The best Leonardo DiCaprio films currently available on Netflix

“I just want to keep doing what I’m doing and hopefully people will watch my movies.” -Leonardo DiCaprio

Enigmatic and charming, dashing and captivating, Leonardo DiCaprio’s presence on-screen is iconic and sublime. A stellar performer, DiCaprio was born in Los Angeles, California, on November 11, 1974, surrounded by the bright and looming sign of Hollywood. Having begun his career in sit-coms in the late 1980s, it was not until 1993 that Leo starred in a major film. Following his role in 1993 film This Boy’s Life, he received acclaim and an Oscar nomination for his supporting role as a mentally impaired boy in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. In 1997, Titanic catapulted DiCaprio to superstardom and he has not had to look back ever since. Following a few unsuccessful commercial stints, in 2002, he finally landed two successful features in Catch Me If You Can and Gangs of New York; the latter marked the beginning of his association with Martin Scorsese. With international stardom at his feet, the actor later went on to become Scorsese’s blue-eyed boy (literally), and starred in many successful features.

Hollywood’s humble and down-to-earth ‘it’ boy has been Scorsese’s perfect muse. The director gushed over DiCaprio’s brilliance by saying, “A key thing about Leo — and I always tell him this — is he’s a natural screen actor. He could have been in silent films. It’s the look on his face, the look in his eyes. He doesn’t have to say anything. It just reads, and you can connect with him. Not everybody is like that.”

DiCaprio has had a wonderful career where he has collaborated with legendary directors like Quentin Tarantino, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Christopher Nolan, Steven Spielberg and more delivering incredible performances with every passing movie, he cannot be typecast into a particular genre. His roles are scattered all over the spectrum; starting from a scallywag to a notorious gangster, from a vicious plantation owner to a lovesick billionaire, from a fraudster stockbroker to a dream-thief, Leo has done it all (although, we would say that he definitely has a knack for playing fraudulent billionaire). He is not a classic American method-actor; he does not use anecdotes from a character’s personal life. He has certain ground-breaking ideas and mysterious tricks up his sleeve which often leaves the director spellbound.

DiCaprio has ruled the hearts of the audience for decades with his boyish charm and exquisite mastery over his craft. However, as compensation, he has had to give up his ‘award-winning luck’. 2016 proved to be a curse-breaker for him, as he finally won the Academy Award for his brilliance and resilience in the film The Revenant, after being nominated for the sixth time. Cheered on by the audience, the actor’s win was definitely the most desirable. As an environmentalist and philanthropist, his speech included his growing concerns about climate change, and he concluded his speech by saying, “Let us not take this planet for granted, I do not take tonight for granted”, which received thunderous applause from the audience.

In his initial years, DiCaprio has been vehemently criticised as “your average, no-depth, standard kid with blond hair”. However, within the last two decades of his career, a hint of merit and perseverance, he has curated a brand “of excellence”. Tarantino, who is always praising his long-time friend, compared DiCaprio’s limited presence in multiplexes to that of Dwayne Johnson and the like, by saying, “One of the things I like about Leo is he just doesn’t plug himself into two movies a year… he kind of stands alone today, like Al Pacino or Robert De Niro was in the ’70s, where they weren’t trying to do two movies a year — they could do anything they wanted, and they wanted to do this. So that means this must be pretty good.”

Fans are waiting eagerly for Leonardo DiCaprio’s next film, Killers of the Flower Moon at Paramount, which is yet another Scorsese-DiCaprio combo. The film follows the FBI investigations regarding the Oklahoma murders in the 1920s which allegedly had underlying ties to oil deposits.

Loved and adored by all, Leo has found his tribe at Hollywood which includes A-listers Brad Pitt, Kate Winslet, Jonah Hill, Luka Haas, Kevin Connolly, Tobey Maguire, Bradley Cooper, Cameron Diaz, Tom Hardy and many more.

