21 Must-Watch Movies Starring Leonardo DiCaprio

Born on November 11, 1974, Leonardo DiCaprio began his acting career in the early 1990s by appearing in television commercials. His breakthrough came with the 1993 movie Gilbert’s Dreams, earning him his first Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. While this was just the beginning of his Oscar journey, it wasn’t until 2015 that he finally won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in The Revenant. Throughout his illustrious career, DiCaprio has starred in numerous critically acclaimed movies, many of which are considered cinematic masterpieces.

Here are the best Leonardo DiCaprio movies you must watch:

1.Romeo + Juliet

We start our list of Leonardo DiCaprio movies with Romeo + Juliet. Romeo + Juliet adapts the famous love story to the modern world. In the movie, set in modern-day Florida, Romeo and Juliet are the children of two rival families. These children fall in love and try to escape their families’ conflicts.

Information about Romeo + Juliet (1996)

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Harold Perrineau
Release Year: 1996
Duration: 120 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Age Rating: PG-13
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Similar Movies: Moulin Rouge! (2001), Great Expectations (1998), Atonement (2007)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Romeo + Juliet on IMDb

2.Shutter Island

The movie is about two police officers named Teddy Daniels and Chuck Aule, who go to Ashecliffe Hospital, where very dangerous patients are treated, after a mental patient disappears, and the mysterious events that follow. The riot they encounter here will make the case very difficult. In addition, the line between reality and fantasy will blur over time.

Information about Shutter Island (2010)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams
Release Year: 2010
Duration: 138 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Similar Movies: The Sixth Sense (1999), Gone Girl (2014), Prisoners (2013)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Shutter Island on IMDb

3.The Revenant

In 1823, fur trapper Hugh Glass was brutally attacked and injured by a bear while on a quest in what would later become the Dakota Territory. One of his companions, John Fitzgerald, killed Glass’s young half-Indian son and left Glass for dead. However, Glass survived and did everything he could to get his revenge on him. DiCaprio won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in this movie.

Information about The Revenant (2015)

Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter
Release Year: 2015
Duration: 156 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Similar Movies: Dances with Wolves (1990), 127 Hours (2010), The Grey (2011)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: The Revenant on IMDb

4.Inception

Cobb is a very talented thief. His specialty is stealing valuable secrets from the depths of the subconscious during the dreaming phase, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a very popular person in the espionage world. However, this situation has also made him an international fugitive. For this reason, he cannot return home and see his children. A man named Saito offers Cobb an opportunity to escape from the situation he is in. If Cobb completes the job given to him, he will be able to go home to his children. However, this job is much more difficult than it seems.

Information about Inception (2010)

Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy
Release Year: 2010
Duration: 148 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Language: English
Age Rating: PG-13
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Similar Movies: The Matrix (1999), Interstellar (2014), Memento (2000)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Inception on IMDb

5.The Great Gatsby

Nick Carraway, a writer, comes to New York in the 1920s. Nick, who is following his own dreams, coincidentally crosses paths with Jay Gatsby, a very rich and famous man, and his circle. Nick soon meets parties where alcohol flows like water. On the other hand, the collapse of this magical American dream is approaching. The truths that this life, which looks magnificent from the outside, tries to cover up will come to the surface.

Information about The Great Gatsby (2013)

Director: Baz Luhrmann
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire
Release Year: 2013
Duration: 143 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Age Rating: PG-13
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Similar Movies: Moulin Rouge! (2001), Anna Karenina (2012), Atonement (2007)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: The Great Gatsby on IMDb

6.The Wolf of Wall Street

The movie, which is among Leonardo DiCaprio’s most iconic performances, focuses on a real-life story. Jordan Belfort is a very ambitious man who becomes a broker on the Wall Street stock exchange at the age of 24. Later, he establishes his own investment firm called Stratton Oakmont. Belfort becomes very rich in a very short time by deceiving investors with junk bonds. However, he spends as much money as he earns, engaging in drugs and an extravagant lifestyle. Although Belfort rises every day, his downfall is inevitable.

