Summary
- Leonardo DiCaprio's early movies, such as "Critters 3" and "Poison Ivy," may not have been well-received by critics and audiences.
- Despite the lackluster reviews, DiCaprio's performances in films like "Total Eclipse" and "Marvin's Room" showcased his talent and ability to immerse himself in his characters.
- DiCaprio's breakout roles in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" and "Titanic" solidified his status as an A-list actor and catapulted him to stardom.
As one of the most popular and acclaimed actors working today, taking a look at Leonardo DiCaprio's first movies show the talent he had even as a young actor while also highlighting how far he has come. DiCaprio's recent role in Killers of the Flower Moon was the latest in a long string of highly acclaimed movies. He has starred in the highest-grossing movie of all time, worked with some of the greatest filmmakers of all time, and won an Oscar along with five other nominations. However, his earlier roles may include some forgotten performances from the actor.
DiCaprio started young, appearing in commercials and sitcoms before transitioning into film, but he quickly became one of the all-time greats that he's known as today. By the time he was 23 years old, Leonardo DiCaprio's name was attached to 10 diverse feature films, ranging from horror-comedy Critters 3 to the epic period drama Titanic. DiCaprio's early career attests to the scope and breadth of his abilities. The filmmakers who took a chance on the young actor gave him the experience and knowledge to quickly become one of the most sought-after names in Hollywood.
10 Biggest Leonardo DiCaprio Oscar Snubs
One of the most recognizable names in the industry, Leonardo DiCaprio was famously snubbed by the Oscars for years before winning for The Revenant.11 Critters 3 (1991)
DiCaprio's Debut In The Creature-Feature Sequel
The first of Leonardo DiCaprio's feature films is Critters 3, doesn't exactly represent DiCaprio's future career. The movie was part of the killer creature feature genre that many have dismissed as a lesser Gremlins ripoff. DiCaprio plays Josh, the stepson of a corrupt landlord. One of the landlord's tenants is Clifford, who unknowingly brings a carful of Critter eggs home with him. These alien creatures are hungry for mayhem and human flesh.
This direct-to-video feature didn't impress any critics, general audiences, or even fans of the horror genre, and it ironically likely became more popular in the years after DiCaprio became an A-list star. It is a serviceable yet forgettable horror B-movie and one of the few poorly reviewed movies of DiCaprio's career.
Rent on Apple TV.
10 Poison Ivy (1992)
An Erotic Thriller Featuring A Wordless Role For DiCaprio
Technically, Leonardo DiCaprio is just an extra in the 1992 erotic thriller starring Tom Skerritt, Drew Barrymore, Cheryl Ladd, and Sara Gilbert. DiCaprio's character attends the elite private school where Gilbert's character Sylvie Cooper is also enrolled. Barrymore plays the title character Ivy, a mysterious young woman who befriends Sylvie. Ivy soon infiltrates Sylvie's family life, pursuing a sexual relationship with Sylvie's adopted father (Skerritt). The early 1990s was a popular time for erotic thrillers, but Poison Ivy totally missed the mark, and it didn't help that it wasted DiCaprio's acting talent.
No streaming options are available.
9 Total Eclipse (1995)
A Gay Love Story That Showcased DiCaprio's Fearless Acting
Total Eclipse sits nicely into Leonardo DiCaprio's many period movies as it follows the tumultuous love affair between 19th-century French poets Paul Verlaine (David Thewlis) and Arthur Rimbaud (DiCaprio). Verlaine was older than the innovative and rambunctious teenage Rimbaud when they first met, and the period biopic depicts how hard it was for gay men in the 1800s. Though the 1995 movie was met with negative reception, it showcases DiCaprio's profound ability to immerse himself in the characters he portrays. He breeds life and intensity into a man considered one of the most important poets of his time.
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8 Marvin's Room (1996)
An Intimate Drama With DiCaprio Sharing The Screen With Several Acting Legends
A dysfunctional family drama, Marvin's Room is an underrated movie starring some A-list actors. It tells the story of two estranged sisters, Bessie and Lee (Diane Keaton and Meryl Streep), reuniting after one needs a bone marrow transplant. Keaton's character Bessie has been caring for their disabled father in Florida for decades.
DiCaprio plays the mentally ill son of Lee, Hank, who is institutionalized after setting his mother's house on fire. Marvin's Room is an emotionally exhausting drama, but while the big appeal of the movie is the outstanding Oscar-caliber cast, it can sometimes come off as a little too melodramatic. However, it's the first movie that proved DiCaprio can go head-to-head with Hollywood royalty, including a supporting role from Robert De Niro.