As ardent fans, if there are three things that we are grateful for, it would definitely be Leonardo DiCaprio’s smile, his charm, and the fact that he did not allow himself to be peer-pressurised into changing his name into a slightly easier and Americanised “Lenny Williams or something”. On his 46^th birthday, let us take a look at the legend’s films that are available for streaming on Netflix.

The Leonardo DiCaprio films available on Netflix:

19. The Man in the Iron Mask (Randall Wallace, 1998)

During the tyrannical reign of King Louis XIV, the three ageing musketeers. Argos, Porthos, Athos, and Athos’ son, Raoul, devise a plan to overthrow the tyrant and replace him with the wrongly imprisoned twin brother, Philippe.

This 1998 film is a concoction of the fabled warriors’ elaborate plan and flamboyant adventure. DiCaprio, who got the golden opportunity to star as the awful despot Louis XIV as well as the man in the mask. He is the star of the show despite not having a prominent role.

18. The Beach (Danny Boyle, 2000)

Young Richard, during a trip to Thailand, finds a map that promises a secret paradisiacal beach. He sets out on an adventure to find it and encounters a secret community of travellers who, though friendly at first, change their demeanour as various events start unfolding.

DiCaprio, as Richard, is splendid to look at, shirtless and charming. Though he was quite compelling as a young, anxious and alienated American, he was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Actor due to the shallowness of the overall film. Some critics even attributed the financial success of Boyle’s movie to Leo’s post-Titanic fame. Boyle had admittedly stated that halfway through the film he “didn’t like any of the characters”. Although the cinematography was stellar, the movie’s reputation was tarred by the controversy regarding 20^th Century Fox bulldozing and landscaping Ko Phi Phi Leh, causing immense harm to the ecosystem.

17. The Quick and the Dead (Sam Raimi, 1995)

A mysterious young woman named ‘The Lady’ arrives at the Old West Town of Redemption to avenge the death of her sheriff father by seeking revenge on the cold-blooded leader, Jerod. However, as a gunslinger, she has to enter the gunfighting contest and defeat other gunslingers in order to fulfil her mission.

Released in 1995, this western film features a brilliant ensemble, including a nineteen-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio. Young Leo, who had just been nominated for a ‘Best Supporting Actor’ Academy Award for starring in the 1993 flick What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, was terrific in the movie as the arrogant and handsome gunslinger, Fee “The Kid” Herod, determined to win his father’s confidence and trust.

“I’m so damned fast I can wake up at the crack of dawn, rob two banks, a train and a stage coach, shoot the tail feathers off a duck’s ass at 300 feet, and still be back in bed before you wake up next to me.”

16. Romeo + Juliet (Baz Luhrmann, 1996)

A faithful adaptation of William Shakespeare’s famous tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Luhrmann’s 1996 film portrays the rivalry between two rival mafia families, Montagues and Capulets. Ironically, two young teens from the respective families, Romeo and Juliet, fall in love with each other against their good judgement, and thus ensues a bloodbath.

Before Titanic, Leo’s only prominent role was that of a young, lovesick Romeo in Luhrmann’s aesthetically pleasing film, Romeo + Juliet. He even paid his own expenses to fly to Sydney for the teaser shoot. This film promoted Leo to a pedestal, proving him worthy of major roles.

15. Body of Lies (Ridley Scott, 2008)

CIA officer, Roger Ferris, is in Iraq tracking an elusive terrorist Al-Saleem. Ferris and his associate Bassam are at odds with his boss, Ed Hoffman, while they try and succeed in their mission.

The film with its cliched narrative failed to impress critics as it was a movie where “the rules of trust and mistrust are wholly familiar”. As a conventional spy thriller, Body of Lies was “an A-list project with B-game results” that depended entirely on Leonardo DiCaprio and Russel Crowe’s incredible performance for its success, while having no merit of its own. Crisp and slick, DiCaprio won audience praise for his role of Ferris in the movie.

14. Revolutionary Road (Sam Mendes, 2008)

April and Frank Wheeler’s relationship is seemingly perfect on the outside. Their relationship is strained by their different expectations and purpose in life, and as they hope to salvage their marriage and escape the drudgery, tragedy strikes.