Information about The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie, Matthew McConaughey
Release Year: 2013
Duration: 180 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Crime
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Similar Movies: Catch Me If You Can (2002), American Hustle (2013), Blow (2001)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: The Wolf of Wall Street on IMDb

7.Titanic

The Titanic, a transatlantic ship that is said to never sink, is about to set off on its maiden voyage. Among the passengers are a young man named Jack, who is returning from Europe to America, and a girl named Rose, who is traveling to Philadelphia with her mother. These two young people fall in love despite their class differences. However, the Titanic will hit an iceberg and sink 4.5 days after setting off.

Information about Titanic (1997)

Director: James Cameron
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates
Release Year: 1997
Duration: 195 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Age Rating: PG-13
Available Platforms: Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Similar Movies: The Notebook (2004), Atonement (2007), Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Titanic on IMDb

8.The Departed

The movie is about the war between the police and the mafia. The men trained by the mafia to infiltrate the police force have reached very good positions within the force. Similarly, undercover police officers have managed to infiltrate the mafia. When the existence of moles on both sides becomes known, a deadly game of deception and survival begins.

Information about The Departed (2006)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Mark Wahlberg
Release Year: 2006
Duration: 151 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 8.5/10
Similar Movies: Goodfellas (1990), Heat (1995), Casino (1995)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: The Departed on IMDb

9.The Aviator

Howard Hughes, a wealthy entrepreneur, decides to use the fortune left by his father to make a movie about World War I aviation. His ambition to create something unique turns him into a famous and controversial figure in Hollywood.

Information about The Aviator (2004)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly
Release Year: 2004
Duration: 170 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Biography, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: PG-13
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Similar Movies: The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Catch Me If You Can (2002), Steve Jobs (2015)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: The Aviator on IMDb

10.The Basketball Diaries

Jim, a high school student, enjoys playing basketball and is one of the most important players on his school’s team. His dream is to play basketball at the highest level. However, when he falls into the world of drugs, his life takes a drastic and heartbreaking turn.

Information about The Basketball Diaries (1995)

Director: Scott Kalvert
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Lorraine Bracco, Marilyn Sokol, James Madio
Release Year: 1995
Duration: 102 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Similar Movies: Requiem for a Dream (2000), Trainspotting (1996), Blow (2001)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: The Basketball Diaries on IMDb

11.Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood

Rick Dalton, a television actor, struggles to transition into the film industry as his career declines. Alongside his stuntman Cliff Booth, Rick navigates the changing dynamics of Hollywood during the late 1960s. The movie also intertwines the infamous Charles Manson cult and its impact on Hollywood’s rising star Sharon Tate.

Information about Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood (2019)

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Al Pacino
Release Year: 2019
Duration: 161 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Similar Movies: Pulp Fiction (1994), The Nice Guys (2016), The Big Lebowski (1998)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood on IMDb

12.The Beach

The movie follows a young American adventurer, Richard, who travels to Bangkok, Thailand. At his hotel, he meets French tourists Étienne and Françoise and receives a map from another guest. Using the map, the trio sets out to find a pristine tropical island. This captivating journey into the unknown explores themes of paradise and human nature.

Information about The Beach (2000)

Director: Danny Boyle
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton, Virginie Ledoyen, Guillaume Canet
Release Year: 2000
Duration: 119 minutes
Country: United States, United Kingdom
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Similar Movies: Into the Wild (2007), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), 127 Hours (2010)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: The Beach on IMDb

13.Blood Diamond

The story begins in Sierra Leone, where Solomon Vandy, a fisherman, is captured by separatist rebels who force him to work in a diamond mine. Solomon discovers a rare diamond but hides it before being imprisoned by the army during a rebel raid. In prison, mercenary Danny Archer learns about the diamond and helps Solomon escape to retrieve it, leading to a dangerous journey.