Rent on Apple TV.
7 The Basketball Diaries (1995)
DiCaprio's Leading Role In An Addiction Drama
Based on Jim Carroll's autobiographical coming-of-age novel of the same name, The Basketball Diaries is a dark tale about drug addiction and misguided youth. DiCaprio plays Jim Carroll, a high school basketball star who slides into heroin use, robbery, and depression. This gritty film also features memorable performances from young Mark Wahlberg and Juliette Lewis. Despite its quest to be a cautionary tale, The Basketball Diaries received mixed reviews. However, DiCaprio's acting skills are on full display here, and he way outshines his co-stars.
No streaming options are available.
6 This Boy's Life (1993)
DiCaprio Goes Head-To-Head With Robert De Niro In The Intense
Tobias Wolff's autobiography about growing up with an abusive stepfather in 1950s Washington state is the source of inspiration for This Boy's Life. Long before appearing together in the Killers of the Flower Moon cast, Robert De Niro handpicked DiCaprio – who had only acted in two feature films at the time – out of 400 potential actors to play Wolff as a child.
Unsurprisingly, De Niro had incredible foresight, as DiCaprio gave a raw and convincing performance as Wolff. This Boy's Life was even the catalyst for DiCaprio becoming a regular collaborator with Martin Scorsese, as De Niro recommended the young actor to the director (via Collider). The 1993 movie started one of the greatest actor-director relationships of this generation.
Rent on Apple TV.
5
Robert De Niro Vs. Leonardo DiCaprio: Which Actor Appears In More Martin Scorsese Movies?
Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio are Martin Scorsese's go-to leading men, but one of these actors has starred in more of the director's movies.4 The Quick And The Dead (1995)
DiCaprio Steals The Show In Sam Raimi's Wild Western
Not to be confused with the 1987 film of the same name based on a Louis L'Amour book, The Quick and the Dead finds horror filmmaking icon Sam Raimi reinventing the Western movie genre with his signature style and inventive camera work. It stars Sharon Stone as The Lady, a female gunfighter who travels to a frontier town to enter a dueling competition.
The Lady's goal is to avenge her father's death. DiCaprio co-stars as Fee "The Kid" Herod, the owner of a gun store, but while DiCaprio's performance is typically great, the big appeal of the movie is Raimi's bold filmmaking. No Western has ever been as silly, over-the-top, or exciting. It also features a stellar supporting cast that includes Gene Hackman, Russell Crowe, and Gary Sinise.
3 Romeo + Juliet (1996)
DiCaprio Becomes A Hearthrob As Shakespeare's Iconic Romantic Lead
Even Leonardo DiCaprio's first feature roles saw him working with the best directors, as he collaborated with the post-modern visionary auteur, Baz Luhrman, for a spectacular-looking modern take on the Shakespeare classic. Romeo + Juliet is a wild reimagining of the teen tragedy, and it was the film that solidified DiCaprio's status as a heartthrob. Set in contemporary America, Romeo + Juliet retains Shakespeare's original dialogue, making gun shootouts at gas stations weirdly poetic. DiCaprio and Claire Danes both give riveting performances as star-crossed lovers whose fates are sealed from the moment they kiss.
Rent on Apple TV.
2 What's Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)
DiCaprio's First Oscar-Nominated Performance
Leonardo DiCaprio's first feature films include one of his best-ever performances, and he was just 18 at the time of filming. DiCaprio received his first Oscar nomination for his role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, Lasse Hallström's drama about a grocery store clerk caring for his housebound mother and his developmentally disabled brother in a small Midwestern town.
Johnny Depp plays the title character, and DiCaprio plays his brother Arnie. DiCaprio was hailed by critics for his ability to play Arnie with grace, believability, and innocence at such a young age, and he even out-acted his much more experienced and well-respected co-stars.
1 Titanic (1997)
DiCaprio Cements His A-List Status In The Best Picture Winner
DiCaprio managed to move from independent dramas to big-budget epics in a short span of time, but how big of a movie Titanic turned out to be was so unexpected. Being cast as the male lead Jack Dawson in James Cameron's wildly successful and enduring romance set on board the ill-fated H.M.S. Titanic is a testament to DiCaprio's prowess.
Tons of much better-known actors were considered for the Titanic role, from Billy Crudup to Tom Cruise to Jeremy Sisto, but it was the lesser-known Leonardo DiCaprio who helped steer the movie to become the highest-grossing movie of all time for 12 years.