11 years after their on-screen magic in Titanic, the iconic duo Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio return as a dysfunctional couple trying to save whatever love they have left for each other. Emotionally moving, their powerful and nuanced performances cease them from being mere actors; they seem too familiar to the audience. Committed to their roles, Winslet is gorgeous and pitiful as a woman having failed her ‘American Dream’, while Leo’s varying emotions from being a violent husband to a defeated man makes the movie raw and captivating.

“I’m not happy about it, but I have the backbone not to run away from my responsibilities.”

13. The Great Gatsby (Baz Luhrmann, 2013)

An ambitious and faithful adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel of the same name, The Great Gatsby is the story of the mysterious and affluent Jay Gatsby whose lavish, waywardly parties at the height of the roaring twenties attract the curious interest of his neighbour and war veteran, Nick Carraway.

According to Fitzgerald’s daughter, “Scott would have been proud”. Despite the visual splendour, theatrical flamboyance and performative extravagance, it was criticised as “a spectacle in search of a soul”. DiCaprio as the sensitive lonely millionaire outdoes himself yet again with each and every role; as Gatsby, he is repulsive yet charming. Though Luhrmann’s film was vehemently criticised, it made a whopping $300 million at the box office winning accolades from the audience.

“I knew it was a great mistake for a man like me to fall in love.”

12. Gangs of New York (Martin Scorsese, 2002

Due to rising tension among the Protestant and Catholic communities in Five Points, Priest Vallon is mercilessly slaughtered by William “ill the Butcher” in 1846. Vallon’s son who witnesses the killing, returns to the town in 1862, using the alias of Amsterdam to murder Bill and avenge his father’s murder.

Nominated for ten Oscars, Gangs of New York was the first Martin Scorsese film Leo starred in, and the rest is history. While critics have praised Daniel Day-Lewis’ “electrifying performance” as the ruthless Bill, DiCaprio’s Amsterdam is a quintessential Dickensian hero whose eyes serve as the narrative lens. He does a spectacular job paving his way into Scorsese’s heart which marked the beginning of a new era.

11. The Aviator (Martin Scorsese, 2004)

“Sometimes I truly fear that I… am losing my mind. And if I did it…. It would be like flying blind.”

Howard Hughes, an aviator, is also an eccentric director famous in the film industry. However, his growing OCD and paranoia become a threat to his legendary reputation and career; personal demons and past reminiscence make it increasingly difficult for him to take control of his life.

A second successive Scorsese film, Leo earned his second Academy Award nomination with his brilliant and insightful portrayal of Hughes, to the point where the eccentric tycoon becomes an object of sympathy and admiration. He thrives in Scorsese’s artistic and scintillating approach. His acting prowess, well-gauged by the visionary director, was put to good use. Years later, Leo was quoted saying “I felt I could truly own the term artist by working alongside him”.

10. What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (Lasse Hallstrom, 1993)

In a sleepy town in the Midwest, Gilbert Grape takes care of his morbidly obese mother, Bonnie, and his mentally-handicapped 18-year-old brother, Arnie. He is also in love with a married woman named Becky and is caught up in this vicious cycle of responsibilities.

At 19, Leo received his first-ever Oscar nomination for his supporting role as Arnie Grape, a mentally impaired boy. His performance is vivid and moving, often difficult to watch; when Arnie goes to wake his dead mother, he first thinks she is asleep. However, as soon as he realises what has passed, the distraught expression on his helpless face is surely going to move the audience to tears. Depp as Gilbert is outstanding, but Leo’s performance is “of astonishing innocence and spontaneity” which brings in “a touching credibility to a very difficult part”.

“Mama, Mama!… Wake up! …. You’re hiding, huh? …. I know that. …. Wake up! …. Mama, wake up! …. Mama, stop it now! …. Stop, Mama! …. Stop it.”

9. Catch Me If You Can (Steven Spielberg, 2002)

Frank Abagnale is a notorious check fraudster who manages to dupe people of millions with masterful trickery and deceit. He is pursued by FBI agent Carl Hanratty who is determined to catch the con artist.

