Top 15 Highest Grossing Joe Pesci Movies at the Box Office

Joe Pesci is a famous actor known for his powerful performances. He can play tough guys, funny characters, and everything in between. From scary mobsters to clumsy burglars, Pesci has created some of cinema’s most memorable roles. His unique energy and intense acting style have made him a favorite for many movie fans.

This list looks at the most successful movies of his career. We will rank his top 15 films based on how much money they made at the worldwide box office. The list uses global numbers for ranking but also includes how much each film earned in the United States. These are the movies that brought the most people to theaters to see Joe Pesci on the big screen.

1. Once Upon a Time in America (1984)

This epic crime film from director Sergio Leone had a complicated release history that hurt its box office. It earned $5.5 million worldwide from its initial run, with $5.3 million coming from the U.S.

The film follows a group of Jewish gangsters in New York over several decades. Joe Pesci plays a supporting role as Frankie Monaldi, a mobster who is part of the larger criminal world the main characters interact with. The movie was heavily cut for its American release, but longer versions have since been restored and praised by critics.

2. A Bronx Tale (1993)

This coming-of-age crime drama was a modest box office success. The film earned $17.3 million, with its entire gross coming from its domestic release in the United States.

While Robert De Niro directed and starred in the film, Joe Pesci has a memorable cameo. He plays Carmine, a mob boss who meets with the local neighborhood leader, Sonny. The scene is short but important, as it helps establish the world of organized crime that the main character is drawn to.

3. Gone Fishin’ (1997)

This buddy comedy had a modest box office run. It earned a total of $19.7 million, with all of its reported gross coming from the United States.

Pesci stars alongside Danny Glover as two lifelong friends from New Jersey named Joe and Gus. They win a fishing trip to Florida, but their simple vacation turns into a disaster. They lose their car, get mixed up with a wanted criminal, and find themselves in a series of chaotic situations.

4. Raging Bull (1980)

This classic black-and-white film is one of director Martin Scorsese’s most acclaimed works. It grossed $23.4 million, which was entirely from its domestic release in the U.S. at the time.

Pesci plays Joey LaMotta, the brother and manager of boxer Jake LaMotta. He is the voice of reason who tries to guide his self-destructive brother through a turbulent career and personal life. Pesci’s performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

5. Goodfellas (1990)

Considered one of the greatest gangster films ever made, Goodfellas was a solid success. It earned $47.1 million worldwide. Its domestic gross in the U.S. was $46.9 million.

Pesci won an Academy Award for his role as Tommy DeVito, a hot-headed and terrifyingly violent mobster. Based on a real-life gangster, Tommy is a core member of a crew of friends who rise through the ranks of the mob. His explosive and unpredictable nature makes him one of the most frightening characters in film history.

6. With Honors (1994)

This drama film found an audience in theaters. It made a total of $50 million, with almost all of its box office coming from its domestic run in the United States.

Pesci plays Simon Wilder, a homeless man who finds a Harvard student’s lost thesis. He agrees to return the paper one page at a time in exchange for food and shelter. Over time, he teaches the arrogant student and his roommates important lessons about life that they can’t learn in a classroom.

7. My Cousin Vinny (1992)

This beloved comedy was a sleeper hit. It earned a worldwide total of $64.1 million. The vast majority of its earnings came from the U.S., where it grossed $52.9 million.

Pesci stars as Vinny Gambini, an inexperienced, loud-mouthed lawyer from Brooklyn. He travels to rural Alabama to defend his young cousin, who is wrongly accused of murder. Vinny’s unconventional methods and clashes with the strict local judge create many funny moments.

8. The Good Shepherd (2006)

This spy thriller had a strong showing at the box office. It made $100.3 million globally. The film’s domestic total in the U.S. was $59.9 million.

The movie tells the story of the early days of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Joe Pesci has a small but significant role as Joseph Palmi. He is a mafia boss who is approached by a CIA officer for help. Pesci came out of a brief retirement from acting to appear in the film.

9. Casino (1995)

This epic crime film directed by Martin Scorsese was a solid box office performer. It grossed $116.1 million worldwide. In the United States, Casino brought in $42.5 million.

Pesci plays Nicky Santoro, a violent and unpredictable mob enforcer. He is sent to Las Vegas to protect his childhood friend, a casino manager played by Robert De Niro. Nicky’s reckless behavior and violent temper eventually threaten to destroy the entire operation. It is one of Pesci’s most famous and feared roles.

10. JFK (1991)

This historical drama was both a critical and commercial success. The film earned $205.4 million at the worldwide box office. Its domestic gross in the United States was $70.4 million.

The film follows a district attorney’s investigation into the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Pesci plays David Ferrie, a key and mysterious figure linked to the alleged conspiracy. His intense and paranoid performance earned him praise and added to the film’s tense atmosphere.

11. Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

This is the movie that introduced Joe Pesci to the Lethal Weapon franchise. It was a big hit, earning $227.9 million globally. The film was very popular in the U.S., where it made $147.3 million.

Pesci plays Leo Getz, an irritating but important federal witness that detectives Riggs and Murtaugh must protect. Leo is a money launderer who has information on South African diplomats involved in illegal activities. Pesci’s performance was so popular that he was brought back for the next two sequels.

12. Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

The final film in the series continued its box office success. Lethal Weapon 4 earned $285.4 million worldwide. The U.S. domestic gross was $130.4 million.

Pesci returns as Leo Getz, who is now working as a private investigator. He remains a close, if annoying, friend to Riggs and Murtaugh. His character gets tangled in their investigation into a dangerous Chinese smuggling ring, adding his usual brand of frantic humor to the action-packed story.

13. Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)

The third movie in the Lethal Weapon series was a box office giant. It made $321.7 million across the globe. In the U.S., the film earned a strong $144.7 million.

Joe Pesci reprises his role as Leo Getz, a fast-talking federal witness turned sidekick. In this film, Leo has become a real estate agent but quickly gets pulled back into the dangerous world of police detectives Riggs and Murtaugh. He provides comic relief while the main characters track down a corrupt ex-cop.

14. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

The sequel was also a major box office success. It grossed $359 million worldwide. Its domestic total in the United States was $173.6 million, proving that audiences were eager for another holiday adventure with Kevin McCallister.

Pesci returns as the burglar Harry Lime. After escaping from prison, he and his partner Marv travel to New York City to plan a new heist. By a twist of fate, they run into Kevin McCallister once again. This leads to another series of painful and funny traps set by the clever kid.

15. Home Alone (1990)

This film was a huge global hit. It earned a total of $476.7 million worldwide. In the United States alone, Home Alone made $285.8 million, making it Joe Pesci’s most commercially successful movie by a wide margin.

In this family comedy, Pesci plays Harry Lime, a short-tempered burglar. Along with his partner Marv, he plans to rob homes in a wealthy neighborhood during Christmas. Their plan goes wrong when they target the McCallister house, where an 8-year-old boy named Kevin has been accidentally left behind.