Get ready for an article full of fan-girling…
This was not an easy list to compile. As a huge Leo stan, it was difficult to narrow his movies down, but somehow I’ve managed it. As I don’t want to be seen picking favourites, the following list is in no particular order (although it may become clear which ones are my ultimate faves).
The Wolf of Wallstreet (2013)
This movie is based off the memoir of the same name, written by Jordan Belfort. DiCaprio plays Belfort, a former stock broker who came to make his millions in corrupt ways. This movie is fun, outrageous, and will have you questioning what was real, and what was fabricated (having read the book, I can tell you most of it is real). Leo stars alongside Jonah Hill and Margot Robbie, who both give stellar performances.
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Ah, the movie that birthed the Leo cheers-ing meme. Based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, DiCaprio plays the elusive Jay Gatsby, a man of extraordinary wealth who throws massive parties, all with the hopes a certain someone will wander in one night. He befriends Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire), his next door neighbour, but he has an ulterior motive. This is a Baz Luhrmann adaptation of the novel so you know it’s all kinds of wacky and fun. Carey Mulligan also stars and does a fantastic job as Daisy Buchanan.
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
Before he played Jordan Belfort, DiCaprio played Frank Abagnale, a man who becomes increasingly good at scamming people out of money. He is soon on the radar of FBI Agent Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) and the movie is essentially a game of cat and mouse between the pair. This film is also based on a novel by the real Frank Abagnale.
The Revenant (2016)
We couldn’t exclude the movie DiCaprio won his Oscar for. When Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) is ravaged by a bear and left for dead, he must try to survive in the wilderness alone. He is spurred on by his desire for revenge against his former friend John Fitzgerald, played by Tom Hardy, after he betrays him. This movie is a little gory, so be warned of that, but DiCaprio truly gives a fantastic performance.
Titanic (1997)
We are still thinking about how Rose and Jack would both have fit on that door. This one hardly needs an introduction, but just in case. Rose (Kate Winslet) boards the Titanic in First Class with her wealthy fiancé Cal (Billy Zane), finding herself lost and depressed. Jack (DiCaprio) wins a ticket for Third Class in a poker game, and helps Rose out of a precarious situation, where the two spark a romance. Unfortunately, tragedy is in store for them both. Titanic truly never gets old.
Shutter Island (2010)
This thriller stars Mark Ruffalo, Michelle Williams, and Ben Kingsley alongside DiCaprio. US Marshalls Teddy Daniels (DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Ruffalo) approach a remote island that acts as an asylum to solve a missing person case, but Teddy begins to suspect that all is not what it seems. We highly recommend this one, and suggest you pay close attention; there’s lots of twists and turns.
Romeo And Juliet (1996)
The film that made us fall in love with DiCaprio in the first place. He plays Romeo across from Claire Danes’ Juliet in the second Baz Luhrmann film on this list. The star-crossed lovers fight to be together even as their families’ feud continues to rage on, resulting in violence and betrayal. Yeah, this movie is on the list for the scene with the fish tank alone, aside from the beautiful cinematography and unreal soundtrack.
Honourable Mentions:
Inception, The Aviator, Django Unchained and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood all make it to our honourable mentions (but really, any DiCaprio movie could end up here). There’s still Revolutionary Road, The Beach, Blood Diamond, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape… it’s just too hard to pick.
Header image via Shutterstock
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