An Updated Ranking of the Best Performances So Far from Leonardo DiCaprio

As I’ve said previously when talking about the man, Leonardo DiCaprio is easily one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood. There really aren’t many, if any, A-listers at his level. So, it would be easy for him to coast, making safe films here and there. DiCaprio, however, consistently chooses to work with auteurs, including several collaborations with Martin Scorsese, as well as now with none other than Paul Thomas Anderson. Their team-up, One Battle After Another, is about to be in theaters. So, today I wanted to put forth my updated list of the actor’s very best performances.

In my review of One Battle After Another (here) earlier in the week, I said the following about the cast, led by DiCaprio:

Leonardo DiCaprio is an underrated comic actor, as seen in The Wolf of Wall Street. Here, he gets to play perpetually stoned and continually finds ways to make it hilarious. Whether it’s physical comedy or his tendency to forget the group’s code words, you’re laughing at Bob throughout. DiCaprio is a reliably great presence in the center of the film, though the women in his life really shine brightest. Teyana Taylor is a force of nature, owning the first act of the movie, while Chase Infiniti is the really the star of the final act, announcing herself in a very exciting manner. Taylor gets to literally fuel a revolution, while Infiniti gives one of the more noteworthy breakthrough turns of the year. Then, there’s Sean Penn, who hasn’t been this good in some time, playing Lockjaw as funny, pitiful, and scary in equal measure. You hate the vile man, to be sure, but you’re constantly compelled by him, given the way Penn plays him. Regina Hall has a solid and somber part as one of the former revolutionaries, while Benicio del Toro is having a lot of fun as Willa’s martial arts instructor. His scenes assisting Bob are very enjoyable, while also building to some actual action set-pieces. The large supporting cast also includes Tony Goldwyn, Alana Haim, Wood Harris, Shayna McHayle, D. W. Moffett, the voice of Jena Malone, and more.

Below, you can see how I’d stack up my favorite DiCaprio turns. They span his entire career, from child star work all the way to his newest bit of acting. He’s consistently interesting, and even if his Academy Award win is for a role that’s not my favorite, he’s consistently been cited by Oscar for strong work. The way I rank DiCaprio won’t be the way that you do, of course, but then again, isn’t that the fun of it all? Where does One Battle After Another land for him? You’re about to find out!

Here now is my ranking of the best performances in Leonardo DiCaprio’s career, so far to date…

Honorable Mention: The Basketball Diaries, Blood Diamond, Gangs of New York, The Revenant, Shutter Island, and Titanic

10. Revolutionary Road

9. Inception

8. Killers of the Flower Moon

7. The Departed

6. One Battle After Another

5. Catch Me If You Can

4. The Aviator

3. Django Unchained

2. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

1. The Wolf of Wall Street

What are your favorite Leonardo DiCaprio performances? Let us know!