It goes without saying that Robert De Niro is one of the greatest actors of all time. While most actors hope to star in just a single film that will be remembered forever, De Niro’s filmography is filled with masterpieces that will stand the test of time as classics. He is best known for his work in crime movies, but he’s much more versatile than some may imagine. De Niro’s consistently strong work in comedy, action, and science fiction films shows that he is still willing to experiment in different genres and take risks with his performances. Additionally, he’s done a lot of admirable work as a producer and director that shows his dedication to the industry. When listing the greatest actors of all time, De Niro’s name often pops up alongside other titans of the industry such as Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson, and Daniel Day-Lewis.
De Niro has certainly been well rewarded by the Academy Awards. With eight total acting nominations and additional producing credit on the Best Picture nominee The Irishman, De Niro has won the Oscar for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for his performances in Raging Bull and The Godfather: Part II, respectively. Now, he stands a chance of winning his third Oscar for his role in 2023’s Killers of the Flower Moon.
Few would argue that any of his nominations or wins weren’t deserving, but film fans looking to catch up on De Niro’s best work should look beyond the Oscars’ selections. Here are the twelve best Robert De Niro performances that were snubbed at the Oscars, ranked.
Update February 14, 2024: This article has been updated following De Niro’s recent Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Killers of the Flower Moon with more underrated performances by the great actor that went overlooked at the Academy Awards and where you can stream each title.
12 Ronin (1998)
John Frankenheimer’s 1998 action-thriller, Ronin, traverses the tale of a former U.S. intelligence operative who is tasked with embarking on a solo mission to locate and retrieve a package, whose contents is unknown. With set pieces aplenty, Sam (De Niro) must outsmart both the Russians and the Irish in what turns into a perilous ordeal of resilience, nous, and mettle.
What Makes De Niro’s Performance in Ronin Standout
De Niro features as the titular character Sam, a sharp-witted, trigger-happy spy. In typical De Niro fashion, his character oozes a nonchalant coolness that marries beautifully with his job as this seasoned operative. Despite solid displays from co-stars Jean Reno and Sean Bean, De Niro is the nucleus of this entire operation and irrefutably brings his A-game. Stream on Paramount+
ronin
- Release Date
- September 25, 1998
- Director
- John Frankenheimer
- Runtime
- 122
11 The Intern (2015)
While De Niro is known for his tough guy characters, starting in the 2000’s he started to appear in more light-hearted comedies. Meet The Parents and its two sequels, Meet the Fockers and The Little Fockers, are the most famous. Yet his best might be 2015’s The Intern, directed by Nancy Myers and co-starring Anne Hathaway. De Niro plays a 70-year-old widower named Ben Whittaker who applies for a new senior intern at a fast-growing e-commerce fashion startup in Brooklyn founded by Jules Ostin (Hathaway). Ben quickly makes himself a vital member of the team, as he and Ostin form a genuine friendship, and he also helps out many of his fellow co-workers with their lives, showing that no matter the age, you can always be part of the team.
What Makes De Niro’s Performance in The Intern Standout
The Intern is a truly underrated gem, and part of that is De Niro, who brings vulnerability and kindness to his character that just endures himself to the audience. De Niro has great comedic chemistry with Hathaway, and it is refreshing that their friendship is not based on her needing a father figure but a friend. While some might scoff at the idea that this is an Oscar-worthy performance, one famous person would agree with us: Quentin Tarantino. Not only did Tarantino say The Intern was one of the best movies of 2015, but he said the performance was one of De Niro’s best. In an interview with Metro via the AV Club, Tarantino said:
“One of my favorite movies this last year was Nancy Meyers’
The Intern
. They’re not considering that for the Oscars even though I think Robert De Niro
gave one of the best performances this year in that movie. I thought the script was actually one of her best. Right up there with
It’s Complicated
. They’re not asking her to be part of the discussion.”
We aren’t going to argue with Tarantino on this one. Stream on Max.
The Intern
- Release Date
- September 24, 2015
- Runtime
- 121
10 Brazil (1988)
Terry Gilliam’s Brazil remains one of the strangest, most haunting, and most immersive science fiction epics of all time; years after its release, film fans continue to dissect the hidden themes that Gilliam hid beneath the surface. Set in a dystopian society, Brazil follows the story of a disillusioned technocrat, Sam Lowry, who falls in love with the woman of his (very) literal dreams.
