Robert De Niro is widely regarded as one of the finest actors in American cinema, with a career that has spanned more than six decades. From his breakthrough as the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II to his recent work in Killers of the Flower Moon, De Niro has built a filmography that balances intense crime dramas with surprising comedic turns. He has also stepped behind the camera to direct two features, but his primary legacy remains in front of it.
De Niro’s collaborations with Martin Scorsese alone have produced some of the most iconic films ever made, including Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas. Yet his career also includes a string of commercially successful comedies such as Meet the Parents and Analyze This, showing a versatility that few actors of his generation can match.
What Are the Best Robert De Niro Movies?
| Best Known For | Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, The Godfather Part II |
|---|---|
| Oscars | 2 wins (Supporting Actor – The Godfather Part II; Best Actor – Raging Bull) |
- De Niro is consistently ranked among the greatest actors of his generation, with a career spanning more than 60 years.
- While famous for intense crime dramas, his comedy filmography (Meet the Parents, Analyze This) is among the most commercially successful.
- De Niro’s only directorial film with major impact is A Bronx Tale, though he also directed The Good Shepherd (2006).
- As of 2025/2026, De Niro remains active, with several projects in release or announced, making “latest” a high-intent freshness query.
- The 1997 query is specific because it marks a key mid-career era with films like Wag the Dog and Jackie Brown.
| Breakthrough Role | Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II (1974) |
| Iconic Collaborator | Martin Scorsese (10+ films) |
How to Watch Robert De Niro Movies in Order?
For those who want to explore his filmography chronologically, the most logical starting point is his early work in the 1970s. However, a common search is for films from 1997 onward, a period that captures his move into comedy and later critically acclaimed dramas.
- 1997: Wag the Dog and Jackie Brown – two very different films that show his range. Source: Wikipedia
- 1999: Analyze This – his first major comedy.
- 2001–2006: Includes 15 Minutes, The Score, City by the Sea, Hide and Seek, and his directorial effort The Good Shepherd.
- 2007–2014: A mix of thrillers, dramas and comedies, including The Bucket List and the Fockers sequels.
- 2015–2020: The Intern, Hands of Stone, The Comedian, The Irishman, The War with Grandpa.
- 2023: Killers of the Flower Moon.
- 2026: Future titles such as Focker In-Law and The Whisper Man are listed as forthcoming but are not yet confirmed as released films. Source: Film.ru
The search results list upcoming entries such as Focker In-Law and The Whisper Man, but these should be treated as unconfirmed possibilities rather than verified parts of his filmography until official sources confirm them.
Which Robert De Niro Movies Are on Netflix?
Streaming availability for De Niro’s films changes frequently by region and licensing agreements. Titles regularly move between streaming services, so a film available today may not be there next month.
Among his most popular films, The Irishman (2019) was produced by Netflix and remains available on the platform in many regions. Other titles such as Meet the Parents and Analyze This have appeared on Netflix in the past but rotate in and out of the catalogue.
To see which Robert De Niro movies are on Netflix in the UK, open the streaming service and search his name. Third-party sites like JustWatch can also show real-time availability across multiple platforms.
Which Robert De Niro Movies Did He Direct?
De Niro has directed only two feature films in his career. Both are dramas that he also starred in.
A Bronx Tale (1993)
His directorial debut is a coming-of-age crime drama set in 1960s New York. De Niro plays a bus driver who becomes a mentor to a young boy caught between the influence of a local mobster and his father. The film was well received and remains his most acclaimed directorial work. Source: Britannica
The Good Shepherd (2006)
This historical spy thriller follows the early years of the CIA, with Matt Damon in the lead role and De Niro playing a senior officer. The film is more sombre than A Bronx Tale, but it confirms De Niro’s interest in serious, dialogue-driven drama.
Despite decades of acting, De Niro has directed only these two films. His primary reputation rests on his performances, not his work behind the camera.
What Are the Best Robert De Niro Comedy Movies?
Beginning in the late 1990s, De Niro deliberately expanded into comedy, often playing uptight authority figures. That shift produced some of his most rewatchable later films.
- Midnight Run (1988) – A classic comedy thriller and one of his funniest roles.
- Meet the Parents (2000) – One of his signature comedic roles.
- Analyze This (1999) – His first major comedy, with Billy Crystal.
- The Intern (2015) – A widely liked later comedy about a retired widower returning to work.
- The War with Grandpa (2020) – A family comedy about a boy and his grandfather.
While Dirty Grandpa (2016) is also a comedy, it is generally less highly regarded by critics. For most audiences, his sharpest comic performances came when he played against the intense, serious characters that made him famous.
How Has Robert De Niro’s Filmography Evolved Across Decades?
- 1970s: Mean Streets, The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter.
- 1980s: Raging Bull, The King of Comedy, Once Upon a Time in America.
- 1990s: Goodfellas, Casino, Heat, Wag the Dog (1997), Jackie Brown (1997).
- 2000s: Meet the Parents, Analyze This, and later The Irishman (2019).
- 2010s–2020s: Silver Linings Playbook, Joker (2019), Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
| De Niro has two Academy Awards for acting. | The exact list of films available on Netflix varies by region and date. |
| His filmography includes over 100 films. | Upcoming 2026 projects may change titles or release dates without notice. |
| A Bronx Tale (1993) is his directorial debut. | Personal rankings of his “best” movies are inherently subjective. |
| He was born in New York in 1943. | – |
What Is Robert De Niro’s Impact on Cinema?
De Niro is a key figure in the method acting tradition, bringing intense physical transformations and psychological depth to roles like Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull and Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. His long collaboration with Martin Scorsese helped define American crime cinema.
In the late 1990s, he made a deliberate pivot to comedy, proving he could handle lighter material without losing his edge. That shift opened up a new phase of his career that continued through the Meet the Parents franchise and The Intern.
More recently, films like The Irishman and Killers of the Flower Moon have introduced him to younger audiences, cementing his status as a living legend who remains relevant across generations.
Where Do These Rankings Come From?
These rankings draw on a combination of critical reception, awards, and cultural influence, with commentary from critics at The Guardian and Rolling Stone. The filmography data comes from Wikipedia’s cited entries and IMDb’s official database.
Robert De Niro’s filmography is vast and varied, but for newcomers the essential viewing includes Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Godfather Part II, while his comedies Analyze This and Meet the Parents offer a lighter entry point. His directorial work is limited but worth exploring for fans of his acting.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Robert De Niro’s best movie?
Most critics cite Taxi Driver or Raging Bull, but Goodfellas and The Godfather Part II are also top contenders.
Has Robert De Niro directed any movies?
Yes – A Bronx Tale (1993) and The Good Shepherd (2006).
Which Robert De Niro movies are on Netflix?
Availability changes by month and region. Some titles rotate in and out; The Irishman tends to be a reliable presence because it is a Netflix original.
Did Robert De Niro win an Oscar?
Yes, he won Best Supporting Actor for The Godfather Part II (1975) and Best Actor for Raging Bull (1980).
What Robert De Niro movie was in 1997?
He appeared in Wag the Dog and Jackie Brown, both released in 1997.
What are the funniest Robert De Niro comedy movies?
Meet the Parents, Analyze This, and Midnight Run are widely regarded as his funniest.
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Toby Marsh is Senior Reporter at Castradar.uk, covering film and TV stories across the UK.