Suspenseful and fun, Spielberg’s twenty-year dream project had the dream combination of Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio. The dynamic duo delivered enthralling performances which add thrill to this well-crafted cat and mouse chase. Cheeky and charming, Leo is effortlessly convincing as the famous fraudster.

“An honest man has nothing to fear, so I’m trying my best not to be afraid.”

8. Blood Diamond (Edward Zwick, 2006)

Solomon Vandy, who is abducted and coerced into working in mines, discovers a priceless diamond. He finds an unlikely ally in the smuggler, Dany Archer, who promises to help Solomon help find his family, his prize being the diamond. The film unravels as they embark on this quest through dangerous territories motivated by their personal interests.

Djimon Hounsou as Solomon does justice to his character which gets him an Oscar nomination; so, does Leo, who is nominated for the third time due to his epic portrayal of the frivolous Danny Archer. He even goes to the extent of mastering the South African accent for this role. Intense, vulnerable and emotional, the actors establish a lovely understanding on-screen which makes it a memorable watch.

7. The Revenant (Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, 2015)

True to the meaning of the word which refers to someone returning from the jaws of death, The Revenant is based on a man’s terrifying quest for survival when pitted against nature’s wrath and the terrible betrayal of his compatriots.

Leo, who had been snubbed by the Academy multiple times, rightfully took the much-coveted Academy Award for his role as Hugh Glass. Like Hugh, he showed unwavering courage and determination while preparing for the film; despite being a vegetarian, he went to the extent of consuming an actual raw liver to add realism to the film. Outstanding performances by the rest of the cast is overshadowed by Leo’s gut-wrenching portrayal of a helpless man surviving by virtue of his will to live. “I can name 30 or 40 sequences that were some of the most difficult things I’ve ever had to do”, he was quoted saying, “whether it’s going in and out of frozen rivers, or sleeping in animal carcasses, or what I ate on set. I was enduring freezing cold and possible hypothermia constantly.”

6. The Wolf of Wall Street (Martin Scorsese, 2014)

“On a daily basis I consume enough drugs to sedate Manhattan, Long Island, and Queens for a month. I take Quaaludes 10-15 times a day for my ‘back pain’, Adderall to stay focused, Xanax to take the edge off, pot to mellow me out, cocaine to wake me back up again, and morphine… Well, because it’s awesome.”

Based on the true story of a stockbroker named Jordan Belfort, Scorsese’s hedonistic saga of sex, drugs and crime chronicles the former’s journey from rags to riches by defrauding wealthy investors in billions, which ultimately has an adverse effect on his life.

One of his most iconic roles, DiCaprio rightfully earned an Academy Award nomination for his stellar performance as the roguish Belfort. As Leo himself said, it is “a cautionary tale… like a modern-day Caligula- The Fall of Roman Empire”. He spent “many months” with the real-life Jordan Belfort and even videotaped the latter’s expression to impersonate him better when high on extra-strong Lemon Quaaludes. Leo has further added, “It’s the biggest adrenaline dump… I haven’t been able to step on a set since”.

5. Shutter Island (Martin Scorsese, 2010)

US Marshal Teddy Daniels and his newly assigned partner, Chuck Aule, travel to the Ashcliffe Hospital on a remote island to investigate the disappearance of the patient. As Teddy delves deeper into the investigation, he realises the sinister nature of the asylum and its inmates; he must confront the ghosts of his past as well as his fears to be able to successfully leave the island.

Intense and unsettling, Shutter Island is one of Scorsese’s most phenomenal yet underrated works. Provocative, the film challenges the sanity of the viewers. He pervasive gloom and anxiety is heightened by Leo’s outstanding performance as Teddy Daniels, a man haunted by his traumatic past. Mark Ruffalo adds a brilliant dimension to the former. Scorsese pulls off the greatest plot twist at the end of the movie, leaving an indelible mark on the minds of the viewers.

“Which would be worse – to live as a monster? Or to die as a good man?”