How De Niro’s Supporting Display is a Playful Delight
Despite being reduced to a supporting role, De Niro took on the responsibility of playing the eccentric resistance fighter Tuttle, whose surrealist physicality is initially terrifying to the timid bureaucrat Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce). There is a playfulness to his outing as Tuttle, revealing just another string he has tucked away in his plethora of acting bows. Brazil is one of the most influential films of the 1980s and just goes to show that De Niro truly knew how to pick his projects. Largely overlooked by audiences and the Academy at the time of it’s release, the movie has had a lasting impact. Rent on Apple TV+
Brazil
- Release Date
- December 18, 1985
- Runtime
- 2hr 12min
9 Jackie Brown (1997)
It’s a shame that the Raging Bull star has only ever worked once with Quentin Tarantino, as few actors can deliver the cult filmmaker’s signature filthy dialogue with the same precision as De Niro. Twenty-five years later, and Jackie Brown is still one of the Pulp Fiction auteur’s most underrated flicks, the movie traverses the story of flight attendant-turned-drug smuggler, Jackie (Pam Grier).
How the Screen Icon’s Attributes Align Perfectly with Tarantino’s Vision
De Niro’s role as Louis Gara allowed him to trade one-liners with Samuel L. Jackson, who was similarly passed over for his work in Jackie Brown. De Niro’s ability to portray this unbothered, laconic, sociopathic criminal, with this shoulder-shrugging rebelliousness, is a highlight of this sublime piece of cinema. While both De Niro and Samuel L. Jackson were overlooked, the Academy Awards did recognize their co-star Robert Forster with a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his splendid peformance as attorney, Max Cherry. Stream on Netflix
8 Midnight Run (1988)
Midnight Run is one of the most perfect buddy cop movies ever made. De Niro and Grodin had to conceivably play characters that absolutely despise each other but grow to become friends; it’s an equally hilarious and heartwarming friendship as the pair race to track down a mafioso’s accountant.
What Makes De Niro’s Delivery as a Bounty Hunter So Worthy of Award Recognition?
While Martin Brest deserves immense praise for his direction, it’s the chemistry between De Niro and his co-star Charles Grodin that makes the film an all-time classic. De Niro’s performance as Jack Walsh is multi-dimensional and superb in several ways, as he intricately interweaves impeccable comedic timing with the gritty edge of a bounty hunter and former cop. Rent on Apple TV+, Vudu, Google Play, and Prime Video.
Midnight Run
- Release Date
- July 20, 1988
- Director
- Martin Brest
- Runtime
- 126
7 Mean Streets (1973)
While De Niro would be awarded for several of his collaborations with Scorsese, he didn’t manage to snag a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Mean Streets. One of the standout movies of 1973, this crime-thriller was a sign of things to come for the director-actor duo. The film details the attempted rise of minor gangster, Charlie (Harvey Keitel), and his navigation of the treacherous ways of the criminal underworld. This marked the first of many collaborations between De Niro and Scorsese.
De Niro’s Utterly Spellbinding as an Unpredictable and Volatile Individual
It’s arguably the performance that put De Niro on the map; his character, Johnny Boy, is a loose cannon whose best friend can’t trust him due to his increasingly psychotic behavior. As seen in The King of Comedy just under a decade later, De Niro’s capacity to take on the demands of this naive, brash, free-spirit, whose skewered perception of the world sees him become a danger to himself and those around him, is marvelous. Stream on Tubi
6 Casino (1995)
After Goodfellas, Scorsese, De Niro, and Joe Pesci reunited for another epic crime saga that explored one of the nation’s most profitable institutions in Casino. The film concerns two best friends, a casino executive, and a mafia heavy, who are pitted against one another in order to land a vast gambling empire in Las Vegas and the love of a woman. Casino tycoon Sam Rothstein is the type of slick, ruthless operator that De Niro has mastered over the years, but it’s the vulnerability he shows during the scenes with his wife (Sharon Stone) that stands out.
How De Niro’s Performance in Casino is Arguably One of His Most Underrated
While Stone’s work was recognized, De Niro was oddly shut out by the Oscars, much to his and fans of the movie’s dismay. In many ways, the movie fell victim to many people seeing Casino as a bit derivative of Goodfellas, which contributed to it being overlooked. Today though it stands as one of the best films Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro made together. Stream on Paramount+
Casino
- Release Date
- November 22, 1995
- Runtime
- 178
5 The Untouchables (1987)
The Untouchables is one of the defining films of the 1980s and is a loving, bloody ode to the crime-thriller. The film delves into the illegal sale of liquor during America’s prohibition era by the notorious mobster Al Capone and the battle Scarface has with FBI Agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner). While many actors have attempted to play Al Capone, few have mastered the mannerisms of the larger-than-life mobster better than De Niro in Brian De Palma’s classic crime thriller.
De Niro’s Defining Display as Al Capone
Al Capone is a role that requires an actor to go over the top, reaching this ultra-exuberant territory, but as evidenced by Tom Hardy’s performance in the biopic Capone, it’s not an easy one to master. However, De Niro manages to still be believable as an equally ruthless and self-obsessed criminal, there is an air of De Niro’s rendition in Joe Pesci’s display as Tommy DeVito in 1990’s Goodfellas. Al Capone was a role that De Niro was born to play and it is a shame it went overlooked by the Academy. Stream on Paramount+
4 Goodfellas (1990)
There are few films that have garnered the universal commendation of 1990’s Goodfellas. This gangland epic took the torch lit by The Godfather Trilogy and ran with it. The movie deals with Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), a wannabe gangster determined to work his way up the greasy, misty ladder of the mafia, as he contends with love, loss, and the ulterior motives of those he is working with.
