Robert de Niro is one of the greatest Hollywood actors of all time. Robert de Niro has played all sorts of roles, be it gangster, comedy, romantic, horror; he has done it all. Robert de Niro is the most versatile actor of all time. He is well respected and a legend. The roles he did in his prime are still a trademark for all actors to follow. He has won numerous awards, including two Academy awards.

Robert de Niro’s collaboration with the director, Martin Scorsese is Hollywood’s most famous and successful partnerships.  The partnership made both De Niro and Scorsese Hollywood legends and gave them several awards.  Even this list of the top ten best Robert de Niro movies contain more than 5 of the movies in which both of these collaborated.

Robert de Niro movies are usually great. His depiction of gangster roles is considered a trademark for other actors to follow. His movie, Taxi Driver, had one line which De Niro improvised to make it one of the greatest Hollywood movie lines. The line was: “You talkin’ to me!”

With so many great roles and movies in which Robert de Niro has starred in, it is difficult to make a list of the top ten best movies of Robert de Niro. Nearly all his movies in his prime time were super hits and had a huge impact on world cinema. Therefore it is extremely hard to make a list of the top ten best Robert de Niro movies. I have tried my level best to make a list which does justice to the greatest Hollywood actor of all time, Mr. Robert de Niro.

Following is the list of the top ten best Robert de Niro movies:

 

10. Once Upon a Time in America

 

 

Once Upon a Time in America is a 1984 movie directed by Sergio Leone and is one of the longest movies in Hollywood (229 minutes). The film stars Robert De Niro in lead role, along with James Wood and Elizabeth McGovern. The movie is set some thirty years after the Prohibition era and revolves around a gangster who has to face all his worst fears. It is a very fine movie and has a cult following.

 

9. The Untouchables

 

 

The Untouchables is a 1987 movie from director Brian de Palma. It tells the story of the famous Chicago gangster, Al Capone. Robert De Niro plays Al Capone and does justice to the role. The movie also stars Brian Costner and Sean Connery.

 

8. Cape Fear

 

 

Directed by the legend, Martin Scorsese, Cape Fear is a movie about an ex-rapist who is released from prison and starts stalking his lawyer to get back at him for poor defense. Robert De Niro plays the stalker and his screen presence is such that it completely keeps the viewers immersed in the scenes. The movie was nominated for 2 Oscars.

 

7. Heat

 

 

Heat is a crime, robbery thriller starring the two greatest actors of all time : Robert de Niro and Al Pacino. The movie was the first one in which both Al Pacino and De Niro share a screen. The scene where both actors share the screen was one of the most awaited things in Hollywood. The movie was very well received and the dream of seeing two great actors share the screen was fulfilled.

 

6. Casino

 

 

Directed by Marin Scorsese, Casino is a film about two gamblers and shows a complete picture of the gambling empire and what it can do to a person. The movie stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone. It is one of the best gangster movies of all time.

 

5. The Deer Hunter

 

 

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 movie directed by Michael Cimino. The movie stars Robert De Niro, John Cazale, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep. The movie is about Vietnam war and the effect it had on the people, both in US and Vietnam. The movie is a classic and won 5 Oscars.

 

4. Raging Bull

 

 

Raging Bull is a 1980 movie directed by Martin Scorsese. Raging Bull is considered to be Scorsese’s best movie and one of the best movies of all time. Robert De Niro won the Oscar for the best actor for his portrayal of boxer, Jake LaMotta. Robert De Niro had to gain 60 pounds for the last sequences of the movie. Even though the movie was a box office failure, it gradually became a classic and is regarded as one of the best movies of all time.

 

3. Taxi Driver

 

 

Taxi Driver is directed by Martin Scorsese and tells the story of a taxi driver who has become mentally unstable because of Vietnam war. Robert De Niro plays the taxi driver. His Mohawk hairstyle in the movie became a hit.  The movie was nominated for 4 Oscars. De Niro also gave us one of the most famous lines in world cinema: “You talkin’ to me!”

 

2. Goodfellas

 

 

Goodfellas is a 1990 movie directed by Marin Scorsese and stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta. The movie is about a young boy who goes through different stages of a mob life. Goodfellas is one of the best movies of all time and definitely the best gangster movie after The Godfather.

 

1. Godfather 2

 

 

Godfather 2 is the second part of the Godfather trilogy. Written by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, it is the best movie of all time along with the first part. The movie sees Al Pacino in the lead role, while Robert De Niro is in a supporting role, playing young Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando played Vito Corleone is the first part). The movie won 6 Oscars, with De Niro winning the best actor in supporting role. He is the only actor in history who won the Oscar for best actor for a non-English language role.

This was the list of the top ten best Robert De Niro movies. Do you agree with the list? Are there any other movies you would like to see in the list? Please let me know in your comments.