Information about Blood Diamond (2006)

Director: Edward Zwick
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, Arnold Vosloo
Release Year: 2006
Duration: 143 minutes
Country: United States, Germany
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 8.0/10
Similar Movies: Hotel Rwanda (2004), The Last King of Scotland (2006), The Constant Gardener (2005)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Blood Diamond on IMDb

14.Catch Me If You Can

This movie, based on a true story, follows Frank Abagnale Jr., the youngest con artist to make the FBI’s “Most Wanted” list. After his father’s financial failure and his parents’ divorce, Frank begins forging checks and adopting false identities, attracting the FBI’s attention and starting a thrilling game of cat and mouse.

Information about Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Amy Adams
Release Year: 2002
Duration: 141 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: PG-13
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 8.1/10
Similar Movies: The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), American Hustle (2013), Blow (2001)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Catch Me If You Can on IMDb

15.Gangs of New York

Set in 1800s New York, the movie depicts the brutal clashes between earlier settlers who claim the land as their own and newly arriving Irish immigrants fighting for their place in the city. This intense historical drama highlights the chaos and violence that shaped New York City.

Information about Gangs of New York (2002)

Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis, Cameron Diaz, Liam Neeson
Release Year: 2002
Duration: 167 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Crime, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Similar Movies: There Will Be Blood (2007), The Irishman (2019), The Departed (2006)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Gangs of New York on IMDb

16.Django Unchained

The movie begins with Django, a slave, crossing paths with bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz, who needs Django’s help to capture his former masters. Their partnership grows as they hunt criminals, with Django determined to find and rescue his wife, who was sold into slavery.

Information about Django Unchained (2012)

Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington
Release Year: 2012
Duration: 165 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Drama, Western
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 8.4/10
Similar Movies: Inglourious Basterds (2009), The Hateful Eight (2015), 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Django Unchained on IMDb

17.The Man in the Iron Mask

In this historical drama, King Louis XIV faces political turmoil and financial crisis. Meanwhile, the legendary Three Musketeers reunite as they uncover a royal conspiracy involving a hidden twin brother of the king, imprisoned in an iron mask.

Information about The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)

Director: Randall Wallace
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gérard Depardieu
Release Year: 1998
Duration: 132 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: PG-13
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Similar Movies: Braveheart (1995), The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), Gladiator (2000)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: The Man in the Iron Mask on IMDb

18.Body of Lies

Roger Ferris, a former journalist turned CIA operative, is tasked with tracking down a high-ranking terrorist leader. Navigating the treacherous world of espionage, Roger must balance loyalty and deception while working alongside a seasoned handler.

Information about Body of Lies (2008)

Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani
Release Year: 2008
Duration: 128 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Similar Movies: Syriana (2005), Spy Game (2001), Green Zone (2010)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Body of Lies on IMDb

19.Revolutionary Road

Set in the 1950s, the movie tells the story of Frank and April Wheeler, a couple living in a suburban town. They strive to break free from the monotony of their lives but face marital struggles, infidelity, and the pressure of societal norms.

Information about Revolutionary Road (2008)

Director: Sam Mendes
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Michael Shannon
Release Year: 2008
Duration: 119 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Similar Movies: American Beauty (1999), The Great Gatsby (2013), Blue Valentine (2010)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: Revolutionary Road on IMDb

20.What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

In a small town, Gilbert takes care of his autistic brother and his obese mother, carrying the weight of his family’s needs. When he meets Becky, a young woman passing through town, Gilbert experiences love and joy for the first time, though his responsibilities challenge this newfound happiness.

Information about What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

Director: Lasse Hallström
Cast: Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Darlene Cates
Release Year: 1993
Duration: 118 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: PG-13
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Similar Movies: Rain Man (1988), Forrest Gump (1994), The Cider House Rules (1999)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape on IMDb

21.J. Edgar

This biographical drama chronicles the career of J. Edgar Hoover, the controversial FBI director who shaped modern law enforcement. The movie also delves into his private life, exploring his secretive nature and personal struggles.

Information about J. Edgar (2011)

Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Judi Dench
Release Year: 2011
Duration: 137 minutes
Country: United States
Genre: Biography, Crime, Drama
Language: English
Age Rating: R
Available Platforms: Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Similar Movies: The Aviator (2004), The Imitation Game (2014), Steve Jobs (2015)
Trailer: YouTube Trailer
IMDb Link: J. Edgar on IMDb