How His Performance as James Conway Was Deserved of More Award Attention
The history of Goodfellas at the Academy Awards is fraught with controversy; the Oscars’ decision to award Dances With Wolves and its director Kevin Costner with the Best Picture and Best Director prizes, respectively, is simply baffling considering that Scorsese’s Goodfellas was in contention. While Pesci ended up taking home the Best Supporting Actor prize, both De Niro and the late great Ray Liotta were snubbed for their equally outstanding work. While occupying more of a backseat role than he has become accustomed to over his career, De Niro is still as tremendously affecting as this supremely measured yet menacing mobster, James Conway. He combines splendidly with Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta, fashioning this on-screen synergy for the ages. Rent on Apple TV+, Vudu, Google Play, and Prime Video
Goodfellas
- Release Date
- September 12, 1990
- Director
- Martin Scorsese
- Runtime
- 145
3 The Irishman (2019)
One of the very best Netflix Original movies, 2019’s three-and-a-half-hour-long saga seemed like somewhat of a parting gift from three cinematic greats in Scorsese, De Niro, and Al Pacino. This historical picture is inspired by the true story of Frank Sheeran (De Niro), a hitman for the Bufalino crime family and a confidant of teamster Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino).
How His Callous Presentation of Frank Sheeran Was Crying Out for More Critical Commendation
De Niro managed to get in as a producer on The Irishman, but he was oddly left out of the Best Actor race for his incredible performance as Frank Sheeran. It’s disappointing, considering that it was a role that felt like a tribute and summation of De Niro’s many collaborations with Scorsese. Sheeran shows a vulnerability in his later years as the lifelong criminal begins to reflect on the family that he’s ignored for his entire life. The Irishman plays host to this captivating character arc, and the Mean Streets star methodically transitions through each stage of Sheeran’s adult life with seamless ease. That is simply a testament to his vast experience and effortless versatility, as he brings to life this unassuming, cold-blooded killer who is unflinching nature when asked to carry out a hit; this emotional detachment stays with him to his dying day. Stream on Netflix
The Irishman
- Release Date
- November 1, 2019
- Director
- Martin Scorsese
- Runtime
- 210
2 Heat (1995)
Although they had both appeared in The Godfather: Part II but did not interact, De Niro and Pacino finally faced off in Michael Mann’s crime epic Heat. It wasn’t a disappointment in the slightest; Heat is one of the rare films where the viewer is equally engrossed in the cop and the criminal for the entirety of the runtime, which is impressive considering that Heat is nearly three hours long. The film is a constant cat-and-mouse chase between the daring bank robber, Neil, and FBI Agent, Vincent Hanna (Pacino).
De Niro’s Nuanced Performance in Heat is One of His Very Best
Neil McCauley is both deeply flawed and totally despicable and easily one of De Niro’s most memorable characters. The art of playing a gangster has come naturally to De Niro for decades, yet in Heat, he plays this kind of hybrid where gangster-meets-sophisticated criminal. There’s a suave nuance to McCauley, and while his character is reprehensible in more ways than one, De Niro has this alluring power of making the audience care for his character. Heat has become a beloved film and highly influential film of the 20th century. Stream on Hulu
Heat
- Release Date
- December 15, 1995
- Runtime
- 170
1 The King of Comedy (1982)
Martin Scorsese’s revered 1982 flick is a radiant delight filled with sinister undertones that expose the cult of celebrity and its inherently superficial nature. Exploring the intriguing character of Rupert Pupkin, the movie follows this misguided, delusional, aspiring comedian and his weird infatuation with chat show host Jerry Lewis. There isn’t a De Niro performance that is more tragic, vulnerable, and hilarious than Rupert Pupkin in The King of Comedy
An Inspired Display that Warranted Considerably More Award Triumphs
A supremely confident comedian who takes his obsession with his favorite late-night host (Jerry Lewis) too seriously, Pupkin is the epitome of those that falsely believe they are entitled to their own fantasies. Even if De Niro was snubbed, his performance inspired Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar-winning interpretation of the Clown Prince of Crime in Joker. De Niro portrays this socially challenged, slightly unhinged failure of a comedian with such an unwavering intensity, steadfast in the delusion that he is actually somewhat talented and deserves a shot in the limelight. This ’80s flick taps into the cult of celebrity and this invisible hierarchical structure that makes the general public put celebrities on an unreachable pedestal. Stream on Paramount+
See below our interview with Robert De Niro and Sebastian Maniscalco about their 2023 comedy film, About My Father.
