From his unnerving, tightly coiled performance in “Taxi Driver” (1976) to his chilling stillness in “Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023), Robert De Niro is a master of transformation. Though it’s hard to define what constitutes an actor’s best work, some of the legendary performer’s roles stand out for their cultural impact, box office success, or ability to showcase his unique approach to the craft. Here are 10 of his best films and what actors at home can learn from watching them. And for all you movie buffs out there, beware: Spoilers ahead.
1. Vito Corleone in “The Godfather Part II” (1974)
One of De Niro’s most recognizable roles came relatively early in his career, when he took on the younger version of patriarch Vito Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather Part II” at just 31 years old. He had the unique challenge of playing a role audiences already had expectations for, since Corleone had been portrayed (as an older man) by Marlon Brando in “The Godfather” (1972). In preparation, De Niro recorded Brando’s scenes from the original film on a video camera and watched them repeatedly to craft a comparable performance. If that sounds like a lot of work, it’s worth noting that this level of attention to detail paid off—De Niro received his first Oscar nomination (and win!) for his work on the film.
2. Travis Bickle in “Taxi Driver” (1976)
Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” as a whole hasn’t aged particularly well (can any film featuring a tween sex worker say it has?), but the young De Niro’s performance holds up if you can view it in a vacuum. He was able to infuse the deeply troubled, violent Travis Bickle with just enough charm to keep audiences on the side of—or at least interested in—this antihero. The result is a performance that’s both captivating and, as the above scene suggests, very quotable. As with “The Godfather Part II,” De Niro reportedly took his prep for the film very seriously, going so far as to actually become a taxi driver.
3. Jake LaMotta in “Raging Bull” (1980)
For this role, De Niro had the particular challenge of playing a real person: boxer Jake LaMotta. And while he does a wonderful job of channeling LaMotta’s energy on the canvas (he got boxing lessons from LaMotta himself), what really makes this film stand out in his filmography is its raw emotional power. The film chronicles LaMotta’s boxing career, alongside a downward spiral of increasingly self-destructive and abusive behavior, climaxing with LaMotta having an absolute meltdown in a jail cell when he realizes just how deeply he’s managed to destroy his own life. De Niro explodes with a rage so visceral it’s hard to watch—the way the scene is shot through the cell bars, in combination with his performance, makes it feel as though the audience is intruding on a private moment. Hard to watch or not, it’s an incredibly moving turn, and it’s not at all surprising that it scored De Niro his second Academy Award.
4. Jimmy Conway in “Goodfellas” (1990)
Another classic De Niro–Scorsese partnership (of which there are 10!), “Goodfellas” is also one of De Niro’s best onscreen performances, in part because it seems so effortless. And if you think that, there’s a good reason: Several of the film’s scenes were largely improvised, including the famous dinner scene at Tommy’s (Joe Pesci) mother’s house. Let this be a lesson that if the director says you can go off-script, take the opportunity and make cinema history.
5. Max Cady in “Cape Fear” (1991)
In the 1991 remake of the 1962 film, De Niro plays Max Cady, a recently released convict who terrorizes the family of his former public defender. “Cape Fear” really only works because of his performance, which he keeps shockingly casual until the film’s final act. In lesser hands, the temptation might have been to play the character as blatantly unhinged, but De Niro gives him an unassuming, aw-shucks drawl that only makes him creepier. His unflappable attitude makes him seem alarmingly in control, and the resulting performance is incredibly off-putting. But if you were hoping for something a little more classic horror movie villain, don’t worry—the film’s climax is bananas.
6. Lorenzo in “A Bronx Tale” (1993)
De Niro was at the top of his game when he took on the role of Lorenzo, the father of Calogero Anello, a young boy in the 1960s Bronx who becomes increasingly entangled with mob activities. You can’t discuss “A Bronx Tale” without mentioning that it was also De Niro’s directorial debut. And while directing might have absorbed a lot of his energy (he is reportedly a very particular guy), it didn’t pull so much of his focus that he couldn’t also deliver a standout performance. “Directing yourself isn’t stressful,” he told Interview magazine in 1993. “You’re just a bit uncomfortable, because [when you’re acting] you have to set your mind in a certain way, and then you have to direct everyone else.”
7. Jack Byrnes in “Meet the Parents” (2000)
When you think De Niro, your mind probably doesn’t immediately jump to comedic legend. But, as it turns out, the guy is pretty funny. He still gets to employ his signature dry, tough-guy read as Greg’s (Ben Stiller) potential father-in-law, but he weaponizes it for sheer hilarity. (Try to picture anyone else deadpanning “I have nipples, Greg. Could you milk me?” You can’t.) While “Meet the Parents” started it all, it wasn’t the last time audiences would get to enjoy Jack. De Niro reprised the role in “Meet the Fockers” (2004), “Little Fockers” (2010), and the upcoming “Focker-in-Law” (2026). Let this be a lesson not to allow yourself to be pigeonholed into one genre.
8. Pat Solitano Sr. in “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)
Though De Niro is by no means the star of “Silver Linings Playbook,” in terms of screen time, he is a scene-stealer. As Pat’s (Bradley Cooper) father, Pat Sr., he delivers a quintessential Dad performance: a little gruff, a little fed up, and more than a touch neurotic. What keeps it from getting lost in the shuffle of similar rom-com dad roles is just how deeply heartfelt it is. His scene lamenting his relationship with Pat is shockingly real, more grounded than the genre would have otherwise demanded. Actors take note: You don’t have to be the headliner to make an impression.
9. Frank Sheeran in “The Irishman” (2019)
Scorsese’s “The Irishman” follows De Niro’s character over a span of more than 40 years, and Scorsese boldly decided to have the then-70-something De Niro—along with castmates Al Pacino and Pesci—play their characters across all ages. While the film’s extensive use of de-aging technology received mixed reviews from critics, De Niro holds up his end of the bargain: When he plays Frank in his younger years, he does his best to give the character a lighter, more youthful air. And even when he can’t help but move like a man in his 70s (special effects can only do so much), it adds an interesting layer to the film. Because the story is told in retrospect by an older Frank, De Niro’s performance suggests both the man Frank once was and the man he would become, making this one of De Niro’s most powerful performances.
10. William King Hale in “Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023)
Based on David Grann’s nonfiction book of the same name, De Niro plays William King Hale, the morally corrupt, murderous uncle of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio). While the role is in the vein of his previous mobster characters, the Western setting gives De Niro’s familiar menace a new context, making the performance feel both classic and surprisingly fresh. At past 80 years old, De Niro proves that you’re never too old to mix things up, even a little.
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