Robert De Niro is undeniably one of the best actors who has ever lived. His film career has spans decades and he's been in some of the greatest contemporary classics of the crime, comedy, drama, action and horror genres. He commands a presence on screen and manages to be as captivating as he is intimidating.

Swipe ahead for the greatest Robert De Niro performances.

Taxi Driver (1976)

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Taxi Driver is an eerily prescient tale about how destructive one man can be when he feels like society has left him behind. De Niro assumes the role effortlessly, becoming a character that’s both sympathetic and scary to the viewer. It’s a ride you’ll never forget.

Photography: Columbia Pictures

The Godfather: Part II (1974)

Pluto TV

The Godfather: Part II is the role that earned De Niro his first Academy Award. It’s often considered to be one of the greatest sequels of all time, but a solid portion of it works as a prequel with De Niro brilliantly portraying a young Vito Corleone.

Photography: Paramount Pictures

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

In Theaters

Robert De Niro’s stellar performance in Killers of the Flower Moon proves the actor still has it at the age of 80. De Niro’s portrayal of the diabolical real-life villain William King Hale is terrifyingly cold. Regardless of his age, he’s always the last person you’d want to cross.

Photography: Paramount Pictures

Raging Bull (1980)

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De Niro won his second Academy Award for his leading role in Raging Bull, Scorsese’s black-and-white boxing movie that’s one of the most intense sports films of all time. De Niro’s portrayal of Jake LaMotta is as powerful as the punches being thrown in the ring.

Photography: United Artists

Heat (1995)

Netflix

Michael Mann’s Heat pairs De Niro with one of the other greatest actors alive, Al Pacino. This simmering heist movie, punctuated by incredible bursts of action, is unlike anything else in the genre. De Niro’s performance is calm, calculated and it ultimately steals the show.

Photography: Warner Bros.

The Deer Hunter (1978)

Netflix

The Deer Hunter is a three hour epic war film that chronicles three men before, during and after their service in the Vietnam War. It’s a tragic story that’s often difficult to watch, but features undeniably captivating performances from De Niro, Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken.

Photography: Universal Pictures

Goodfellas (1990)

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Goodfellas is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, in no small part thanks to De Niro’s turn as Jimmy Conway. As Henry Hill puts it in the movie, Jimmy is the kind of person who roots for bad guys in a movie and De Niro’s performance will have you doing the same.

Photography: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Untouchables (1987)

Prime Video

The Untouchables gave De Niro the opportunity to ham it up, playing one of history’s most notoriously violent mobsters: Al Capone. De Niro was so committed to the role that he gained a significant amount of weight and even wore the same silk underwear as Capone himself.

Photography: Paramount Pictures

Casino (1995)

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De Niro and Joe Pesci teamed up with Scorsese for another mobster movie and the results were once again magic. Casino is a movie about the bright lights in Las Vegas and how they can tempt even the most sensible criminal to make risky gambles. De Niro’s turn as Sam "Ace" Rothstein is rooted in a crook’s paradoxical search for justice.

Photography: Universal Pictures

Meet The Parents (2000)

Hulu

As an actor who spent most of his career playing parts intended to make the audience afraid, De Niro finally got his ultimate part as the man everyone fears most — Your future wife’s overbearing father. In Meet The Parents, De Niro takes everything from his serious films and flips them upside down for a comedic masterpiece.

Photography: Universal Pictures

A Bronx Tale (1993)

Sling TV

Robert De Niro has worked with some of the greatest directors of all time, so it’s no mystery that one of the only movies he ever directed himself turned out to be a classic. A Bronx Tale puts De Niro on the good side of the law for once in a touching story about doing your best to do the right thing.

Photography: Savoy Pictures

Cape Fear (1991)

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De Niro’s characters are often scary because of how flagrantly they break the law, but what makes his role in Cape Fear so terrifying is his ability to stay just inches away from illegality. Scorsese’s horror classic re-make works so well thanks to De Niro’s unnerving depiction.

Photography: Universal Pictures