The 12 Best and Worst Leonardo DiCaprio Movies, Ranked

2025-09-24T17:30:56Z

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider
subscribers. Become an Insider
and start reading now.

Leonardo DiCaprio has become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable talents since his 1991 film debut.
He became a star with films like “Titanic.” His latest, “One Battle After Another,” is also getting praise.
But not all of his movies have been hits, with some critics panning early films like “Critters 3.”

Over the course of a three-and-a-half-decade career, Leonardo DiCaprio has solidified himself as one of the last true movie stars in Hollywood.

With countless accolades under his belt, including his long-awaited Academy Award for best actor for 2015’s “The Revenant,” DiCaprio has delivered many iconic performances while on the job … but he’s also had a few cinematic missteps.

Here are 12 of the best Leonardo DiCaprio movies, followed by 12 of the worst, according to critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Note: All scores were current on the date of publication and are subject to change.

“One Battle After Another” (2025) is DiCaprio’s first collaboration with Paul Thomas Anderson, and critics regard it as his best work to date.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “One Battle After Another.”

Warner Bros.

Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Anderson examines themes like autocracy and parenthood within a story of a stoner ex-revolutionary (DiCaprio) who sets out to rescue his daughter (Chase Infiniti) after an old nemesis (Sean Penn) resurfaces.

IndieWire critic David Ehrlich praises DiCaprio’s performance as his “tetchy comic genius finds a new dimension through his character’s natural deference.”

DiCaprio was lauded for his performance as Frank W. Abagnale Jr. in “Catch Me If You Can” (2002).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Catch Me If You Can.”

Catch Me If You Can/Dreamworks

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

The Steven Spielberg film — which was based on the story told by the legendary con artist — also featured Tom Hanks as FBI Agent Carl Hanratty, who made it his mission to bring Abagnale Jr. to justice.

Many critics lauded DiCaprio’s performance, with critic Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic writing that “DiCaprio has the breeze and aplomb to keep it all bouncing along.”

DiCaprio and Martin Scorsese’s most recent team-up was the crime drama “Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

AppleTV+

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Based on the 2017 David Grann book about a series of murders of members of the Osage Nation in 1920s Oklahoma, DiCaprio plays the husband of one of the members. His nefarious back dealings with his uncle (Robert De Niro) are the key to uncovering those behind the murders.

JoBlo critic Chris Bumbray calls DiCaprio’s performance the most complex character he’s ever played.

The actor played the lead Billy Costigan in the cult-favorite film “The Departed” (2006).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Departed.”

Warner Bros.

Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

In the film, DiCaprio took on the role of an undercover cop as he infiltrated a South Boston criminal organization.

Fellow Hollywood heavyweights like Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg, and Martin Sheen also starred in the Martin Scorsese flick.

DiCaprio narrated the documentary “Ice on Fire” (2019).

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

In general, critics applauded the actor’s narration of the documentary, which is meant to put the climate-change crisis into perspective while also offering hope to viewers.

As critic Brian Lowry wrote for CNN, “A better-than-most film on the topic that gets beyond the dire warnings to contemplating what can actually be done to help turn, or at least significantly curb, the tide.”

With one of his earliest roles as Arnie Grape in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993), DiCaprio began his film career on a successful note.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.”

Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

Starring opposite Johnny Depp, DiCaprio earned rave reviews for his role in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.”

Critics called DiCaprio’s performance “astonishing” and “enormous,” with many praising the then-teenage actor for stepping into such a big role.

In 2010, DiCaprio narrated “Hubble 3D,” a NASA film dedicated to looking at the universe through the lens of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Many critics praised the quality and visuals of this documentary, which DiCaprio narrates.

“The view is humbling and heavenly enough to make you feel puny and exhilarated at the same time,” wrote the Associated Press.

“Titanic” (1997) is arguably DiCaprio’s most well-known film.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in “Titanic.”

Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Although the actor has famously said he believes he should have passed up the role of Jack Dawson in favor of appearing in “Boogie Nights” (1997), the film itself won 11 Academy Awards including one for best picture.

DiCaprio would later go on to star alongside leading lady Kate Winslet once again in 2008’s “Revolutionary Road.”

DiCaprio received an Academy Award nomination for his role as Calvin Candie in “Django Unchained” (2012).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Django Unchained.”

The Weinstein Company

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Starring as the proprietor of an infamous plantation, DiCaprio appeared in the film alongside both Jamie Foxx and Samuel L. Jackson.

The Quentin Tarantino film was generally praised by critics for being an entertaining and emotional crowd-pleaser.

As ideas thief and lead Dom Cobb, DiCaprio enthralled both critics and audiences alike in “Inception” (2010).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Inception.”

Warner Bros.

Rotten Tomatoes: 87%

Critics were in awe of director Christopher Nolan for his inventive storyline and mind-bending plot, calling his film “a spectacular fantasy thriller.”

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elliot Page, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, and Ken Watanabe also starred in the 2010 film.

DiCaprio teamed up with Scorsese again to play Howard Hughes in “The Aviator” (2004).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Aviator.”

Warner Bros. Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

Acting alongside Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, and Alec Baldwin, the actor brought an eccentric billionaire to life in this 2004 biopic.

Blanchett won an Oscar for playing Katharine Hepburn in the film and DiCaprio was nominated for best actor in a leading role, but he did not win.

Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood” was one of the most-anticipated films of 2019.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.”

Associated Press

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%

The film starred Margot Robbie, DiCaprio, and Brad Pitt and although it wasn’t panned, many critics didn’t think it quite lived up to its hype.