4. Titanic (James Cameron, 1997)

Rose, now very old, a survivor of the Titanic, reflects on the tragic and fateful journey she undertook on board the world-famous Titanic. An aristocrat, she meets and falls in love with Jack Dawson, a handsome and penniless artist. As tragedy strikes in the form of a giant iceberg, the star-crossed lovers fight for survival while the majestic Titanic sinks into the heart of the Atlantic.

Titanic earned 11 Oscar nominations, yet, quite astonishingly, Leonardo DiCaprio did not get a single nomination. Although his co-star Kate Winslet earned one, Leo was deprived of an Academy Award honour. DiCaprio who had always been used to playing complex and layered characters feared that his role in this movie was far “too easy”. Matthew McConaughey would have almost be cast as Dawson which later went on to become one of Leo’s most prominent role and catapulted this dashing star to superstardom. Leo’s innocence and liveliness as young Jack Dawson remain etched in the hearts of millions of Rose-s all around the world.   

“Promise me you’ll survive. That you won’t give up, no matter what happens, no matter how hopeless. Promise me now, Rose, and never let go of that promise.”

3. Django Unchained (Quentin Tarantino, 2012)

Rescued by a German travelling bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz, Black Salve and “the fastest gun in the South”, Django Freeman, sets out on a journey to free his wife, Broomhilda, from a despicable, narcissistic and malicious Mississippi plantation owner and brutal slave-fight enthusiast, Calvin Candie.

DiCaprio is downright vile and abominable as Candie. He found it exceedingly difficult to play the character that was so loathsome and evil. “For me”, he said, “the initial thing obviously was playing someone so disreputable and horrible whose ideas I obviously couldn’t connect with on any level.”  He went on: “I remember our first read-through, and some of my questions were about the amount of violence, the amount of racism, the explicit use of certain language… My initial response was, ‘Do we need to go this far?” Tarantino confirms by saying, “He’s the first villain I’ve ever written that I didn’t like. I hated Candie, and I normally like my villains no matter how bad they are.” Leo even ended up cutting his hand while the cameras were rolling, but that did not deter him from not going through with the scene. Despite his immense dedication, he did not get nominated by the Academy. However, needless to say, Calvin Candie is one of the finest performances of his career.

2. The Departed (Martin Scorsese, 2006)

While constantly infiltrating each other’s’ organisation, Boston Police officer, Billy Costigan, and Boston Mob member, Colin Sullivan, are embroiled in a vicious cat and mouse chase. They find moles in their respective organizations and go to various lengths to prevent that from getting exposed.

One of Scorsese’s best films till date, The Departed boasts of a heavyweight ensemble which includes Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg and Leonardo DiCaprio among others. According to Entertainment Weekly, “If they’re lucky, directors make one classic film in their career. Martin Scorsese has one per decade (Taxi Driver in the ’70s, Raging Bull in the ’80s, Goodfellas in the ’90s). His 2006 Irish Mafia masterpiece kept the streak alive.” In his third successive film with Scorsese, Leo as the hot-headed Costigan brings a wonderful emotional depth and maturity to his character. Fiercely entertaining, it is a shame how Leo did not get a nomination at the Academy.

“When I was your age, they would say you could become cops or criminals; today what I’m saying to you is this: When facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?”

1. Inception (Christopher Nolan, 2010)

Dom Cobb, a professional ‘extractor’, engages in stealing information by infiltrating into the unknowing subconscious of his targets. He is posed with an excellent offer where his criminal history shall be erased in lieu of a mammoth task; he has to implant an idea into the subject’s mind instead of extracting it.

Inception has been termed as one of the best 21st-century films, and Empire magazine had high praise for the movie when they said: “It feels like Stanley Kubrick adapting the work of the great sci-fi author William Gibson.” Nolan’s mind-bending movie that transcends the textbook definition of dream-reality brought home four academy awards; Leo’s superb portrayal of the slick and masterful Cobb will go down as one of his most memorable characters in the history of his career.

“Well, dreams, they feel real while we’re in them, right? It’s only when we wake up then we realize that something was actually strange.”