One of the most influential and iconic actors of this generation, Leonardo DiCaprio officially turned 49 today. The actor gained widespread recognition for his exceptional talent and versatility in portraying diverse roles across various genres. Thanks to his remarkable performances, DiCaprio has earned many prestigious awards throughout his career, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards.
With over 30 films, the actor’s movies have grossed over $7.2 billion around the world. A significant shift came in his career in the late 1990s when the actor gained popularity thanks to his performances in movies like Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Titanic (1997). On his 49th birthday, let us look back at seven of his greatest movies.
7) The Departed (2006)
Leonardo DiCaprio played the role of Trooper William “Billy” Costigan Jr. in Martin Scorsese’s 2006 movie The Departed. The crime thriller narrates the story of an undercover agent and a spy, who constantly try to counter-attack each other to save themselves from being exposed in front of the authorities, with the goal of infiltrating an Irish gang. The film grossed over $291 million at the global box office on a budget of $90 million.
6) Shutter Island (2010)
DiCaprio has frequently collaborated with Scorsese over the years. Their 2010 movie, Shutter Island, is often labeled as one of the best neo-noir psychological thrillers of all time. The film follows Deputy U.S. Marshal Edward “Teddy” Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), who is investigating a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island after one of the patients goes missing. The film grossed over $294 million at the global box office on a budget of $80 million.
5) The Aviator (2004)
This 2004 biographical drama film narrates the story of Howard Hughes, an aviation pioneer and director of the film Hell’s Angels. DiCaprio’s exceptional performance as Hughes earned him not just praise from fans and critics all over the world, but also multiple nominations and awards. On a budget of $110 million, the film grossed over $213 million at the global box office.
4) Inception (2010)
DiCaprio collaborated with legendary director Christopher Nolan for the first time in 2010’s Inception. The film features Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals information by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets. He is then given the task of implanting a person’s idea into a target’s subconscious. The film was a massive hit, grossing over $839 million worldwide on a budget of $160 million.
3) The Revenant (2015)
Leonardo DiCaprio appeared as Hugh Glass in director Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s 2015 American Western action drama film, The Revenant. With some parts from Michael Punke’s 2002 novel The Revenant, the movie narrates the story of Hugh Glass, who is known for his story of survival and forgiveness after being left for dead by companions when he was mauled by a grizzly bear. The film grossed over $533 million on a production budget of $135 million.
2) The Wolf of Wall Street (2016)
DiCaprio’s performance as Jordan Belfort in Martin Scorsese’s 2016 movie The Wolf of Wall Street was particularly praised by fans and critics. Based on Jordan Belfort’s 2007 memoir of the same name, the film narrates the story of Jordan Belfort, who got engaged in corruption and fraud on Wall Street, leading to his downfall. On a budget of $100 million, the film grossed roughly $409 million at the global box office.
1) Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)
Martin Scorsese’s 2023 movie Killers of the Flower Moon featured Leonardo DiCaprio as Ernest Burkhart. The film puts a spotlight on a series of murders of Osage members and relations in the Osage Nation after oil was being produced on tribal land. The film received positive reviews but fell short in terms of global box office collection. With a $200 million production budget, the film earned roughly $122 million, but it managed to become one of the best films in DiCaprio’s filmography.
