to me?” monologue.

‘Casino’ (1995)

In this epic crime drama, De Niro plays Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a brilliant and meticulous sports handicapper who is sent by the Chicago mob to run the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. His character oversees the day-to-day operations with incredible efficiency, making the casino highly profitable for his bosses.

Rothstein’s carefully controlled world begins to unravel with the arrival of his volatile enforcer friend and his increasingly unstable and unpredictable wife. De Niro’s performance details the rise and fall of a man who masters the logic of the casino business but is ultimately undone by the chaotic human emotions he cannot control.

‘Once Upon a Time in America’ (1984)

This sprawling crime epic tells the story of a group of Jewish friends from a New York ghetto who rise to become powerful gangsters. De Niro plays the lead role of David “Noodles” Aaronson, and the film follows his life over several decades through a complex, non-linear narrative.

The story jumps between the characters’ childhoods in the 1920s, their peak as bootleggers in the 1930s, and Noodles’ return to New York in the 1960s to confront his past. De Niro’s portrayal is a profound study of memory, friendship, betrayal, and the weight of a lifetime of regret.

‘Heat’ (1995)

This acclaimed crime thriller is famous for featuring the first-ever on-screen scene between Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. De Niro plays Neil McCauley, a highly intelligent and disciplined professional thief who leads a crew of seasoned criminals. His character lives by a strict code to avoid attachments that could jeopardize his freedom.

McCauley’s life of carefully planned heists is complicated when a relentless LAPD detective, played by Pacino, becomes obsessed with capturing him. The film builds toward their inevitable confrontation, highlighted by a quiet coffee shop scene where the two adversaries discuss their parallel lives with mutual respect.

‘Goodfellas’ (1990)

In this iconic gangster film, Robert De Niro plays James “Jimmy” Conway, a charming and highly respected Irish-American mobster. Based on a real-life figure, his character is a mentor to the film’s protagonist, Henry Hill, and a key player in the Lucchese crime family’s operations.

Jimmy Conway is a charismatic and generous figure within his circle but is also capable of ruthless and explosive violence. De Niro’s performance is both captivating and chilling, portraying a man who operates by a strict code of criminal loyalty and who will not hesitate to eliminate anyone who becomes a liability.

‘The Godfather Part II’ (1974)

Robert De Niro won his first Academy Award for his performance as the young Vito Corleone in this acclaimed sequel. The film’s narrative is split between two storylines, one of which flashes back to show Vito’s early life as a young immigrant in New York’s Little Italy at the turn of the 20th century.

De Niro’s role required him to speak almost entirely in a Sicilian dialect as he portrayed Vito’s quiet and methodical rise from a humble grocery clerk to a powerful and respected crime lord. The performance is a masterful and subtle study of power, family, and the origins of the iconic character first played by Marlon Brando.

Let us know which Robert De Niro role is your favorite in the comments below.