As it looks like Leo may soon *finally* get that Oscar he deserves, I figured it was time for me to do My Top Ten Leonardo DiCaprio Movies.
DiCaprio would also easily make a list of My Top Ten Actors but, although we’re the same sort of age & I’ve grown up with him since the days of Growing Pains, I never would have called him one of my favorite actors when we were younger. However, I’ve really respected his acting ever since What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.
Look at how cute he was in Growing Pains!
I often say that I don’t think Leo got the respect he deserved in the past because he was too much of a pretty boy but I think I was also guilty of feeling that way about him. I mean, look at that baby face he had! It also kept him looking much younger than he really was. And although I have his two big “romance” movies high on my list, I can’t say I ever crushed on him. It was Johnny Depp I had the hots for in things like Gilbert Grape, it was never ever Leo. I just didn’t see him in that way. I think I have a slight crush on him now as an adult, though, with his baby face gone & his starring in proper “grown-up” movies.
Even though I always liked him, I’m not sure when it was that I finally started taking him more seriously. I think it was possibly thanks to Catch Me If You Can & then The Departed. And then, of course, Django Unchained (he really should’ve been up for an Oscar for that role). But, as I ALWAYS say with these lists but will still get asked about it, I’m ranking these according to my favorite films, not Leo’s performances. That list would vary quite a bit, I think (number one would stay the same but I’d have others much higher). I just happen to care about liking a movie first and then I care about the performances. But Leo is great in everything.
As I’ve already typed out absolutely everything of his that I’ve seen and as he’s been in so many damn good films and only one rather dodgy one, I figured I might as well just rank them all. (And, yes, I like number four. It’s good. I don’t see why some people have a problem with it). So here are My Top Ten Leonardo DiCaprio Movies (including the remaining films as honorable mentions):
Honorable Mentions:
16. Poison Ivy
15. Revolutionary Road
14. The Man In The Iron Mask
13. Shutter Island
12. The Great Gatsby
11. Inception
Top Ten:
10. The Aviator
9. The Revenant
8. TIE: The Basketball Diaries & The Beach
6. The Departed
5. Romeo + Juliet
4. Titanic
3. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape
2. Catch Me If You Can
**Aww – check out this interview where he talks about joining the cast of Growing Pains. He was so damn cute. 🙂 Why didn’t I have a crush on him? Just too pretty for my liking back then, I think.
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It shows how much of a range he has that I don’t agree as much as I usually do with you on this list. Shutter Island and Inception would have to be in my list, and I’d take The Revenant out. I’d have to remove The Basketball Diaries as I’ve not seen it. One of those actors I’d watch in anything. It still amazes me he’s never won an Oscar.
For such a young actor, he was absolutely mind-blowing in the Basketball Diaries. I agree with you: I will also put Inception and Shutter Island in. I am not surprised that he never won an Oscar. If you look at how the Academy gives out their golden statutes, the preference goes for a range of performances, out-of-character roles: DiCaprio was involved in varied roles, but in none I can really say he was totally different or played out of his usual character comfort zone.
Agreed – he was amazing in Basketball Diaries. Hmm… Well, I’d have to say he may have finally earned an Oscar with The Revenant. 🙂 I wanted him to win for Wolf Of Wall Street – I think that one was quite different from other roles of his.
I know – he better win that Oscar for The Revenant finally! It’s amazing how many good films he’s been in at such a (young in my eyes) age. You should watch Basketball Diaries for an excellent performance from him (movie is average). Inception is overrated, though. 😉 And I didn’t like Shutter Island.
Oh no T9M! When we disagree we really disagree haha. You’re still awesome though 🙂
Yes. Yes I am. 😉 lol!
Great list! I love DiCaprio. His performances in Revolutionary Road, Blood Diamond, and Shutter Island are some of my favorites. I’d have to include them in my top 10 for sure.
Thanks! 🙂 Yeah – I still need to see Blood Diamond of those. It’s amazing how many great films he’s already been in at his age.
Come on.. The Beach! That movie was a turd through and through. Otherwise, good list.
Aww. I liked The Beach just fine! More than Inception. 😉
I think you might be the only person in all of history to even say as such. Quite brave of you. 😛
Hehe. I’m sure there’s someone else out there! 😉
Wow! Congrats for being able to make that list, I couldn’t decide. Well, for me no. 1 would be Titanic and 2 Inception if choosing best films of the bunch but after that… What’s Poison Ivy about, I’ve never even heard about it which is weird as I used to be a big-time fan of DiCaprio.
Thanks! 🙂 lol – Poison Ivy is a very cheesy Drew Barrymore movie from her dodgy-movie days. Can’t say I even remember Leo being in it! Must have been a tiny part. You really can live with never watching it. 😉
You know I am all for this type of list 😀 😀 😀 Ah, DiCaprio, how I love you! Great work, definitely, the man has phenomenal performances and some great films.
I figured you’d appreciate this one! 😉 He really has been in a shitload of great films, which is really something at his age. A lot of the time when I make these actor top tens, I can barely scrape ten decent films together and hardly like the bottom few. These are ALL good. 🙂
Such an awesome list. I’ll never get over how awesome he was in The Wolf of Wall Street. I’ll be crossing my fingers for Leo this year! 😀
Thanks! 🙂 Totally agree – I really wanted him to win for The Wolf Of Wall Street. Hopefully this will be his year!
He should have won for Wolf of Wall Street!
Totally agree! I so wanted him to get an Oscar for that. Oh well – hopefully he will for The Revenant. 🙂
Great ranking. And nothing is wrong with Titantic… until you watch it 100 times 😉 What no Critters love? Hahaha. I love his performance of Arnie in Gilbert Grape. He has some great younger roles eh. Basketball Diaries is still one of my favs. The DeNiro flick Boy’s Life too. I also love R+J, Aviator, Departed, and Django. Revenant is so soon, but may be his best ever. Bonus points for not dissing Beach 😉
I think I’ve only seen Titanic maybe four times. And I never saw that Critters. 😉 lol. Yeah – I missed out on some of his younger roles. Still want to see This Boy’s Life & Marvin’s Room. Oh, yay! I got in trouble for putting The Beach on the list… I didn’t think it was that bad. 😉
Hahah well missing Critters, I understand 😉 And The Beach has lots of haters, but I actually enjoyed it too. I think it helps if you wished there was a place like that (and connect with philosophical elements). That said, maybe they felt the thriller elements were forced(?).
Hehe. I dunno… I actually didn’t realize it was so hated! I’m also a sucker for a good soundtrack so that helped it too. 😉
What about top 10 DiCaprio deaths? This fella has a habit of dying (or going a bit crazy) over the years too.
Ha! Very true! Poor Leo – he’s always dying in movies. 🙂 I thought about doing a top ten like that and might at some point. I’ll just have to have a big spoiler warning on it. 😉
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Very interesting little list. Look at how small he is in that interview!!!!!!! He’s an ant! 😉
Thanks, Tom! I know – isn’t he just adorable?? But, yeah – I feel like I could accidentally step on him in that clip! Or burn him with a magnifying glass.
leo who??? 🙂
I think his best is The Departed with Titanic running a close 2nd and Inception at 3
LEO RULES! But Inception is overrated. 😉
Not at ALL!!! Ur wrong on inception!
No. I am correct. About both things. And all things.
Keep dreaming!
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