Top 10 Leonardo DiCaprio Movies (Ranked)

Top 10 Leonardo DiCaprio Movies (Ranked)

Few actors have managed to capture both critical acclaim and mass audience love quite like Leonardo DiCaprio. From his teenage heartthrob days in Titanic to his darker, more complex roles in collaborations with Scorsese, DiCaprio has built a career that consistently surprises and impresses. He’s the kind of actor who can anchor a billion-dollar blockbuster while still earning Oscar nods for daring performances. This list ranks his very best work — not just the box office juggernauts, but also the films where he stretched himself and delivered unforgettable characters.

10. Gangs of New York (2002)

Scorsese and DiCaprio’s first collaboration set the stage for one of Hollywood’s most fruitful director-actor partnerships. As Amsterdam Vallon, DiCaprio plays a young man seeking revenge in the chaotic, violent streets of 19th-century New York.

Though Daniel Day-Lewis steals many scenes as Bill the Butcher, DiCaprio holds his own with a performance that’s both fierce and vulnerable. His journey from an orphaned outsider to a leader determined to reclaim his place is gripping to watch.

The film itself is messy but ambitious, and DiCaprio’s presence helps give it a beating heart. It may not be his single greatest role, but it’s a vital stepping stone in his evolution as a serious leading man.

9. One Battle After Another (2025)

This brand-new addition to DiCaprio’s filmography is already generating buzz for its ambitious scope. In a story that blends historical drama with raw emotional stakes, he once again proves why he’s a go-to actor for directors aiming to balance spectacle with human storytelling.

Early reactions praise his commanding screen presence, with critics noting that he manages to bring nuance even to large-scale, action-heavy sequences. Much like his earlier dramatic work, DiCaprio anchors the narrative by grounding it in personal struggle.

While it’s too soon to know where this film will land in the long-term canon of his career, it’s safe to say One Battle After Another is another powerful performance in his already legendary run.

8. The Departed (2006)

Martin Scorsese’s Boston crime thriller is loaded with talent, but DiCaprio still manages to stand out as undercover cop Billy Costigan. His performance is a tense, nerve-wracking display of a man trapped between loyalty and survival. Every scene brims with paranoia, making you feel the constant danger he’s in.

What makes this role special is how DiCaprio conveys both toughness and fragility. Costigan is smart and capable, yet clearly unraveling under the weight of his double life. The stakes feel higher because he plays the part so convincingly.

By the time the bullets start flying, you’re fully invested in his fate — proof of DiCaprio’s ability to command even the most crowded ensemble cast.

7. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Rick Dalton, the fading TV star at the center of Quentin Tarantino’s nostalgic love letter to Hollywood, might be one of DiCaprio’s funniest and most vulnerable roles. He perfectly captures the insecurities of an actor terrified of being forgotten.

One of the best scenes comes when Dalton berates himself in his trailer, swinging between comedy and heartbreak in seconds. Then later, he nails a scene-within-a-scene so convincingly that both the audience and Dalton himself are stunned.

It’s a brilliant portrayal of an actor rediscovering his craft. By the film’s end, you can’t help but root for Dalton — and marvel at how DiCaprio turned a washed-up character into one of his most endearing performances.

6. Titanic (1997)

No list of DiCaprio’s greatest films is complete without the one that made him a household name. As Jack Dawson, he wasn’t just a romantic lead — he was the embodiment of youthful hope, adventure, and passion. His chemistry with Kate Winslet created one of the most iconic love stories in film history.

While some may dismiss Titanic as just a blockbuster romance, DiCaprio’s performance is what elevates it. Jack’s spirit and sincerity keep the tragedy from being just spectacle.

Even after countless rewatches, the “I’m the king of the world!” moment still captures the optimism that defines the character. It’s no wonder millions fell in love with him — and the movie — in 1997.

5. Shutter Island (2010)

Psychological thrillers often live or die on the believability of their lead performance. DiCaprio nails it here as Teddy Daniels, a U.S. Marshal investigating a mysterious asylum where nothing is as it seems. From the start, his paranoia and unease pull you into the story’s creeping dread.

What makes the role stand out is how he layers Teddy’s toughness with fragility. Every flicker of doubt in his eyes hints at something deeper and darker beneath the surface. The movie’s final twist only works because of the emotional groundwork DiCaprio lays throughout.

Watching it again, you notice just how carefully he built a character who was both detective and tragic figure.

4. Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Frank Abagnale Jr. might have been a con artist, but DiCaprio made him utterly irresistible. In Steven Spielberg’s breezy crime caper, he radiates charm and quick wit while pulling off elaborate scams that range from forging checks to impersonating an airline pilot.

The fun of the film comes from watching DiCaprio dance between boyish innocence and sly manipulation. One moment he looks like a kid in over his head, the next he’s outsmarting everyone in the room.

His cat-and-mouse chemistry with Tom Hanks is the cherry on top, making the movie endlessly rewatchable. It’s proof that DiCaprio can deliver lighthearted charisma just as well as he can brood in a Scorsese epic.

3. The Revenant (2015)

Surviving the wilderness has never looked so brutal — or so riveting. DiCaprio’s turn as Hugh Glass pushed him into physical extremes that most actors would never dream of attempting.

Crawling through snow, eating raw bison liver, and battling a grizzly bear became more than behind-the-scenes trivia; it added weight to every frame. The film is visually stunning, but it’s DiCaprio’s raw desperation that makes it unforgettable.

He barely speaks throughout much of the story, yet every grunt, breath, and glare tells you everything you need to know about Glass’s fight to live. This is the performance that finally ended the “when will he win an Oscar?” jokes — and it proved his dedication was worth the wait.

2. Inception (2010)

Christopher Nolan’s dream-within-a-dream thriller wouldn’t have worked without a strong emotional core. That’s where DiCaprio’s character Dom Cobb comes in — a man driven not just by ambition but by loss and longing. His performance keeps the film grounded even when the action spins into surreal territory.

As Cobb, he carries the audience through a dense story of layered realities while still giving us something deeply human to connect with. The way he balances action-star intensity with heartbreaking vulnerability is exactly why Inception became more than just another blockbuster.

By the time the spinning top wobbles in the final scene, you realize how much DiCaprio’s presence made the film resonate beyond its spectacle.

1. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Jordan Belfort’s wild rise and fall in the financial world gave DiCaprio a playground for one of his most outrageous performances. He turns the greed and excess of Wall Street into a three-hour rollercoaster that’s both hilarious and horrifying to watch.

What really makes the film stick is how fully DiCaprio leans into Belfort’s charisma. He makes you laugh even as you cringe, and somehow convinces you to root for a guy who really doesn’t deserve it.

The infamous Quaalude scene alone is a masterclass in physical comedy. It’s messy, chaotic, and unforgettable — and it’s DiCaprio at his boldest.