Robert De Niro – 10 Best Movies

By Vlad Zakh · January 9, 2026

Raging Bull and Taxi Driver defined an era of physical, dangerous, completely internal acting, and The Irishman reunited him with Scorsese decades later for something quieter and more reflective. Cape Fear is a genuinely frightening villain, Meet the Parents is a rare full comic turn as an overprotective ex-CIA father, The Irishman looks back as a hitman on a wasted life, and Silver Linings Playbook is a warmer, vulnerable father. Goodfellas, Casino, Heat and The Godfather Part II round out the list.

Cape Fear (1991)

TMDB ★ 7.3

A released convict terrorises the family of the lawyer he blames for his prison sentence.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 2h 08m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Meet the Parents (2000)

TMDB ★ 6.7

A nervous fiance is under constant suspicion from Robert De Niro's ex-CIA father-in-law, with Ben Stiller in the lead.

Directed by Jay Roach · 1h 48m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Irishman (2019)

TMDB ★ 7.6

A truck driver and hitman recounts his decades-long involvement with organised crime and a legendary union boss.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 3h 29m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

TMDB ★ 7.2

A romance built on two genuinely damaged people finding each other.

Directed by David O. Russell · 2h 02m · Rated R

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Starz, Starz Apple TV channel, Starz Roku Premium Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Heat (1995)

IMDb ★ 8.3 RT 84% Metacritic 76

An elite crew of thieves and the relentless detective pursuing them are drawn towards an inevitable, tragic collision.

Directed by Michael Mann · 2h 50m · Rated R

15 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Casino (1995)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 79% Metacritic 73

A skilled gambler's rise running a Las Vegas casino for the mob descends into betrayal and violence.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 2h 59m · Rated R

Nominated for 1 Oscar4 wins & 11 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube TV, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Godfather Part II (1974)

IMDb ★ 9.0 RT 96% Metacritic 90

A parallel rise and fall, with the son consolidating power as the father's own origin is finally shown.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola · 3h 22m · Rated R

Won 6 Oscars17 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Goodfellas (1990)

IMDb ★ 8.7 RT 93% Metacritic 92

A young man's rise through the ranks of the mob gives way to paranoia, betrayal and violence.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 2h 25m · Rated R

Won 1 Oscar44 wins & 38 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Howdy Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Taxi Driver (1976)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 89% Metacritic 94

An alienated New York cabbie grows more isolated until it pushes him toward violence.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 1h 54m · Rated R

Nominated for 4 Oscars22 wins & 21 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, Apple TV Amazon Channel, Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Raging Bull (1980)

IMDb ★ 8.1 RT 92% Metacritic 90

A boxer's paranoid jealousy destroys every relationship in his life outside the ring.

Directed by Martin Scorsese · 2h 09m · Rated R

Won 2 Oscars24 wins & 28 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix. He started the site because most recommendation pages felt like noise. Here, lists are sorted by who's in the film, where it's from and what mood you're in tonight.

Robert De Niro – 10 Best Movies

Cape Fear (1991)

Meet the Parents (2000)

The Irishman (2019)

Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

Heat (1995)

Casino (1995)

The Godfather Part II (1974)

Goodfellas (1990)

Taxi Driver (1976)

Raging Bull (1980)

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