He might be in his ’80s, butRobert De Nirois still working harder than ever before. His fans have already had plenty to enjoy in 2025, namelyZero, Day, The Alto Knights,andTin Soldier. The actor’s movies might not have had much critical acclaim lately, but there’s no doubt that he’s one of the best in the business. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including two Oscars, one Golden Globe, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Every decade has been great for De Niro, but theGoodfellasstar put in way more effort in the2010s, appearing in a whopping 29 movies. That’s an impressive work ethic for an actor who not only has nothing to prove but is also in the later stages of his career. However, not all of those films were great.
Here are 10 Robert De Niro movies that stand out from the 2010s.
10’Dirty Grandpa' (2016)
Dirty Grandpa
InDirty Grandpa, army vet Dick (Robert De Niro)persuades his adult grandson Jason Kelly (Zac Efron) to drive him to Florida for spring break, claiming his license has expired. The disciplined Jason is soon forced to bear with Dick’s wild side, asthe old man tries to relive his youth. As the minutes pass, the two descend into even more lewd activity, perpetuating a cycle of misdemeanors that can only end in regret.
Grandpa of the Year
9’The Intern' (2015)
The Intern
The Internis the story of Ben Whittaker (Robert De Niro),a 70-year-old widower eager to find a new purpose. He decides tojoin an online fashion startup as an internwhere he reports directly to the young-driven CEO, Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). Though everyone was initially skeptical about him, he ends up winning them over with his professionalism and wisdom.
Young At Heart
As with most Nancy Meyers films,a fundamental twist in one’s life opens the door to detailed social commentary.The Internalso happens to beone of Quentin Tarantino’s favorites. “They’re not considering that for the Oscars even though I think Robert De Niro gave one of the best performances this year in that movie,” he said. Indeed, De Niro is incredible in the movie. For an actor accustomed to playing authoritative roles, he does quite well as a subordinate; his character reminds us all that it’s never too late to start anew. Andthe female empowerment messagehits home.
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8’Limitless' (2011)
Limitlessfollows struggling writer Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) after hediscovers a mysterious pill that unlocks 100% of a human’s brain’s potential. Consequently, heachieves success in various fields, including finance, earning him a friendship with the tycoon Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro). But Eddie eventually finds himself at war with himself, especially when the deadly side effects kick in and people start hunting him. What is he supposed to do when every day involves a strenuous effort just to stay alive?
Winner of Best Thriller at the Scream Awards, Neil Burger’sfast-paced and unflinching take on drug abuseserves as a corrective to all those fantasies we all have about working without tiring and being able to use a greater percentage of our brains. The filmmaking styles will also impress you asBurger uses jump-cutting, fractal zooming, and out-of-body sequencesto accurately convey the effect of the wonder drug on Eddie.
7’The Wizard of Lies' (2017)
The Wizard of Lies
The Wizard of Liestellsthe true story of controversial financier Bernie Madoff (Robert De Niro), who masterminded the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history. The plot is framed by a prison interview, with the narrative intercutting between the aftermath of his empire’s collapse and his glory days.
How the Con Was Engineered
Beyond theexpert direction and gripping storyline,The Wizard of Liesispopulated by some of the most talented actors in the business, including Michelle Pfeiffer and Alessandro Nivola. Stealing thecon artist movie, however, is De Niro, as a smooth talker who makes everyone think he has the greatest ideas ever crafted, only to leave his believers shaken to the core. By all means, listen to him from the comfort of your home. You are safe from any manipulation.
6’American Hustle' (2013)
American Hustle
American Hustleis another con artist tale, this time about the fraudster Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his partner Sydney(Amy Adams). The two areforced by the FBI to help capture corrupt politicians, including the mayor, Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). Robert De Niro has a cameo as Victor Tellegio, a powerful mobster.
Set a Thief To Catch a Thief
Up for asmart, stylish, and breathless black comedyfeaturing the most eccentric of characters? Revisit this joyous gem by director David O. Russell. The superb cast greatly elevatesAmerican Hustle, with Bale and Adams particular standouts.De Niro is predictably magneticina familiar gangster role. The film received 10 nominations at the Oscars. The ensemble cast also won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
5’Machete' (2010)
Things heat up inMachetewhen ex-Federale Machete Cortez (Danny Trejo) is set up after being hired to whack the corrupt Senator John McLaughlin (Robert De Niro). Because he isn’t just the kind to sit back and pray to the heavens for comeuppance,he goes on a bloody rampage seeking vengeance.