As critic Josephine Livingstone wrote for The New Republic, “Don’t mistake me: This movie is good. It all depends on how hard you’re willing to work to justify its pleasures.”

Now for his 12 worst movies, according to critics. They weren’t big fans of “Blood Diamond” (2006).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Blood Diamond.”

Warner Bros.

Rotten Tomatoes: 64%

The movie scored DiCaprio an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Danny Archer, a mercenary on the hunt for a rare pink diamond in Sierra Leone in the 1990s.

Viewers gave the film a 90%, but critics didn’t like it nearly as much, with some calling it out for doing a poor job of covering a very real issue.

As critic Fernando F. Croce wrote for CinePassion, “Diamonds may be forever, but ‘Blood Diamond’ hopefully will only last through the Oscar season.”

DiCaprio played Kid in the 1995 Western “The Quick and the Dead,” which received mixed reviews.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Quick and the Dead.”

Sony Pictures Releasing

Rotten Tomatoes: 61%

The post-modern Western also starred Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, and Russell Crowe.

Although many critics applauded the film for being “fun,” some also felt it dragged on a bit too long, noting that it seemed dull by the end.

DiCaprio tries to warn the planet of an oncoming comet that will destroy the world in “Don’t Look Up” (2021).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Don’t Look Up.”

Netflix

Rotten Tomatoes: 56%

Adam McKay’s dark satire follows two astronomers (DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) who try to warn the world that a comet is en route and is capable of destroying Earth. The movie also stars Timothée Chalamet, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, and Ariana Grande.

Critics were mixed on the movie. Newsday critic Robert Levin opined: “There’s nothing more excruciating than watching very famous people work entirely too hard to be funny.”

Reviews for the thriller “Body of Lies” (2008) were decidedly mediocre, with several critics slamming the film’s plot.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Body of Lies.”

Warner Bros.,

Rotten Tomatoes: 55%

The fast-paced espionage thriller starred Russell Crowe and DiCaprio, but most audience members and critics seemed to feel that it fell flat.

It was called out for not having enough of an emotional impact, with critics like Candice Frederick of Reel Talk Online writing that “it was a waste of two talented actors.”

Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby” (2013) was applauded for its visuals, but the rest of the film didn’t fare so well.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Great Gatsby.”

Warner Bros. Pictures/Roadshow Entertainment

Rotten Tomatoes: 48%

Based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald book of the same name, this film was widely praised for its stunning visuals, but it was panned overall.

“Just because a film looks like it was dipped in 18-karat gold doesn’t mean it’s rich in quality,” wrote critic Mara Reinstein for Us Weekly.

DiCaprio was the lead in “The Basketball Diaries” (1995), a film loosely inspired by a memoir from writer and artist Jim Carroll.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Basketball Diaries.”

New Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes: 45%

Mark Wahlberg and Jim Carroll himself also appear in the film, which was set against the backdrop of a heroin epidemic.

Although some critics called the film “hard to watch” and “muddled,” many applauded a young DiCaprio for his “raw dynamic performance.”

DiCaprio played the leading man in the Clint Eastwood-directed “J. Edgar” (2011).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “J. Edgar.”

Warner Bros.

Although DiCaprio earned praise for his role, the J. Edgar Hoover biopic — which also starred Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, Judi Dench, and Ed Westwick — was called “muddled” by critics who also dubbed it a “missed opportunity.”

DiCaprio had a part as Brandon in the black-and-white Woody Allen film “Celebrity” (1998).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Celebrity.”

Sweetland Films, Magnolia Productions

Rotten Tomatoes: 42%

The movie, which examined the country’s cultural obsession with celebrities, also starred Kenneth Branagh, Hank Azaria, Judy Davis, Winona Ryder, Melanie Griffith, and Famke Janssen.

Some critics said the film was technically impressive, but was just too scattered to be enjoyable.

DiCaprio played both King Louis XIV and his brother in the “Three Musketeers” epilogue, “The Man in the Iron Mask” (1998).

Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Man with the Iron Mask.”

MGM

Rotten Tomatoes: 32%

In “The Man in the Iron Mask,” DiCaprio took on the role of two leads — even so, the film fell flat.

The period piece, which also starred Hollywood heavyweights like Jeremy Irons and John Malkovich, was labeled corny by many critics, with Roger Ebert calling it “just a costume swashbuckler.”

“Total Eclipse” (1995) depicted DiCaprio as the young 19th-century French poet Arthur Rimbaud.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Total Eclipse.”

New Line Cinema

Rotten Tomatoes: 24%

In the film, the actor starred opposite David Thewlis, who depicted fellow poet and Rimbaud’s mentor Paul Verlaine, as they began a forbidden love affair.

Many viewers said the film didn’t do enough to fully illustrate Rimbaud’s persona, with critic John A. Nesbit of Old School Reviews writing, “Noble effort to capture Rimbaud’s genius, but it fails to take enough risks to get close to the enigmatic poet.”

“The Beach” (2000), DiCaprio’s first major project after “Titanic,” was lambasted by critics.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Beach.”

Twentieth Century Fox

Rotten Tomatoes: 21%

DiCaprio starred in this action-filled romance film opposite Tilda Swinton and Guillaume Canet.

This Danny Boyle film, which is an adaptation of the Alex Garland novel “The Beach,” was called “bland” by critics who otherwise praised its cinematography.

DiCaprio’s film debut in “Critters 3” (1991) received a 0% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Critters 3.”

Warner Brothers

Rotten Tomatoes: 0%

In his very first film, which was the third in the “Critters” franchise, DiCaprio played Josh.

Critics generally labeled “Critters 3” as “subpar” when it was released in 1991.

Source link