They Messed with the Wrong One
This crackerjack film is often compared to the exploitation films of the old, but though commentators were less kind to this type of over-the-top filmmaking during those times, they were left in awe by Danny Trejo’s adventures.Macheteholds up beautifully against many of the actor’s other films. And as the title hints, this action-packed film unleashes plenty of gore andpaints a damning, cynical portrait of the state of immigration, law enforcement and politics in America. Prepare to hate De Niro as his character spews so much hatred you’ll wish to punch him from your seat.
4’Silver Linings Playbook' (2012)
Silver Linings Playbook
Set in Lansdowne, Pennsylvania.Silver Linings Playbookconcerns Patrizio “Pat” Solitano Jr.(Bradley Cooper), a man with bipolar disorder, whomoves back to the house of his father Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) after being released from a psychiatric hospital. Soon, he meets a young widow, Tiffany Maxwell (Jennifer Lawrence), whooffers to help him win his wife back if he agrees to participate in a dance competition with her.
Trying To Get Back on His Feet
Silver Linings Playbook is gorgeously filmed and briskly pacedby director David O. Russell, who has a rather thin but impressive catalog that includesThree KingsandThe Fighter.De Niro as the cynical Pat Sr. makes a believable dad (he has always handled parenting roles brilliantly), and Cooper and Lawrence excel as a marvelous friendship pair. The film alsothrives by carefully handling the delicate issues of mental health and divorce.It received eight nominations at the Oscars, including Best Picture.
3’Joy' (2015)
Joy Mangano (Jennifer Lawrence) fromJoyis just one mother, among hundreds of others, barely surviving on the mean streets of Peconic, New York. She’s already felt a lifetime of anguish and seen only the cruel, undesirable side of life. Buteverything changes when a wealthy Italian widow, dating her father, Rudy (Robert De Niro), agrees to invest in her invention, a self-wringing mop. Joy becomes a successful entrepreneur, but now faces different kinds of challenges.
Finally Made It
Thisbrutal, inspiring, and unflinching look at the plight of dreamers in America has lost none of its raw power a decade after its release. Lawrence might not have been plucked from a life similar to Joy’s (she was a child actress), but her bright-eyed, gorgeous face makes an ideal canvas, at once capturing the intrinsic optimism and the unregulated ambition that co-exist in the same woman. Her work earned her an Oscar nomination. Elsewhere, De Niro offers limited but great support.
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2’Joker' (2019)
InJoker, nebbish clown-for-hire Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) finds solace in a stand-up comedy career, but his colloquies mostly fall flat.As luck continues to desert him, he begins a transformation into the infamous DC villain known as the Joker, resulting in a series of shocking events where he even kills a talk show host (played by Robert De Niro) live on air.
The Joker Like You’ve Never Seen Him Before
There were no objections when Todd Phillips’Jokerreceived 11 Oscar nominations. The second-highest-grossing R-rated filmsplices terror, broad comedy, and comic book details to great effect. Joaquin Phoenix’s psychotic, insecure Fleck is one of his best characters, all unpredictable and plagued by foot-in-mouth gaffes around everyone he meets.De Niro doesn’t stay alive long enough, but his scene is arguably the best in the movie.
1’The Irishman' (2019)
The Irishman
The Irishmanis the somewhat true story (there were some questions about its accuracy ) of Frank Sheeran (played by Robert De Niro),a World War II veteran who became a hitman for the Bufalino crime family and a trusted associate of labor union leader Jimmy Hoffa(portrayed by Al Pacino). Sheeran would later be tasked with whacking Hoffa.
I Heard You Kill People
Named the Best Film of 2019 by the National Board of Review,The Irishmanis pure gangster mayhem. The flick was adapted from Frank Sheeran’s memoir,I Heard You Paint Houses(Scorsese should have stuck to this title), andeven though the mobster’s account has been doubted by several parties, the movie is extremely entertaining. Here, Scorsese relies on his most-trusted actors (De Niro and Joe Pesci) to craftan engaging tale defined by greed, stubbornness, and betrayal. The film was also noted for its clever use of de-aging digital effects.
